Estate Agents, gazumping, and other untruth's!

[algtj]

A brief rundown of buying a house.<br>
<br>
View Thursday, make an offer, offer accepted. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Pop to Estate Agent's Friday morning with all detail's and assured house off the market. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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This morning, phone call from Estate Agents stating another viewing had taken place Friday afternoon and a better offer made, but contact with the vender cannot be made..... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I phone a mate to check the legality, sorry mate yes they can do this. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Bugger............<br>
<br>
This afternoon bumps into a mate and tells him the story, as he lives next door but one to the house we wanted to purchase and he says.....<br>
<br>
Nobody been around to the house Friday afternoon as I was working on my van and would have seen em. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
So it turns out, as previously advised by the mate I rang earlier that Estate Agents are indeed,<br>
<br>
CROOKS, BOUNDERS AND CADS! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I have a plan which goes something like this; my telephone number will be passed to the vender via mate who lives next door but one, and when the inevitable call comes he shall be debriefed on the situation and how he nearly lost a sale due to the agents being the above. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Thoughts please?<br>
<br>


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[triumphdolomiteuk]

I'd guess that the estate agent is working on a commission basis rather than a fixed fee...<br>


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[redrichie]

Shady as hell mate. I hope the sellers are suitably disgusted with the actions of the company they are paying to perform a service....

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[PurpleBargeKen]

As part of the offer being accepted I would then demand that any further viewings are cancelled and the property taken off the market. Works on Location, Location, Location. I also advised a work colleague to make the above request which worked a treat. Good luck with it all.<br>
<br>
Ken

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[algtj]

Did that Ken....... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[PurpleBargeKen]

I hate estate agents, greedy, grabbing barstewards. I suppose there might be some good ones out there, it's just that we haven't met them yet.<br>
<br>
Good luck mate.

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[Carsreunited]

Careful. They may well have a deal with the seller or be on friendly basis. Something along the lines of squeezing a few extra grand out of you, if you don't go along with it, the other buyer suddenly disappears and you go along with the original deal.<br>
<br>
I'd speak to an ombudsman or trading standards, this might not be the first time an allegation has been made against this particular agent. It could be the evidence they need to proceed.<br>
<br>


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[SMIFTER]

The problem is, whilst what they have done is unethical, I dont think its illegal. I understand the only legally binding bit of house purchase is the contract of sale.<br>
<br>
Estate Agents are possibly the worst 'professionals' if you can call them that, which you can't really as you need no formal training or qualifications to become an estate agent. Any code of conduct they subscribe to is purely voluntary.<br>
<br>
You wouldnt use an unqualified doctor, dentist, solicitor, engineer, gas man, mechanic, electrician etc, but somehow its perfectly acceptable to entrust the sale of your largest asset to an unqualified bullshitter in a cheap suit.<br>
<br>
There should be regulation for these people, especially considering the ridiculous level of commission they charge and from my experience try to avoid doing there job by getting the vendor to show round purchasers.<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
rant over

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[algtj]

I will be contacting the ombudsman as a matter of course, first thing Tuesday morning.<br>
The plan is this.<br>
<br>
Await phone call from the agents Tuesday morning and stick to my first offer which was accepted by the vendor.<br>
Explain to them I can complete within 4 weeks and I am in contact with the ombudsman, and it is up to them and their morals to complete the sale as agreed.<br>
<br>
At the end of the day it's a buyer's market, i'll walk and spend the money elsewhere.<br>
<br>
Any other idea's or does this seem fair?

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[alun n]

The NAEA and the relative 'Ombudsman' scemes are both voluntary and neither have any real teeth even if they do belong.<br>
<br>
If you are really lucky the guy you dealt with will be RICS or failing that his boss might be; they take complaints seriously, but you have to be certain to fact of transgression

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[dollyboy]

estate agents are truly w@nkers<br>
<br>
ive had 2 of them trying to sell a reasonable 3 bed detached house for the best part of a yr, all ive heard from them is <br>
<br>
'the markets slowed down'<br>
'try reducing it a bit'<br>
'try reducing it a bit more'<br>
'market still slow'<br>
'its only 1st time buyers houses that seem to be moving'<br>
(errr, where are the sellers moving to then?)<br>
<br>
...so i've agreed to sell to a buy to rent guy, bypassing the agents and saving myself 1.5-3k.<br>
<br>
just tell them you're considering retracting your offer and are looking at another property, that'll wake them up.<br>
<br>
the world is full of @rseholes m8, estate agents are in my current top 5, along with mobile tyre fitters.<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[algtj]

Its really going to test me this situation as I hate liars and cheats. My normal course of action is to scream and shout with as many profanities scattered about the bluster.<br>
We want this house..... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[algtj]

Sold out. Feel terrible.<br>
Offered the asking price with writen assurance that the house is removed from the market and completion in four weeks.<br>
<br>
Feel physically sick that Iv'e had to compromise my values, but at the end of the day It's the house we both want.<br>
Have give them a deadline of 11:00 and I'm walking.<br>
<br>
Which makes me feel a little better.

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[Carsreunited]

I don't see that as selling out Al. If you are willing to pay that amount for it and you feel that it is still worth it then just do it.<br>
<br>
Try to deal direct with the vendor on most things in the coming weeks. We were dealing with our buyer that pulled out through the agent and I'm sure if I was speaking to him every few days, the resulting mess wouldn't have happened.<br>
<br>
Best of luck to you and Sophie, I hope it works out the way you want it.<br>
<br>


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[algtj]

Now they can't contact the vender......<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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