Can You Change Estate Agents in Rochdale & Greater Manchester?

If you are struggling to sell your property in Rochdale, Tameside or Bury, or you are unhappy with the services your existing estate agent is providing, you’ll probably be wondering how easy it is to switch agents.

Perhaps your property in Greater Manchester has not received as much interest as you expected. This could be for a number of reasons, such as the asking price being too high or your estate agent’s marketing strategies are not very effective.

Switching estate agents might be easier than you think, provided that you don’t have a minimum tie in period to serve. This article explains the process for changing estate agents and provides an overview of the benefits of doing so.

Can You Change Estate Agents?

The simple answer is yes, you have the option to switch agents if you are not satisfied with the service your original estate agent is providing. However, you will need to check the estate agent contract to see whether you have a tie in period to serve before you can switch your estate agency.

When Can You Change Estate Agents?

Check your contract to see if there is a tie in period with the agent. Most estate agents will have a tie in period varying from a few weeks to months, which will be in the small print.

If you switch agents within the tie in period, you will usually be liable to pay a penalty fee. Once you have passed any tie in period, you are free to move to a new agent without any financial penalties.

Why Change Estate Agent?

There are lots of reasons why you might be considering switching agents, these include:

1. Lack of interest

If you have only had a few viewings and your property has been on the market for several weeks, your agent might not be marketing your property very well. When your property stays on the market for a while, it becomes ‘stale’, and it is estimated that the value drops around £600 for every week that it stays on the market.

2. Poor communication

Your estate agent should be providing regular updates on the progress of your house sale and should be available to answer any questions you may have. If you are finding that they are difficult to get in contact with or are not showing signs that they are being proactive, these are good reasons to change.

3. Incorrect pricing

Your estate agent might have valued your property too high to try and achieve a higher estate agent fee, which has resulted in lower interest in the property. Alternatively, your estate agent might be encouraging you to reduce the price to speed up the house sale process.

If you have the flexibility to wait a bit longer to sell your house, then reducing the price might not be in your best interest and you’ll lose out on the additional money.

Is It Worth Changing Estate Agents When Selling Your Home?

In most cases, if you are unhappy with the service you are receiving from your agents, switching agents is a worthwhile process. Working with a new agent with a better marketing strategy can help to speed up the sale and can also help you to achieve a higher asking price.

A different agent may also have a list of potential buyers who are interested in buying property in the area. However, if there is a large fee payable for switching during a tie in period, it might be better to wait until the period has lapsed.

An alternative option is to market your property with more than one estate agent, but you will need to check whether you have a sole agency agreement with your original agent. Usually, you will only pay estate agent fees to the agency that sells your property.

How To Change Estate Agents – The Process Explained

Before you decide whether to switch agents, read through the steps involved in the process:

1. Check the contract

The first step is to check your contract with your estate agent to see if you are restricted by a tie in period and whether there is a charge for switching during the tie in period.

2. Research your options

Before you terminate your agreement with your existing agent, it is a good idea to research the options for a new agent to avoid being in the same position again. Check online reviews and ask potential agents questions about their services and fees to help find a good agent.

3. Inform your existing agent

Once you’ve checked the contract and found an alternative agent, if you still want to switch agents you will need to contact the existing agent to inform them of your decision and explain your reasons.

4. Provide notice

The notice period required will be detailed in the contract. Send the agent your written, formal notice that you wish to switch agents, including the date the agreement will end.

5. Instruct your new agent

Keep your new agent updated with the communications with the original agent. Make sure that both agents are clear about the dates to avoid problems with double marketing and any potential legal issues. Sign your contract with your new agent, making sure that you read through the details very carefully.

Feel confident you can change estate agents?

If you are looking to sell your property in Oldham, Chadderton, Saddleworth or surrounding areas, we can help. Our Rochdale-based team has many years of experience selling property across Greater Manchester and we would be happy to discuss our services, so please get in touch.

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