Frank and Rebecca Andrews had been trying to sell their house in the West Midlands and had received matching final offers from an investor and a first-time buyer (FTB) through Connells Estate Agent.
The sellers initially decided to go with the FTB, but changed their minds and went with the investor, believing that the sale had more chance of going through as the investor claimed he could secure the deal with a £5,000 deposit, and was willing to start the paperwork immediately as well as provide a list of references.
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However, it is claimed that the estate agent then called and instructed the sellers to go with the FTB immediately before both buyers backed out. The sellers also stated that the agent claimed that as it had no sight of the investor’s finances there was no guarantee of the sale going through.
Mrs Andrews said: “What it comes down to is the mortgage adviser is pushing the FTBs because they’re arranging their mortgage through him and that’s more money for him. I told him that we would decide later when my husband got home from work and the mortgage adviser said: ‘You need to make a decision now.’ I was really shocked and said: ‘Fine, call the FTBs and tell them they have a deal.’”
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Mrs Andrews said the couple changed their minds when they discovered the FTB had not seen the property before bidding, and chose the investor, informing the agent that the FTB would be rejected because of the adviser’s pushy tactics.
A spokesperson for Connells said it could not discuss the matter and said it would question the accuracy of the complaint. She said: “As a responsible company we will be carrying out a thorough and balanced investigation into the matters raised by Mrs. Andrews in an e-mail our branch received from her.
“Following that investigation, Mr and Mrs Andrews have the right to take their case to the Ombudsman for Estate Agents.”
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