Approach vendor or estate agent?

[GreekPotatoes]

We may have to move house soon as a developer has applied for planning permission to knock down our house and build. This is the second time they’ve gone for planning permission. The first time they applied we got a bit carried away and fell in love with a house and offered on it. The vendors turned it down even though we thought it was a really good offer not far off the asking price. They were happy to wait 4 months or so until planning permission was granted but wanted more money. The house has been on the market on and off for the last 3 years. It was taken off the market in December- is there any point dropping a note round asking the vendors to get in touch if they’re still thinking of selling or better to go back to the estate agent? The agent described the vendors several times as quite difficult people and from our dealings they might be tricky to deal with directly. Not sure if it’s better to try the estate agent who might be able to smooth things a bit or go directly, potentially save the vendor lots of money but have to deal directly with challenging vendors who might have to pay estate agent fees anyway.

If the owners have taken the house off the market, it's nothing to do with the estate agent; they could go with another agency if they decide they do want to sell. As much as you love the house, I'd look elsewhere. It's a stressful process anyway, without the vendors being 'quite difficult people'.

I have heard of there being a certain time period where an estate agent would still be able to claim their fees if the vendor sold to someone the estate agent had previously shown the house.

I would definitely drop a note through the door. A nice letter that sets out your position and asks if they are considering selling.

Somebody dropped a letter like that through our door a few years ago, saying if we ever want to sell our house please to contact them (it's a lovely house!). We thought, oh that's nice, but we didn't keep it as we weren't thinking of selling. How I wished we had kept it!

Don't ask, don;t get. Go direct and avoid the EA fees

I would check because if the agents introduced you in the first place they may still be able to charge the sellers commission. Without see what agreement the sellers signed it’s difficult to say.

and from our dealings they might be tricky to deal with directly.

For this reason alone, I would not approach them! You don't want to be dealing with difficult people at what is an already stressful time.

Thanks all. We’re weighing everything up. With our current family situation I’m not sure I’m up for trying to deal with someone who might turn out to be a pain in the backside, but then we could both save a huge amount of money. I need someone adultier than me to sort this!