Buyer not through EA?

[spydie]

We are about to go on the market, EA identified and coming Friday to do photos etc. We have contract but haven't yet managed to get round to dropping it in to them.

Our cleaner has mentioned to another of their clients that we are selling, they are looking to upsize and are interested in viewing our property. Where do we stand with the EA on this, if, on the off chance they ended up being our buyer? Clearly a lot has to fall into place here, but would rather be straight up with the EA, just in case.

I negotiated a much reduced commission rate two named potential buyers in the contract with my EA who had previously and repeatedly expressed a serious interest in purchasing my property before I was ready to sell. I was upfront with the EA regarding them from the outset and I did not wish to deal with these buyers directly for viewings etc they were distant acquaintances etc.

it should be noted that both of these two “super keen buyers” who very given first dibs vanished into the ether when they realised I was expecting them to pay the market related price for the property (ie. Not just less the reduced agents commission).

It was a different market back then though.

it really depends on your contract. what does it say in this event? https://www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/home-movers/selling-a-house/estate-agent-fees-and-contracts-aVxAi4F4tdMd

I believe if the EA hasn't put it on the market and they don't have a contract from you they don't have a leg to stand on, you've found those buyers yourself.

You can either put the EA off for a bit longer and let these people view before they do the pics etc (and tell the potential buyers they have a small window to look and make an offer if they like it before you sign the dotted line with an EA and it goes on the market) or as a PP said, name them specifically in the contract with your chosen EA and arrange a special reduced commission for these buyers you've found yourself. :)

I wouldn't cut the agent out personally, a good agent can be very useful when it comes to pushing to get bumps in the road sorted out. You don't know anything about this possible buyer and to be honest the savings on fees when split between you aren't that significant.

I had an EA round on a Saturday and signed them up immediately with a contract and photos to be taken the following Tuesday. Ten minutes after he left I got a call from a friend who was asking on the off chance if I was still selling my house (I had mentioned a couple of months before that it would be going on the market soon). He and his wife came round the same day and put in an offer which I accepted. I phoned the EA first thing Monday to explain what had happened - they were also the EA for selling my buyers house and their buyers house! I ended up never paying any commission - they had mentioned reducing it to half a percent or something but never charged me.

Thanks all! Contract wording is quite clear cut so I will mention the interested party to the EA and discuss options. I expect it won't come to anything, and still plan to proceed with the listing next week.