Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward estate agents - is this ethical?

[Sue]

A few days back I was emailed details of a house in Nunhead, and phoned to arrange to view it.

I was told that I couldn't, on the grounds that only people who already had their own houses on the market with Kinleigh, Folkard & Hayward were allowed to go and see it, and only if it wasn't then sold would other people be able to.

That seems to me to be advantaging KFH (who get commission on two sales) and the buyer who is also selling through KFH (who gets first choice and the price isn't bumped up by additional interest) but is hardly getting the vendor the best price and is certainly not great for anybody else looking for a house in the area.

Is this normal practice?

Will they have informed the vendor what they are doing?

[edcam]

That sounds supremely dodgy to me and if I was selling through them I'd be furious that they were limiting potential buyers this way. Bizarre.

[Sue]

I had thought about putting a note through the vendors' door asking if they knew about what KFH were doing .... I haven't yet, but I believe the viewing (from other KFH vendors only) is tomorrow.

[edcam]

I think you should Sue.

[alice]

so do i

[KidKruger]

Just turn up for the viewing and let the vendor see the agent try and turn you away because you "don't qualify".

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Just turn up for the viewing and let the vendor

> see the agent try and turn you away because you

> "don't qualify".

xxxxxxx

The vendor may not be there though. And I'm presuming they have appointments throughout the day rather than herding everybody round the place together.

If I thought the house was exactly what I was looking for, then I would kick up a real fuss. From the details I have I think it probably isn't, quite, but I still object to not even being able to find out!

[muffins78]

Personally, I'd want to know if it were me, and I'd appreciate you taking the time and making the effort to contact me. It all sounds very odd, unless the seller has negiotiated a better rate with them for the sale, to take this step first - but it still wouldnt really add up to me.

[muffins78]

And would you want to give commission to them "if" it is underhand and the seller doesn't know!

I'd love to know the background on this now, to know what has happened, because I almost walked into KFH on Tuesday about my own place, but I really don't know what I am doing yet, so continued home!

[Sue]

muffins78 Wrote:

I almost walked

> into KFH on Tuesday about my own place, but I

> really don't know what I am doing yet, so

> continued home!

xxxxxx

Someone from KFH came round to value my house in October.

Of the four agents who came, they seemed the least keen to actually get me to put my house with them, and I didn't get the impression that they would market it very proactively.

And so far as I recall, unlike the other agents, they haven't contacted me since.

Though one of the others (FishNeedWater) had such weird selling methods that I struck them off my list as well. I keep meaning to start a thread on them, too ..... even more unethical than what KFH appear to be doing.

[jimbo1964]

That sounds like nonsense. Why not call the head office and ask if this is correct?

[Sue]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That sounds like nonsense. Why not call the head

> office and ask if this is correct?

xxxxxxx

Well whatever head office may say, that is what I was told, and it will be the local branch who is arranging the viewing.

I actually double checked that I had it right, because I was so gobsmacked.

I put the phone down on them actually after they made it quite clear that yes, that was what they were doing.

[Jeremy]

Are you sure you got that right, Sue? I can understand if they're prioritising customers who already have buyers lined up for their current place. But only showing to people selling through them? I've never heard of that before, and have had dealings with most of the agencies in ED.

[muffins78]

Thats funny you said that Sue, but when I was looking at the window of the agents, I didnt feel comfortable walking in there. I thought that the staff were all just "there", and I'd no reason/basis to think that at the time. In those few minutes that I was outside, it just didnt seem like a busy environment. Normally when you go by Foxtons for instance, they are all on the phones. I could be completely wrong about all this, but it was just my impression.

I know Foxton's gets bad press on here, but have to say that they were ace when I was buying with them. My purchase was not complicated per se, but it was tricky and sensitive, because I couldn't have an offer accepted (then revoked), because I was using a Government scheme. My previous place had fallen through, and I'd only one chance left to purchase using the scheme - they handled everything immaculately and the sellers at the time, were totally informed of my situation/dilemma, and were great. I found them really pro-active and I never felt left in the dark with them.

Would love to hear about FishNeedWater, never heard of them before! I am shocked that KFH were not proactive with you, there must be something going on further up the management chain, if the staff are less than motivated. Perhaps some of the agents there, are usng the place as a stop gap?

[jimbo1964]

Well put a note through the door and say you're interested in viewing and apologise for the direct approach as KFC won't arrange a viewing. They may get in touch. Then if you did buy it I think the vendors wouldn't have to pay a bean to them as they haven't introduced you to the property.

[Sue]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well put a note through the door and say you're

> interested in viewing and apologise for the direct

> approach as KFC won't arrange a viewing. They may

> get in touch. Then if you did buy it I think the

> vendors wouldn't have to pay a bean to them as

> they haven't introduced you to the property.

xxxxxxx

I don't want to do that.

That would make me as unethical as them. And in any case, KFH could say they DID introduce me to the property, since the only reason I heard about it in the first place was through emailed details!

Jeremy, I did double check that they were saying what I thought they were saying. I'm pretty sure I didn't misunderstand.

It is of course possible that they were just trying to put me off, because they asked my name and looked up my file. I have always been completely straight and honest, ie that I'm not yet 100% sure that I want to move. However other agents have understood that and have been only too happy to show me round Nunhead houses.

I do not want to do as one suggested and put my house on the market and then pull out if I decide not to move or can't find the "right" house. That would potentially be causing a lot of potential buyers aggravation, wasted time and possibly also wasted money.

[jimbo1964]

I think you'd better just forget about it then and look for another house.

[Sue]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think you'd better just forget about it then and

> look for another house.

xxxxxxx

That's not the point, and not why I started this thread.

The point is whether what KFH appear to be doing is ethical, because if they are doing it in this case then they must be doing it in other cases.

And it may be to the advantage of themselves and the buyer, but it sure as hell isn't to the advantage of the vendor.

[jimbo1964]

Yes but you don't seem prepared to actually do anything about it so I don't know why you bothered starting the thread. Anyway good luck.

[Sue]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes but you don't seem prepared to actually do

> anything about it so I don't know why you bothered

> starting the thread. Anyway good luck.

xxxxxxx

Eh? I'm going out now to put a note in the vendor's letterbox (as in my second post above!) Not asking for a viewing, but telling them what KFH told me, just so that they know.

ETA: And what do you mean, you don't know why I bothered starting the thread? If local estate agents are apparently doing something dodgy, which it seems to me in this case that they may be, then don't you think it's good if other people know about it?

[lane lover]

Yet another thread for questionable practices by a real estate agent. Why am I not surprised?

I only had to read the heading to guess the answer was likely "no".

[house01]

Good evening Sue, my name is Alistair Harper, I am the manager of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward in East Dulwich.

I have to say that this chain of events shocks me and I would like, if you will allow me, to investigate this further. This behaviour is not accepted within the company, and I would like to apologise for the way in which you have been treated. It is not acceptable, and I would like to do what I can to regain your confidence in KFH.

Can I please have the name of the negotiator you spoke to, the address of the property you wish to view, and at what time you wish to view the property?

I want to do my utmost to ensure you get to view this property as soon as possible. I can be contacted directly on [email protected] or 07881266901

I look forward to hearing from you when you get the chance.

Regards

Alistair

[Sue]

Hi Alistair, Thank you for posting on here.

I do not know who I spoke to.

I phoned the number which was on the email which I was sent giving details of the property, and I was put through to somebody in, I believe, your sales department.

It was a man, but I don't recall his name. I presumed it was the person dealing with viewings for the house in question, as he seemed to know all about it.

I will forward you the email.

ETA: I have just looked at the email, and it appears to be your Peckham branch who are marketing the house in question, presumably because Nunhead is a SE15 postcode, however I will forward it to you anyway.

[KingsburyED]

Just to say we had a great experience with KFH Dulwich and Alaistair and Dominic were great.

We had tried to sell through Acorn who initially had seemed the most keen at valuation, but by 4 months later we had two sales fall through because they clearly hadn't checked out the buyers ability to pay. KFH remarketed the house for us and got us an offer at full asking price within 2 days. They then were very supportive when our buyers were being difficult and the sale did then go through very smoothly.

We've since bought through the Beckenham KFH branch and all went very smoothly there too.