Changing estate agents

[Paperairplane]

My estate agents so far have been pretty useless (main achievement has been breaking the lock which obvs had to be replaced.) Coming up to the end of the 12 week lock in. Do I just give them notice and relaunch in September? I don’t want to be stuck paying them commission and want to be sure I won’t have any obligation if I sign up with a new agency.

If you’re unhappy then change when you can. I’ve seen plenty of houses list again with other agents. I suppose it’s like anything, if you’re not happy with the service then go elsewhere? I’ve never had to do this, but I’ve only used an estate agent once. Maybe someone with more experience may have a good reason for you to stay, but on the face of it I’d move. I’d begrudge paying someone for a bad job.

im currently looking for a house and some estate agents have been terrible and ive really wondered why the seller sticks with them .

one house we like has been on for over a year! ive emailed loads of times and tried to call, they never get back to me. we tried one last time on friday. we got through after waiting ages! then the connection died and she didnt bother calling us back. she was also very rude in her tone!

Interesting thread. I tried to view houses though Andrews, almost impossible to get though their broken phone system, and then they make you do a virtual viewing first (which is just the agent talking about the photos as you flick through with your own eyes) and only then may you book an actual viewing. Because they're doubling up the viewings like this, it takes too long to get the virtual or real viewing and I'd already bought before I even got to Andrew's bookings.

No wonder the houses had been on a while. I certainly won't use them when I next sell.

My estate agents have been really dire. I think I’ve got a 28 day notice period. Will tell them tomorrow. I just don’t want to get into a situation where a dual agency fee kicks in as no way current muppets deserve a penny.

Tell them you want immediately out and you will complain to their head office- if applicable. Or on SM. They should let you out of their lock in tmrw. But get them to email you/ write a letter to that effect.
Dont do any 12 week lock ins. Negotiate on that- 6 weeks e.g at 1.5%.

I vote do it. I’m probably going to give ours their marching orders for being crap. The market is so buoyant in a lot of places, that l think they don’t need to make much effort