Would you negotiate this estate agent fee?

[Jotribiani]

So our house is on the market with 2 well known estate agents. Estate agent 1 has been pretty useless. Second really good.
Over half of the viewing with EA 1 I have had to do myself. They called yesterday and said someone wants to view either weds or mon. I said mon is best as at work weds and need to take out the dogs. She said ok well you have to do it Monday then because I’m busy doing viewings and someone else has to be at the office we can’t close. I just think what am I actually paying you for. To market the property on Rightmove and that’s it! If I get an offer from the viewing tomorrow, would you try to negotiate the fee with estate agent? We didn’t sign a contract or anything with them, they literally came round done a valuation and took photos. I just feel that I’d be paying them over £3000 and I’m doing the actual physical part? What does anyone else think????

If they introduce the client that buoys the house they get the fee.

But if you don't have a contract can you just get rid?

I get that part that they’d be introducing, I just feel I’m doing the actual selling as in showing the potential buyer round etc so they haven’t actually done the work of that part which is why I think, could I express my disappointment at that and then try to negotiate the fee ?

If you do not have a contract then negotiate.

You could speak to the branch manager, tell them you are happy to do viewings but you want a reduction in commission. If they do not agree, go somewhere else.

We did our own viewings, by choice, and considered an online agent but realised our EA was very good at getting people through the door, so we stuck with them.

I dont know if you know this but the EA does a lot of work after the offer, to make sure the sale proceeds. This is where I feel they really earn their commission.

Just for comparison, we are paying ours just under £4000.

If you can get out of it I'd suggest using an online EA. I recently sold via one and saved myself over 2.5K. Yes, I did the viewings but there were only 2 anyway as they both offered above asking price immediately.

Get rid of them and just use the other one?

If you know what the potential fee is you must have some sort of contract with them. A contract doesn't have to be signed to be binding. Sort it out with them and, if you're dissatisfied, terminate the agreement.