[odds_on]

Originally Posted by gigino

Do they not share the commission in the event of a sale?

It depends on the contract with the EAs. They either agree to this or don't get a chance to sell the property. Why should an EA get commission if he doesn't sell the property. OK, he has some expenses but that's the name of the game. The EAs may make an agreement between themselves if they want. But to my mind, the EA who does the work and gets the sale is entitled to his full commission.

IMHO, this system might end the situation where EAs don't reply to emails, don't return phone calls, don't appear for viewings etc.

[pawnacide]

Most buyers are pretty sophisticated and if they're not they can get so pretty quickly by going down the pub.

Chances are they'll have contacted both agents at some point and therefore have a relationship with both. If agent A introduces them to the property but they make offers through agent B and end up buying the house you could be liable for both sets of fees.

I know of one case where a court agreed that a seller was liable for fees because the agent had introduced the buyer to the property but the owner ending up negotiating the sale himself and the buyers refused to deal with agent having met the owner the following day.

Of course you could hope agent A doesn't find out.

[odds_on]

It all depends on the contract with the agent/s