Just wondering, can a seller...

Vegeta

Can a seller who is intent to sell his house refuse to sell to someone through an estate agent without good reason even if the buyer has enough money and offers higher than others?

Rosemary7391

As far as I know no one has an obligation to sell anyone anything they own. I'm no expert though! They'd have to be mad to do it though, unless they've had problems with the estate agent before?

zappahey

A seller can sell to whomever they like, based on whatever selection criteria they choose.

Geenie

I am confused have I got this right?

You are asking if a seller who has instructed an estate agent to sell their house (as why else would that agent be sending people round)........the EA's introduce a buyer who not only has the money but offers more then anyone else.....but now the seller wants to refuse to sell to these people?!!!!!!!!

I am probably thick but this makes no sense at all, especially in todays market. What possible reason could there be for turning down a buyer in these circumstances unless you have decided not to sell anymore?!! Have you taken a dislike to the buyer or EA or is there someone else you want to sell to for less money?

silvercar

Vegeta wrote: »

Can a seller who is intent to sell his house refuse to sell to someone through an estate agent without good reason even if the buyer has enough money and offers higher than others?

The basic answer is yes.

It may be that the buyer has messed the seller around in the past or the buyer has been rumoured to gazunder at the moment of exchange.

Could be that the estate agent is charging too much commission and so the seller doesn't want to deal.

The seller can sell to who he likes and doesn't have to give a reason.

kunekune

This also used to happen in the days when racial prejudice was so bad that some people wouldn't sell to a 'coloured' person. Or maybe a seller does not want to sell to a developer and would rather take a lower offer from someone who intends to be an owner occupier.

There is no obligation to acccept any offer. However, before turning one down, check the EA's t&cs, there is another thread on here where the EA was entitled to invoice the seller if they turned down a sale for no good reason.

kunekune

Having re-read OP, there is another possible meaning for the story.

Perhaps OP is selling privately. An EA is now trying to "introduce" a buyer (and get a fee) although there was no contract between them. OP wants to check that they would not have to pay the EA, given they never employed them to sell the house ...

iyiarz

I've done it... Two people made an offer on my flat years ago, those were the times when property sold in 1 week ! Both offers were the asking price.

I had to make a choice of who to sell to. One was self employed and would need mortgage aproval, so I went with the other person who had the finances arranged already, even though this person made the offer second.

I felt bad and had a letter from the first person asking why, which I had to reply to. But thats how it goes.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

iyiarz wrote: »

I've done it... Two people made an offer on my flat years ago, those were the times when property sold in 1 week ! Both offers were the asking price.

I had to make a choice of who to sell to. One was self employed and would need mortgage aproval, so I went with the other person who had the finances arranged already, even though this person made the offer second.

I felt bad and had a letter from the first person asking why, which I had to reply to. But thats how it goes.

Why did you have to reply unless you accepted the offer?

iyiarz

The letter was from the person I had to let down. She was really disapointed and really liked the place. She wanted to know why I'd turned her down. I felt obliged, because the letter was written nicely, to reply. I didn't have to.

Geenie

The OP states that the buyer has offered MORE then the others not the same, so I assume there must be other reasons why they want to say no.