What to do about an Estate Agent that doesn't show up?

[Smurfsmum]

By chance a potential viewer of my deceased mums house was able to contact me and tell me that the estate agent didnt show for a view appointment today and has been really unhelpful at arranging another viewing. He got to know about the house as he knows one of the neighbours who told him about it. I live miles away and feel helpless - it not like the estate agent aren't charging me a fortune - as they are. Guess they thought I'd never find out - makes me think is this the first time?? Does anyone know if I can get the fee reduced or even cancel my contract with them at no cost to me? I feel like they dont have my interest at heart at all!

Ring them up and ask them what happened as a first step. See what they have to say. If the person who was supposed to conduct the viewing isn't the manager and you are not satisfied with the response you get, speak to the manager and ask them what they propose to do. Take it from there.

Tell them what you know. Ask them what they are playing at and why? I suspect they either know you are too far away so can sit back and be lazy or if it's a property that requires any development they probably have regular developers they know they can maybe push it on to when they look for their next project. Another reason may be if it's a lower priced property than most they sell - a can't be arsed attitude when they get more commission on more expensive property.

I've experienced some of these as a buyer.

I tried to view an empty house a few years ago. It was on with an agent in a town 5 miles away, there was a nearer smaller town 3 miles away that most propertirs in this area were sold through. Either way it's an unbusy amd fairly rural area. Personally I've not ever found it difficult or time consuming to get to the small town 5 miles away.
Any way I tried to arrange viewings 4 times and was always told they didn't have time for an agent to do the viewing due to its location. I doubt they told the vendor they thought this would be an issue when the property was put on tbe market. After chatting to neighbours of the property I got intouch with the vendor who was furious. Eventually I got my viewing but the agent was rude and looking at the clock the whole time.
Another time in 2008 we had problems viewing a different property. Viewings difficult to arrange. I'd call to make a viewing and the agent would say no agents available for 8 days etc, I'd book it then they would cancel last minute and rearrange again for another week in advance. This kept happening until it was sold to a man who seemed to be the proud owner of several doer upper properties all sold in the last 2 years under the same agent! Call me cynical but myself a other locals suspected more than coincidence to the link.

I don't know how easy it is to revoke your contract with this agent but I'd certainly threaten it and get people you know to try and arrange viewings once you've spoken to the agent to see if they improve.

A good bit if advice I've had and followed is when you sign up with an agent to cross out the standard 16 weeks and replace with 6 weeks before signing. Obviously you can stay with them after this point but if they aren't pulling their weight you can go elsewhere. A few agents have been a bit huffy about it but never told us to bugger off. We also find they generally try hard to push our property in those few 6 weeks as they know their time for the sale is shorter.

Pull this agent up on their sloppy behaviour. Go elsewhere if you can revoke your contract.

What do you mean what to do?

Ring them up and ask what happened!

Goodness me.

Check your contract but in our case we could change for free. I found EA got bored of showing our flat after it didn't sell in first two months, we reduced price but they still wanted us to be there each time.

Can we assume you've already called? What did they say?

Or are you going to just negotiate something with your potential buyer without the estate agents fees