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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is the estate agent screwing my mother?

371 replies

dodgyestateagent · 12/04/2021 20:06

DM, who is elderly, has just had to put her family home up for sale, she is moving to assisted living. She is 78 and has lived in this house for over 50 years - my father's recent passing has meant she can no longer cope with the house by herself. She has no idea about market value, valuations, selling a house, so we have been dealing with the estate agent ourselves.

The house went up for sale on Friday, and we were told it was inundated with interest. So much so that the estate agent held an 'open viewing' for viewings on Saturday, for one hour. We were told that over 200 people had come to visit the house!

We've just been told the highest offer, and it's below what would be expected for the area (we are South East, detached, 3 bedroom, large south facing garden). Especially since he said they'd been inundated with viewings and interest. When we queried the estate agent on how he got the offers, he told us that due to having so much interest, he was doing an anonymous 'best and final offer'. The highest offer (and best position) we've been given is supposedly the highest of all of the 'best and final'... However, when we enquired whether or not he'd gone back to any of the other interested parties to see if they'd like to improve on it, he said he hadn't to ensure 'fairness for everyone involved.' It doesn't seem like he has tried to get the best price for my DM. Myself and DH have purchased a couple of properties, and each and every time we've been told about other 'higher offers' and been asked if we'd like to improve on our offer... It just seems a strange way of doing things and I am worried the estate agent has got some sort of back hander going on... AIBU?

OP posts:
Lampan · 12/04/2021 20:39

Surely if it really went to best and final offers you would still get to choose which one to accept? Highest price does not necessarily equal most desirable buyer. I’d ask for ALL the details of all the offers (just to see what bullshit explanation they come up with), and as others have said, find another agent. They’ll probably say it was cos the offers were ‘anonymous’, but if you think about it for a second that’s nonsense too.

Rainbowqueeen · 12/04/2021 20:40

This is so wrong. An offer that is from a cash buyer might be more attractive to you than one in a chain even if it is lower. It is up to your mum to make that decision not the agent.
I’d make a fuss so he releases you from the contract and find another agent

JinglingHellsBells · 12/04/2021 20:41

You know that there is no way 200 people could get through the house in that time.

Can you not be there to monitor viewings? Is your Mum there alone or are they doing accompanied viewings? Or does he mean he can track online viewings?

You need to set a price such as offers over, or make it very clear that you won't sell for lower than £x amount.

We had a similar experience in some ways in selling a deceased relatives house where the agent wanted to set a very low price (for a quick sale.) We refused and put it on the market at the price we knew it could be sold for and it did.

Stay in control and put it with someone else.

Kiitos · 12/04/2021 20:43

An unscrupulous agent will also discourage offers from people they don’t want in the picture. So it’s possible they have done this too, especially if he or a mate wants to buy it. Another reason to find another agent.

NotwatchingSpooks · 12/04/2021 20:43

Can you post the link to the house, someone might be able to offer a local market view

CarnationCat · 12/04/2021 20:45

Definitely sounds like he's trying to buy it himself or sell it to someone he knows.

Tell him you're not happy with that price. If he doesn't do anything about it, i.e. find someone who will pay more, look for a different agent.

However, are you 100% sure that the house isn't overpriced? Have you compared the size and condition of it to other ones?

JustLyra · 12/04/2021 20:48

200 people is bullshit.

Also he doesn’t get to decide what way your mother’s house sells. He seems to have forgotten that your mother is employing him.

He’s at it. I’d be turning down the offer, he’s either buying himself or selling to a mate.

Blindstupid · 12/04/2021 20:48

We’ve been looking at houses ... one EA in particular does ‘best and final offer’ as you’ve stated .... however they then ring around EVERYONE who’s put offers in to see if they want to up their offer! It completely defeats the object ... however, this obviously benefits the sellers.

I’d either change agents if there’s no fees involved, or I’d let them know you’re not happy with their practise and you'd like every offer in writing/email (which they’re supposed to do anyway) and hold out for the price you think it’s worth.

SheldonesqueHasGotTheWeevils · 12/04/2021 20:48

OP.

Find someone else.

This one sounds like a chancer.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 12/04/2021 20:49

Yes. I’m afraid it sounds like he is as dodgy as anything.

Elderly lady, greedy EA. He will think it’s sewn up.

Don’t let your mum sell at a low price.

Justsocross · 12/04/2021 20:49

There was a scam up where I live where the agent was telling owner of best offers that happened to be from his friends . He was getting backhanders and oriole were being scammed . Be careful and go to another agent you do not have to sell with this one

Viviennemary · 12/04/2021 20:56

Just turn down the offer if its lower than you hoped for. Don't believe 200 people viewed it in a day. Sounds really dodgy. Find out if thd estate agent is a member of a professional body. And contact them.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/04/2021 21:00

It’s hardly unknown for EAs to earmark a property for a mate or relative, and fail to pass on offers.
This once happened to me - the property sold for way below my offer.
Also I once met someone who openly boasted of his arrangement with local EAs - brown envelopes obviously involved. He’d get them cheaply, tart them up cheaply and sell at a profit.

TBH I think I’d instruct a different agent.

Fluffycloudland77 · 12/04/2021 21:00

@HoneysuckIejasmine

Had he got a mate who wants to buy it, by chance?
My thoughts EXACTLY. Vulnerable recently widowed woman. Nice.

I’d change agents.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 12/04/2021 21:01

There's no chance 200 viewed it in lockdown. He's lying about that so the likelihood is he's lying about the rest

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 12/04/2021 21:02

@dodgyestateagent

He owns the estate agents, so unfortunately there is no one higher to go to!
If his name is Neil, that's because his best mate Colin the builder (who he happens to joint own a property development company with) will be the one making the 'highest' offer.
HandsIntoTheFire · 12/04/2021 21:03

Look him up on companies house

Meatshake · 12/04/2021 21:03

Get a friend to phone up and ask to view the property, and ask questions about how much interest/any offers.

It definitely sounds like the EA is working to their own agenda.

SheldonesqueHasGotTheWeevils · 12/04/2021 21:04

Aye. It would maybe be useful to see if he has any interest in other companies by doing a quick search.

Shameful if he does.

Glintwithpersperation · 12/04/2021 21:06

Is the property on RM? Get someone to do a fake viewing? Turn all sleuth!

@ CrumpetsForAll lol!!

SpaceBatAngelDragon · 12/04/2021 21:06

You are being had.

I would have wanted the names of anyone that viewed the house, this is what has happened every time I have sold a house (I have sold 5).

You should have been given the names and position (chain, cash buyer etc) of everyone who made an offer, and the final decision whether or not to accept is yours (on behalf of your mum) and yours alone. The decision to go to best and final offers is yours and yours alone. The decision to accept any one of those offers is yours and yours alone. Estate agents don't just present you with a purchaser of their choice and tell you that you must sell to them. He is involved in a scam.

Don't give him a second chance. Tell him you are not happy and serve notice on your contract. Report him to his professional body. Another elderly person may not be lucky enough to have a relative watching their back.

Attaching the Gov.co.uk link re estate agents/complaints:

www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/estate-agents

DarkDarkNight · 12/04/2021 21:06

I wouldn’t trust him. Get another agent. It sounds like he’s pulling a fast one, even if he’s not he’s not doing well by your mother.

NailsNeedDoing · 12/04/2021 21:06

He’s relying on you and your mum wanting a quick and easy sale. Get rid of the twat and put the house on the market with someone else.

Oneeyeopen · 12/04/2021 21:08

5 years ago an EA valued our house at 50k less than we got with a different agent.
You need 3 valuations.

AmelieTaylor · 12/04/2021 21:13

Tell him to jog on

He should have even gone to a 'best and final' without discussing it with you.

Take it off the market & leave it as long as you have to then go with a different agent. One with a good reputation!

I'm SE too, everything decent is selling at a high price, quickly.

I need to find your agent & get a 'buyers' deal like that. Bottom Fokker buyer is some connection to someone at the agency.