CHANGING ESTATE AGENTS
SELLING YOUR HOUSE
HOW TO GET A NEW AGENT
This article deals with the steps you should take to sort out out any problems you may have with your estate agent, during the period of sale.
If you cannot
resolve these problems, we list the process needed to change to another estate agent.
With the best will in the world, you may have unrealistic expectations of the true value of your house, especially if nearby properties have sold for good
prices, but part of the job of an estate agent is
to price the property realistically, in order for it to
sell, and this price may be considerably below your
expectations.
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You should remember that although your house may have become a special place for you and your family, your estate agent has far more experience in selling what, to them,
is simply a commodity, (which actually is the correct way of selling, with as little emotional involvement as possible).
If a problem arises, first try to clearly state, in writing preferably, exactly what the issue is and what you feel the estate agent has done to annoy you, or
potentially cost you money. For example, did you hear of an offer having been made by someone for your property that you feel the estate agent either rejected, did
not take seriously, or failed to follow up?
Do you feel that your estate agent is not giving proper attention to selling your house or apartment, preferring to spend
his/her time concentrating on featuring higher priced properties instead, in some cases properties that may be located quite close to your own house or apartment?
Possibly a casual passerby has seen that your house is for sale and called directly to you with an offer that you consider accepable or at least negotable, but which
the agent has either turned down or simply ignored.
Keeping in regular contact with your agent, even if you have left Ireland, or moved to another part of the country for a period of time, is obviously important to
maintain the viewing and subsequent sales momentum you would like to see happen.
If you are not happy with the estate agent's answers to your questions, and you still feel you need to change your agent, the basis for this is the Letter of
Engagement, the contents of which are set forth by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PRSA), that both the estate agent and you as the seller, each signed at
the time you gave formal instructions to the agent to act as your representative in the sale of the property.
This letter lists:
- The agreed costs of marketing your property on websites such as Daft.ie and/or MyHome.ie, or what ever website the estate agent thought appropriate, as well as the
cost of printing and distribution of the glossy brochures displayed in the estate agents window.
- The length of time that the estate agent and the seller have agreed the agency should continue for.
- Details of any complaints procedure and how exactly the agency will be terminated if either the seller or the estate agent decide they no longer wish to be part
of the original agreement.
Any marketing costs incurred by the estate agent must be settled before the agency is formally terminated. In the past, during the years leading up to the last
property boom, many estate agents were inclined not to push the seller on this aspect, but costly lessons were learned by many estate agents and you may well have
already paid some of the marketing cost upfront, at the start of the agreement.
After this process is complete, you will then be free to seek the services of another estate agent or auctioneer.
The information provided above, based on a recent Irish Times newspaper article and information provided by the Property Services Regulatory Authority, is liable to change at any time. All information supplied by IrishHouses.ie is subject to errors & omissions and does not constitute legal, investment or any other form of advice. Always obtain independent professional advice for your own particular situation.
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