Agents and private selling
 

I have listed my house with 3 agents and listed privately using a variety of property portals. The price of my home on the portals is lower than that of the price with the agents due to the commission fees expected by the agents. I am told (by one of the agents) that I am not allowed to do this? Can someone clarify please. Surely I am able to advertise privately at next to nothing if I wish?

Re: Agents and private selling
 

I suspect it depends on the contract or agreement that you have signed with the agents.

Re: Agents and private selling
 

We did, and we sold through the private advert, so no agents got anything, however there are several agents out there who insist on 'sole agency' or who may have the clause about private ads in their small print, check that out, and if it's there get rid of the agents.

Re: Agents and private selling
 

A number of (most) agents don't ask for a contract to be signed - unless they are foreign agents (non Spanish).

The way it seems to work is that anyone can sell any property - once they hook a buyer, then any commission is split between the agents. Because of this, there can be no concept of "sole agency" in Spain.


So my question is - "what contract did you sign and does it have a sole agency clause". If not, do what you want and/or bin the agent.

Re: Agents and private selling
 

Often in the past it's not been uncommon for different agents to have the same property on at different prices.
If I ever sell my place I wont be putting on as a sole agency basis. As said, it may depend on the contracts

Re: Agents and private selling
 

What sites have you both used? Has anyone else got any recommended sales sites?

Re: Agents and private selling
 

I would be going for sites that aren't English, i.e. ones that sell to Eastern Europeans / Russians etc

Re: Agents and private selling
 

You will get all those scammers from East Europe...the ones who want to buy your house but don't want to see it:rofl:

Re: Agents and private selling
 

Maybe so, but most of the houses around here that have sold recently have been to Russians or Eastern Europeans with some Belgians

Re: Agents and private selling
 

Thanks for the responses. I have not registered with any agents as 'sole' agents no have I signed any contracts. In fact nor have I seen any contracts. I agree removal from the agent should they continue to be difficult is definitely an option. To be honest we have had far more interest via private advertising. The portals I have used are Spanish as recommended by friends located in Barcelona.

Re: Agents and private selling
 

I would suggest you get a written agreement to cover agents fees.

Sounds like you have a very poor agent(s) :thumbdown:

Re: Agents and private selling
 

yes, go where the money is
where it comes from shouldnt interest you so long as you get your share.

Re: Agents and private selling
 

I think Chelski might have considered that also :lol:

Re: Agents and private selling
 

not sure whether the one we used is still going, it was an online property advertising company, cost about €80 with no time limit, they did also advertise in the english language newspapers, took about 7 days from the advert appearing to sale.

Re: Agents and private selling
 

I would never pay money to those sites to advertise. Everyone I know who has used them have never sold through any of them. We have sold 5 houses in Spain and except for the last one, which we sold to a relative, never managed to sell any privately. We paid for ads in Sur, advertised on free websites but all we got were timewasters. We used VIVA to sell 3 times and got quick sales (this was when houses were selling). They did have a sole agency agreement if required, but there was an option at differing commission levels.

A friend sold a house privately whilst signed up to a sole agency and they claimed their commission. When my Daughter sold she was still seeing it for sale on some websites a year later.....by Agents she had not listed with:huh: