Reasonable notice period for estate agent?

[PebbleSky]

What's a normal/reasonable amount of notice required to end a sole estate agency contract? I'm about to sign on with an agent and it's 28 days notice if I want to terminate (after the initial 14 day cooling off).

Wondering whether to try and negotiate it down?

Many agents have a twenty week contract these days. What’s the length of time on your contract? You need to give them notice two weeks before the end of the contract, if you wish to end it. Some agents have a shorter contract time, so it depends on what yours is.

There's no minimum contract period so maybe I should be happy with a 28 day notice period.

I think that's very reasonable actually, would be happy to sign.

Most EA notice periods are longer than that.

I'd prefer a fixed intial period (but not ridiculously long) but when you want to give notice that period is very short. I've always negotiated very short notice periods as the agents don't need lots of notice and once you know you don't want to use them, it's no good having to keep them on for weeks. It's not the same as having notice in an employment contract for example where both sides need to get used to it - you're just telling them to take it off their books. You'll be liable for commission on people they introduce regardless.

I wouldn't go with a contract of more than 8 weeks. 4 would be preferable. Most viewing activity comes in the first month, after which it's diminishing returns. The EAs stop trying so hard at this point and will focus more on properties that are new on their books. If you are tied in for a long time, they'll be quite happy to let you languish or will use the period to start getting you to drop your price. Serving notice a couple of weeks prior to the end of the contract can give them a kick up the arse as well. With hindsight, I'd have been a bit more bolshy than we were.