Estate agent won’t stop harassing me

[Roxietrees]

I'm in the process of selling my house and buying a new one. There was a month delay at the beginning of the purchase (for complicated reasons) which I told the seller's agent about and told him I was happy for him to pass this info on to the seller's. He didn't. Obviously now 3 months in the sellers are furious that the process is going slower than expected but don't know the reason why.

I now get emails multiple times a week from the seller's agent telling me it's my fault it's going so slowly even though my solicitor's are working as fast as they can and I'm retuning every document I get the same day. I've had a survey done and there are multiple problems with the house but I had to wait for my solicitors to get planning permission docs etc back from
the sellers (for which they have none) before I know which kind of contractors to send round for quotes for potential negotiations on price. The seller's agent emails me late in the evenings threatening that they are going to pull out and telling me I don't have time now for negotiations for money off. I've told him I don't want anymore emails from him and all this should be going through both solicitors but he won't stop. He's rude and putting so much pressure on me it's driving me mad. Is there anything I can do? Or is this “normal” behaviour?

Report him to his branch manager.

Do you really, really want the house? If not I'd be tempted to walk away. Otherwise just stop replying.

@TokyoSushi he’s the owner unfortunately

I would pull out, seems like too much needs to be done to the house anyway if you need all those quotes etc

I'd just divert his emails in a separate folder in my inbox and ignore them. Tell him first you will no longer be responding to direct emails.

Email your solicitor to say that's what you have done as his emails are unhelpful and borderline harassment.

He's picking on you because he thinks you are more likely to crumble than your solicitor. You always have time to renegotiate all the way up to exchange. Tbh, his constant pushing would make me think there's something to hide wrt the house and make me be extra diligent with my checks.

So the delay was caused be the seller not providing documents? Or something else?

Have you asked your solicitor to speak to the agent about his communications?

Have you stuck a letter through the sellers door informing them of the agents behaviour, the fact that he didn’t pass over information and that you are feeling harassed despite everything now going as quickly as it can?

I can’t pull out, I do really want the house and there’s nothing else like it in my budget in the area. It’s a bit dated but I’m happy with that, however there are some things that I think I deserve money off for eg. The balcony railing is falling off and half the windows don’t open

@Ivehearditbothways the delay was caused by getting my ex’s name off the title - a transfer of equity. I know that should have been done before the process was started but I forgot and apologised and told the agent this will take a month then I can start the conveyancing, feel free to tell the sellers this then they can make up their minds. He was clearly too scared to tell the sellers in case they pulled out and he lost the sale but seems to be blaming me for the slow process and has never even acknowledged to me that he clearly didn’t tell the sellers even though I told him
multiple times he could and that was the reason for the delay

"Pestering and guilt tripping me multiple times a day isn't going to magically free up time in my solicitor's schedule, who, as you know, is working as quickly as he/she can.

You're not helping anyone. Back off."

Can you clarify this? Are you saying that the estate agent harassing you is also the house owner?

I'm very confused! To be fair to the seller it seems like there are lot of things you should have got in place before going to market that you're trying to sort after the sales been agreed - obvioulsy that's going to slow things down a lot

You but also say you told the agent and they didn't pass the message on, but now it's the agent messaging you? If that were me every message back would starts "As I previulsy stated..."

Also " I don't have time now for negotiations for money off. " are you trying ot haggle them down?

If you really want the house don't bother with starting to negotiate money off. You already knew it was dated and needed some work, the railing won't cost much to re-attach and the windows not opening is probably just due to having been painted shut or something. Nothing a bit of paint stripper wont solve. If half the windows are actually faulty then maybe you have a case though.

I can understand the seller being exasperated by the initial delay and now you aiming to get quotes for works which you probably were aware of at viewing point. Clearly, you’re saying you’re looking to renegotiate the offer.

Unless anything major came out of the survey, I’d proceed at this point if you really want the house. If I were the seller, and had any doubts at all about the move, I’d be considering pulling out.

All that said, the agent should not be bullying you like this, not professional at all.

Set up an auto reply for him on your email directing him to your solicitors with their email

@TokyoSushi no he’s the owner of the estate agent’s

The agent is telling you that the sale is at risk, if you think the windows are faulty instead of just needing maintenance, get a handyman or glazing repair person to take a look. It really does look like you're taking the piss now, and there's no reason at all for the sellers to agree to any discount, even if there are things that need fixing, especially if you've already used up any good will.

I assume the owner of the EA.

The owner of the EA get involved when sellers aren't co-operating. The owner of the EA is chasing up our case (which is actually multiple houses and multiple buyers dealing with the same seller) because its been a year and the sellers have done nothing. Probate is still not applied for and are giving no real info about why.

The seller and their solicitors rarely reply and when they do they just say 'unexpected circumstances' and 'unpredicted delays' etc... all things that are wildly vague and explain absoloutly nothing leaving us all in the dark.

Frankly I don't really care if they feel 'harassed', its been 6 months for us but over a year for some buyers. They should just answer the simple question of 'whats happening' instead of wasting everyone's time.

I don't understand why needing to sort out the title on your own house would have delayed your organising surveys on the new one?

You are taking the piss trying to get money off for minor defects that should have been obvious in viewing.

Also this. Unless it's a new build, you'd expect some issues like this.

If you know you're not going to pull out regardless of the outcome of any "negotiations" what's the point anyway?

I'm amazed, my experience of estate agents is that they have been worse than useless in pursuing or chasing anything or passing on anything. Half the time didn't even bother to show up to viewings.

I suspect that the sellers have not given him the full picture in terms of the aspects of the delay that is created by them not having proper planning permission in place for works they have undertaken.

However, I also agree with the comments about money off for defects that were obvious on the viewing. If you actually want this house, I would play your cards closer to your chest with the agents - who act for them don't forget.

However, he needs to manage their expectations, 3 months is nothing especially if there's a chain!

Depending on how much you want the house I’d pull out on principle. But if it’s the dream house it’s difficult.

Tell your solicitor to contact him and tell him to stop, they should be able to sort this for you.

I felt harassed by agent when I bought my first property to the point I hated him. however, I made room that I was just feeling too sensitive myself and maybe overwhelmed too.i wanted the property and was best I could afford. so, I sucked it up- glad I did as I still have it 17 years on! I recall at the time thinking, when it came to selling, I would instruct him. very aggressive man but hugely experienced.

If you delayed the sale due to the title thing and are now planning to send in contractors to negotiate money off, as a seller in a similar situation, I'd tell you to get lost (as I just did to my CF buyers who are now desperate to get my house).

An EA's job is to progress a sale "multiple emails a week" is hardly harassment, they're just chasing and applying pressure, which they should do as you sound like you're about to be cheeky AF. I certainly wouldn't be allowing you in with contractors.