What should I do? Estate agent dilemma

[Homelander]

First time poster, but long time lurker!

We are looking to sell our 2 bed house to move to a bigger place as I am 10 weeks pregnant with dc2. The estate agent was in on Saturday taking photos and sent them to us today for our approval, but we haven't signed any agreement and haven't yet responded to the email re the photos.

I got home from work today and two of our (lovely) neighbours told me that they each know someone who might be interested in buying the house (they knew we were planning to sell because my husband told one of them on Saturday).

So, what do I do about the estate agent? I want to delay putting the house on the market in case one of these potential buyers actually comes to something - I assume as the estate agent hasn't done any marketing yet and we have not signed anything, that we would be still free to sell the house and not have to pay any fees - is that right?

Do I come clean to them and be honest about why the delay putting on the market (which is what my gut is telling me to do, depending on our position re question above) or what are my alternatives?

Contract with agent should let you name potential private purchasers. If you sell to a named person, agent doesn't take a fee. Even if the house is marketed by agent at the same time.

Thanks Parietal

We haven't signed an agreement yet. Really expected to do so on Saturday when he took the photos.

Sorry, but are you sure you haven't signed anything? Only it's unusual (in my experience) for an EA to take photos before a contract is signed?

If no contract signed then you're not obliged to tell them anything.

Just say to the agent that you want to delay putting the house on the market for a month. You don't have a contract so you don't need to worry about it.

Shakey1500, yes really, not signed a thing! I was surprised too to be honest, but I thought if he hasn't mentioned it yet, I wasn't going to.

Mintyy - that's what I thought too.

We had pictures taken first and then signed a contract.

Ah good Lavenderandroses, that makes me feel better! As I said before the house isn't on the market yet, so I think I am OK to delay. Am just wondering if I should be honest as to why??

Our agent also did pics before c

... C

... Contract.

(3rd time lucky to type on phone)

We sold to an acquaintance several months after putting our house on the market with a particular estate agent. We could prove that we knew them before the house went on the market, but never had to - the estate agents were lovely about it and didn't charge anything. That was 7 years ago and we were perhaps just very lucky. If you haven't signed anything, I'd definitely try to sell privately first.

Normally , you can sign up with the estate agent and name the two potential buyers , who will be excluded from their commission as long as specified . IE what Parietal said