Buyers lack protection, warn gazumped couple
Monday 25th February 2008, 2:29PM GMT.
Elaine and Peter Smeja have been left out of pocket and disappointed after missing out to an above-the-asking-price offer for a first-time buyer’s flat. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0540424)
A YOUNG couple have hit out at Guernsey’s ‘dog-eat-dog’ housing market after losing out on a flat the day before they were due to sign contracts.
Elaine and Peter Smeja, 21 and 29 respectively, said they had been left out of pocket because of the actions of the seller and estate agent, Martel Maides.
The couple claimed they had agreed a fee on the property through Swoffers estate agents before being informed that the vendor had subsequently accepted a higher offer from a client of Martel Maides.
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Very simple – change the rules!
Once a price is agreed, it stands.
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I found this a very biased, one sided story abd although I feel for the couple I sympathise with the Estate Agents involved.
Look at the system in the UK, we have it so much easier over here with only a 2 week operative period. There are far less instances of fall throughs and so called ‘gazumping’ over here that in England, where it can be a much more lengthy and stressful process with either party being able to pull out, often until a week before completion! I find the process here much more straightforward and I found your article incorrect on several points.
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About four years ago we were looking to buy a house, and we had the same thing happen to us, we were going through banks & flouquet, and swoffers had gazumped us, i spoke to swoffers they said it was the vendor being gready, we put in about 4 offers i think the the new owners must have paid £20-£30000 more than the property was originally on for. They were welcome to it.
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