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Feb 11,2021
Feb 11,2021
2
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Underhand tactics and rude agent
We recently put an offer on a flat which was accepted, and we subsequently appointed our solicitors and got our contractors and architects involved to start planning our works. We were very transparent that we wanted to make some structural changes in the flat and were making enquiries to understand what we could change.
The agent had explicitly told us (without us asking) that they had not been showing the flat to potential sellers. Much to our surprise, while we were still in the timetable agreed with the vendors, the agent had decided to negotiate with another party who put in a competing offer. Their reasoning was that they were put off by us looking into the structural changes we were going to make, despite us being transparent from the start and assuring them that the sale was not subject to that.
The agent had been fairly rude and prickly from the start, however this was the last straw. We were keen on the flat and had already spent a considerable amount in fees, but decided to withdraw. When you are dealing with agents, you don't expect them to lie to you and to deal with other potential sellers once you have started proceedings, especially while you are still in the timetable agreed with the vendors. Had they explained their concerns to us before doing so, or if we had passed the timeline agreed, it would have been understandable - however this was not the case.
I would advise you not to work with Druce. Buying a potential home is a big decision and you should feel secure that your estate agent is not acting unprofessionally or dishonestly. We've been in the real estate market for over 20 years and have never experienced anything similar, and will be advising our friends who invest in property in the area.
We recently put an offer on a flat which was accepted, and we subsequently appointed our solicitors and got our contractors and architects involved to start planning our works. We were very transparent that we wanted to make some structural changes in the flat and were making enquiries to understand what we could change.
The agent had explicitly told us (without us asking) that they had not been showing the flat to potential sellers. Much to our surprise, while we were still in the timetable agreed with the vendors, the agent had decided to negotiate with another party who put in a competing offer. Their reasoning was that they were put off by us looking into the structural changes we were going to make, despite us being transparent from the start and assuring them that the sale was not subject to that.
The agent had been fairly rude and prickly from the start, however this was the last straw. We were keen on the flat and had already spent a considerable amount in fees, but decided to withdraw. When you are dealing with agents, you don't expect them to lie to you and to deal with other potential sellers once you have started proceedings, especially while you are still in the timetable agreed with the vendors. Had they explained their concerns to us before doing so, or if we had passed the timeline agreed, it would have been understandable - however this was not the case.
I would advise you not to work with Druce. Buying a potential home is a big decision and you should feel secure that your estate agent is not acting unprofessionally or dishonestly. We've been in the real estate market for over 20 years and have never experienced anything similar, and will be advising our friends who invest in property in the area.
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Druce & Co
61 Weymouth Street
Marleybone,London
Greater London
W1G 8NR
020 7935 6535
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| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | % | 100% | £0 | £0 |
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| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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Feb 11,2021
Feb 11,2021
2
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Underhand tactics and rude agent
We recently put an offer on a flat which was accepted, and we subsequently appointed our solicitors and got our contractors and architects involved to start planning our works. We were very transparent that we wanted to make some structural ...
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Mar 08, 2021
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I am sorry that you are disappointed with the outcome for you and your family. At the time you offered to buy the flat you did say that you wanted to make enquiries as to what potential changes you would be allowed to do, but it was not subject to you buying the flat.
At your request, I took your builder and architect to the flat and was advised there that unless you could make the changes you wanted , you would not purchase the flat. This was very different from what you had advised when y ...
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At your request, I took your builder and architect to the flat and was advised there that unless you could make the changes you wanted , you would not purchase the flat. This was very different from what you had advised when you submitted your offer two weeks earlier, and I telephoned you to discuss this. You followed up that same morning with an email to say ‘’ It will certainly not be helpful if they are not cooperative’’ referring to the surveyors for the building and their option as to the specific changes you wished to make.
Upon reading this, I felt concerned vis a vis your stance on whether you would buy the flat. Later that afternoon, I received a call from a potential purchaser who wished to view the flat. We had not shown the flat to another buyer since your offer had been agreed, as I had no reason to believe, up until this point, that your intentions could be in doubt.
The buyer came up with a higher offer, which by law I had to put up to the sellers and they agreed to accept the offer. I advised the sellers that the fairest way to deal with this situation was to advise you of the higher offer and to give you the chance to increase your offer, and I explained my reasons for showing the flat to another party, as outlined above. You asked me what you would need to offer in order not to lose the flat to someone else and I advised you on this. Your response was “ Thank you for being so frank and giving us the chance, most grateful…. I am going to try my best rest assured “.At no point did I lie to you or treat you in an underhand way. You were given every opportunity to increase your offer- and chose NOT to do so.
Our job as Agents is to secure not only the best price we can for our clients, but to ensure that the deal goes through. With the benefit of 20 years’ experience of working as a very successful agent, I had my doubts as I have explained above and acted in the best interest of my clients.
I was honest, professional and straight with you throughout the process. I am sorry that you chose not to pursue this opportunity.