Useless/ half truth/ rude estate agent

[Marksmum]

We are almost at the point of exchanging on a property we are purchasing and I'm finding the EA impossible to deal with. He is clearly pissed about our enquiries (asked 10 days ago) and will lie and say we just sent them over (we haven't). Does zero problem solving. We couldn't agree a completion date and since he would only give me drops of info I couldn't find a way for us to agree. I finally went via my solicitor who got the full story and we can now agree on a completion date. I'm mainly venting here! Anyone called up and asked for a new point of contact? I honestly don't think I can stand to talk to him again

If you're almost at the point of exchanging and have agreed a completion date, there likely isn't much more reason to interact with the EA any more, particularly when they are being this unhelpful.

TBH - it should only be your solicitor handling the completion dates etc.

Agents are for chasing up and down the chain and holding things together but the solicitor should be doing the bulk of the work for the actual purchase/sale/sending documents.

You need to be chasing your solicitor on documents or asking the agent to prod the solicitor on the other side to send what is needed to your solicitor if your solicitor isn't getting what they need.

it should only be your solicitor handling the completion dates etc

That's far from completely true.

Many of the solicitors I deal with don't want to get overly involved with negotiating completion dates, partciularly where there is a lengthy chain, as it can become quite time consuming. Often the agent (if there are semi competent, unlike the one the OP is involved with) is better placed to talk to all parties and get a date settled on.

The EA on our place sorted the completion date and now it's our solicitor handling it for our onward purchase as I can't bear to deal with this guy. I haven't asked the EA for anything or to chase anything - he called me up annoyed about our enquiries, said our solicitor had only just sent them when I know they had sent them over a week ago.

You are all right though - we are almost there and I'll let it go.

Marksman, are you with Your Move? We had such a stressful experience selling with them that I never want to own a house again! You are in the last stretch - hang in there, and good luck.

Estate agents are not supposed to deal with enquiries. That’s the solicitors job.

As in your solicitor should send them to their solicitor.

I’ve been stunned about how nonchalant our EA has been at this late stage. I thought he’d be desperate to get his commission in. It’s infuriating.