dodgy estate agent - warn neighbour?

[mrsleomcgary]

I'm writing this knowing what I SHOULD do but curious if anyone else would do what I will probably do...

Dh and I currently trying to sell our flat, it's been on the market 2 and a half years and a few months ago we decided to cut our losses and get a new agent. We now realise that the agent we were with has gave us nothing but bad advice from the start, told us to put it on the market at too high a price etc, and in the two years we were with them we got 4 viewings. We went on the market with new agent last week and already have a viewing scheduled and have had more contact with them in a week than we had with last agent in 2 years.

Anyway, saw one of our other neighbours earlier who told us the girl downstairs is going to sell up and will be going with our old agent. We don't really see her much so she hasn't asked us what we think of them but I think she thinks we have sold up (old sign is long gone and not getting one from new agent for another few days). The agent we were with takes an upfront fee,almost a grand, but no commission on completion. If she does go with our old agent I would be amazed if she doesn't end up in the position we are now in, ie having basically flushed that money down the toilet and still stuck here.

I should knock on her door and tell her what I think of them, then if she chooses to use them at least she's been warned. But on the other hand it works to our advantage if she goes with the crap agent as I'm fairly sure she will be on the market for less than we are,or at least will take less as we bought at the peak of the market and she bought just after the crash. I also have good reason to believe she doesn't really like me (long story) and while my warning her would be done with good intentions I think she may think I'm trying to put her off to reduce competition for selling my flat. I'm inclined to say since she hasn't asked what we think of the old agent we should leave it be.

Thoughts?

[ancientbuchanan]

Say nothing unless she asks. . It's not your business and could be slanderous, or purported to be if she reported you. . If she asks you, stick to facts.

[Pheonixisrising]

you paid upfront ???

[HenI5]

I've never heard of paying an Agent a fee upfront and I wouldn't ever do that. All their incentive is in the eventual commission.

I wouldn't say anything either. She's presumably spoken to different Agents and made her choice.

Good luck with your sale.

[mrsleomcgary]

I know pheonix, I know...there was a reason why we thought this was a good thing at the time but I don't remember what it was now.

[eurochick]

You paid upfront?!? It sounds like more of a scam than an estate agency!

[mrsleomcgary]

It's actually a national chain of very well known agents though are a mix of franchise and non-franchise (our one it turns out is a franchise). But this isn't really the point. if it was the other way round I would want to be told but agree that it isn't really my place to tell her if she doesn't ask, it just feels wrong plus I don't want the agent getting even more money!

[ancientbuchanan]

If you are really feeling kind, you could put a note through her door saying you are there us she wants a word.

But personally I wouldn't. She has presumably seen how long your place has been on, she will see that you have changed agents. It's up to her. And she might assume there had been a falling out or something.

[LadySybilLikesCake]

I'd tell her. I'd be grateful if someone warned me.

[DinoSnores]

I would tell her about the problems you had with the old estate agent. It isn't slander if it is true, ancientbuchanan!

[IvyBeagle]

I would try and catch her in general conversation and throw in a few 'of course now we have changed agents things are looking up' phrases, unless you want to sell yours first of course, in which case keep quiet!