It seems that although the agent suggests an asking price, they then appear to get a number of buyers interested in the same property and see who will pay more above the asking price. Their is nothing stopping you contacting the vendor although the agent might be mildly annoyed at you doing so, hey nothing ventured, nothing gained, or wait for the vendor to take it off the market, so their contract with the agent has expired and then put in an offer. You'll save the vendor the agents fee currently somewhere between 0.75% and 3%.