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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:
masterofthechef · 12/04/2021 21:17

may have had 200 viewings online no way actually in the house at the minute or local plod would be around sharpish.
Any sniff of underhand dealings i would be off. Had this previously when we put in a sealed bid offer and didn't get the house. Discovered later that the house had sold for £30k below our offer .EA also had a few sideline businesses doing property development and a lettings agency. Definitely some self-interest going on.

peak2021 · 12/04/2021 21:21

@masterofthechef perhaps local plod, as you term it, should be involved for an attempt at what I think in the US is termed elder abuse.

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 12/04/2021 21:21

@CrumpetsForAll

Not helpful to you but I only clicked on to see if they were having an affair...
Same here....... was a bit Shock when I saw your mums age. Grin
bookworm1632 · 12/04/2021 21:21

It's a con - there's just ONE offer - from either him or someone he knows. They're trying it on to buy a house at below the market price so they can sell it on at a premium.

I'd get the Property Ombudsman involved.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 12/04/2021 21:25

@bookworm1632

It's a con - there's just ONE offer - from either him or someone he knows. They're trying it on to buy a house at below the market price so they can sell it on at a premium.

I'd get the Property Ombudsman involved.

I disagree - purely because of 'detached, 3 bedroom, large south facing garden' in the South East.

It's a block of flats he's planning. Absolute MILLIONS.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 12/04/2021 21:26

Definitely a con . Unfortunately I have known this happen to two different friends. Were you with your mother when she spoke to the EA, has she signed anything? There are far too many unscrupulous estate agents around and, as far as I can see, they regulate themselves.

fiorentina · 12/04/2021 21:27

This is a common method near us - also SE - an open house and then best and final offers by Monday. A friend has just ‘sold’ this way this weekend. However they knew how many viewers they had, they all had appointments and the 200 per hour sounds ridiculous.
Best and final doesn’t always equal the highest either - proceedable, cash/mortgage etc are all taken into account.

GabsAlot · 12/04/2021 21:27

doesnt sound right and if it was 200 it was online-you cant do open house right now

sounds like hes trying to rip her off can you take over

Dashel · 12/04/2021 21:31

I agree with others three appraisals and don’t rush to take such a low offer. I know you must be impatient to sell and get it resolved, but I think speaking to other estate agents would potentially save a lot of money

LizzieSiddal · 12/04/2021 21:31

He’s got no right to do “best and final offers” as You don’t instruct him to do this. So he’s trying to rip your mother off.

Also how can you do an “anonymous” bid, thing, when he needs to know their names.Hmm

Also I’d suggest he’s a liar. You can’t have 200 people viewing a house.

waitingforthenextseason · 12/04/2021 21:31

Sounds dodgy as fuck.

200 viewings in an hour during covid?

I call bullshit.

EspressoExpresso · 12/04/2021 21:34

200 people in an hour?

If we assume that that's 100 couples, he's bloody quick at doing his viewings!

AfternoonToffee · 12/04/2021 21:37

I disagree - purely because of 'detached, 3 bedroom, large south facing garden' in the South East.

It's a block of flats he's planning. Absolute MILLIONS.

If this has already happened around the area (i.e a precedent in terms of planning has already been set) then this is a very likely scenario.

icdtap · 12/04/2021 21:38

I read your title thinking "Not again, not some fucking troll making up a joke thread for a laugh"... then when I started reading I realized it wasn't about an estate agent screwing your mother.

Now I know what it's about.... yes, it does sound suspicious. Don't accept that offer. It's probably some mate of the estate agent looking for a property cheap to develop and sell on. We had this issue when my Dad was selling his house. Some unscrupulous estate agents tip off their property developing mates. In fact, I vaguely remember something similar happening when my Grandad died too but I was younger then. The estate agent claimed there was only one person interested and was very pushy but the place hadn't even been advertised properly.
I think it probably happens a lot when people are elderly or have died and there's perhaps a need to modernize the house so prime doer-upper type properties which would interest people wanting to make a profit.

Do not accept the offer and get other estate agents to do appraisals for you so you can get a better idea of what to expect.

nicknamehelp · 12/04/2021 21:38

For one no way even in non covid times would 200 people view a house I 1hour.
Ask for all offers in writing with their position ie if cash buyer, in a chain, need to sell etc.
Even if he is owner you can report him to property ombudsman if you suspect not being honest.

AcornAutumn · 12/04/2021 21:40

@Runway

I only opened this as I thought you meant literally screwing her
It being MN, that's what I thought 😂
KarmaNoMore · 12/04/2021 21:41

Mate interested in buying. Sadly, it looks like you are a bit too late to offer advice to your relative, unless she decides to pull out.

Marshasthorn · 12/04/2021 21:41

@Runway

I only opened this as I thought you meant literally screwing her
This exactly. I’m laughing so hard.

Op have you considered changing EAs? It just all sounds really fishy to me.

Fuckingfuckssake · 12/04/2021 21:50

Completely hijacking this thread but as there are so many knowledgeable peeps on here could I just ask a quick question, we sold our flat via an auction house, failed to reach reserve at 2 auctions and in our desperation sold it to the auctioneer for about 12k less than they valued it for originally, we were 200 miles away throughout the whole process providing palliative care for FIL, it was 6 years ago now but I can't quite let it go, it basically meant we had no deposit for our next place and have been renting ever since. Apologies again for jumping on, will ask for this to be deleted if OP wishes.

FAQs · 12/04/2021 21:53

Surely he means virtual viewers! Can you put a link @dodgyestateagent

percheron67 · 12/04/2021 21:57

I took this title totally the wrong way! To be fair I did have fun with a dishy estate agent in my youth!!

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 12/04/2021 21:57

I thought he was actually “screwing” her but I can see from your posts he is a charlatan not a gigalo!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 12/04/2021 21:59

Bloody hell, sack that chancer and try at least two more estate agents...

Changingwiththetimes · 12/04/2021 21:59

If you do 'best and final', you do not go back to the bidders, that's not how it works. But you get to review all of the offers, and you don't have to accept any.
He does sound unscrupulous. Do you have POA? Get him to show you, or your mother in your presence, all the offers and their position. You still do not have to accept if you are not happy with them.

PurpleRainDancer · 12/04/2021 22:02

@MoveOnTheCards

200 people. In one hour. During lockdown?! Yeah right. Tell him you’ll wait for a better offer. Or consider a different agent.

Wonder if they know the proposed buyer well...?! Hmm

This Inside job (friend of a friend)
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