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Original poster

What does this mean

29 replies

Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 13:30

We found the property of our dreams last week. Put an offer and it was accepted. Sellers agreed to give us a grace period. 24 hours after our property was put on the market we got an offer that we accepted. The sellers haven't yet found a property but are in a rush as they are moving areas and want to be on for school applications in the new year. The EA said they were doing 2nd viewings on houses they like this weekend.

Anyways, we drive past the house on the way somewhere else and notice there is a for sale sign with another EA. My husband drove past yesterday and it wasn't there, it was the EA we originally saw it and put the offer in with, so they have switched.

My question is, is this normal?! Why would they have switched EA after accepting our offer?

OP posts:
TheyreEatingThemInNelsonAndTheBluff · 21/10/2023 13:38

As the old sign is back (have I got that right?) I’d just assume the people that put the signs up had made a mistake.

twinmum2022 · 21/10/2023 13:40

Does the other estate agent have it listed online?

Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 14:05

TheyreEatingThemInNelsonAndTheBluff · 21/10/2023 13:38

As the old sign is back (have I got that right?) I’d just assume the people that put the signs up had made a mistake.

No sorry, think I worded that confusingly. They had a sign up with EA X who we put our offer in to. They now have a sign up with EA Y. X knew nothing about it and Y have simply said 'not available' when I called them. It isn't on Y's website...

OP posts:
Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 14:05

twinmum2022 · 21/10/2023 13:40

Does the other estate agent have it listed online?

No...

OP posts:
Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 14:13

Bump

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KievLoverTwo · 21/10/2023 14:49

Perhaps they just literally agreed to go multi agency before you bought it. Now it's been sold to you, the other EA has insisted on putting their sign up anyway, because it's free advertising for them.

TheyreEatingThemInNelsonAndTheBluff · 21/10/2023 14:50

Phone the estate agent?

In our area all the Newhomes4you signs have been changed to Berry & George seemingly overnight, I assume it’s a company take over or rebranding or something. Could it be that?

Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:35

KievLoverTwo · 21/10/2023 14:49

Perhaps they just literally agreed to go multi agency before you bought it. Now it's been sold to you, the other EA has insisted on putting their sign up anyway, because it's free advertising for them.

I really don't think so, as it's actually been on for 6 months and reduced. They accepted our offer 25k under asking (the EA told us on our viewing that the sellers had said to tell viewers they would accept x). I think they now regret doing this and have gone to another company to try and get more money...

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Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:37

TheyreEatingThemInNelsonAndTheBluff · 21/10/2023 14:50

Phone the estate agent?

In our area all the Newhomes4you signs have been changed to Berry & George seemingly overnight, I assume it’s a company take over or rebranding or something. Could it be that?

I phoned both. The original EA said the only people who would possibly know weren't there and the new EA just kept saying 'sorry that's not available' but wouldn't tell me why. They've definitely not merged or anything as the lady we spoke to would have said 'oh we've merged' I think, not 'that's so strange I'll get the manager to call you on Monday'

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Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:37

KievLoverTwo · 21/10/2023 14:49

Perhaps they just literally agreed to go multi agency before you bought it. Now it's been sold to you, the other EA has insisted on putting their sign up anyway, because it's free advertising for them.

Yeah, maybe! Fingers crossed

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Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:38

Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:37

Yeah, maybe! Fingers crossed

Show quote history

Oh sorry I just realised this is the comment I already replied to! It really is our perfect house so I keep flitting between all hope lost and it's all fine 😂

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KievLoverTwo · 21/10/2023 17:47

Go and knock on their door and ask them what is going on then.

Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:54

KievLoverTwo · 21/10/2023 17:47

Go and knock on their door and ask them what is going on then.

I feel like that's so intrusive. I'd feel uneasy if someone did that to me. But someone else personally suggested that. Is that common?!

OP posts:
KievLoverTwo · 21/10/2023 18:15

Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 17:54

I feel like that's so intrusive. I'd feel uneasy if someone did that to me. But someone else personally suggested that. Is that common?!

Show quote history

Idk. I am quite bolshy. If I felt agents were lying to me, it would be the easiest way to get to the truth.

FayCarew · 21/10/2023 19:23

Be careful. I can remember years ago a friend was buying a house. There were 2 buyers and my friend found out the day they were meant to pick up the keys.

My friend didn't get the house.

It's so ridiculous, it doesn't sound true.

Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 19:57

FayCarew · 21/10/2023 19:23

Be careful. I can remember years ago a friend was buying a house. There were 2 buyers and my friend found out the day they were meant to pick up the keys.

My friend didn't get the house.

It's so ridiculous, it doesn't sound true.

Edited

What!!!! How does that even happen

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FayCarew · 21/10/2023 20:07

@Ontheflipside_ , the house is sold subject to contract being exchanged.
Two estate agents. One sells the house to Adams, the other one to Bonnie.
Adam has agreed with the seller to buy the house STC, as has Bonnie.
Bonnie goes to exchange contracts only to find that the deal is off, because Adam has already exchanged contracts.

Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 20:11

FayCarew · 21/10/2023 20:07

@Ontheflipside_ , the house is sold subject to contract being exchanged.
Two estate agents. One sells the house to Adams, the other one to Bonnie.
Adam has agreed with the seller to buy the house STC, as has Bonnie.
Bonnie goes to exchange contracts only to find that the deal is off, because Adam has already exchanged contracts.

That's awful. I don't know how the sellers can allow that! So shitty

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FayCarew · 21/10/2023 20:15

Because they can. It sounds so ridiculous, doesn't it? I've no idea how often it happens or even if it actually did but I have no reason to believe the friend was lying.

As they say, buyer beware.

TheBossOfMe · 21/10/2023 20:23

@FayCarew - that can’t have been in England, though. The only way that’s possible is if you’re simultaneously exchanging and completing, which is extremely rare and strongly advised against for many reasons.

Pipsquiggle · 21/10/2023 20:24

You need to get clarity from your estate agent. They too will probably want to know if there sellers have a other EA as it may affect their ts& C's.

Sounds like you are a strong proceedable position, make sure you remind them of that

Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 21/10/2023 20:26

Pipsquiggle · 21/10/2023 20:24

You need to get clarity from your estate agent. They too will probably want to know if there sellers have a other EA as it may affect their ts& C's.

Sounds like you are a strong proceedable position, make sure you remind them of that

Yes agreed! We also had another 8 viewings today (all from FTB or renters) which were booked in before we got the offer yesterday. The person showing them round our house caught us popping back in between viewings and said 'everyone loves it' so hopefully we could get a back up offer if anything happens to our current buyers

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Original poster
Ontheflipside_ · 23/10/2023 10:09

Update! I spoke to the original EA who said the sellers had contacted the other EA 2 weeks ago as they hadn't got the response they wanted so far through the original. Within that 2 weeks we found the property, viewed it and put an offer in. The new EA put the sign up anyways, despite them saying we now have an offer we have accepted.

We have another 4 offers on our house too, so they are pretty secure with us as buyers.

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FayCarew · 23/10/2023 11:18

@TheBossOfMe , it was in England, exchange & completion the same day, but it was decades ago. It's gazumping at the very last minute.

TBOM · 23/10/2023 11:24

@FayCarew - that's one of the reasons why it's so strongly advised against and very rarely happens now. Dreadful situation to be in.

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