Buying a house without an Agent

smiffy

I've found a property that I would like to purchase, but I know the current owners.

If we don't use an agent is there anything that we would need to be aware of?

Also can we both use the same solicitor? Them to sell and me to buy to speed up the process?

thanks

Millie's_Mum

It wouldn't be a good idea to use the same solicitor, in fact I'm not sure you can because the solicitors would have a conflict of interest, i.e if there is a problem who are they acting for? You or the current owner?

PasturesNew

They may be tied into the agent still. The agent contract might say that even though they didn't do the introducing, the seller still has to pay the bill.

And/or the agent might deem that you found out the house was for sale because you saw their advert in the paper or saw the board outside. Which would qualify in that loose way/grey area that an Agent would count as "if we hadn't done those things, you'd have never known".

The seller would need to check their contract meticulously.

Jorgan_2

If you were both existing clients of the solicitor, then you may be able to use the same firm. If you are not both existing clients, then you can't.