Got a “We Have a Buyer” Letter? What Local Sellers Need to Know
If your home is already on the market and another agent posts a card saying they have a buyer for it, pause before you respond.
If you are selling in Coulsdon (CR5), Purley (CR8), South Croydon (CR2), or the wider area, this is one of those moments where a calm call to your instructed agent can save you stress later.
For the record, there’s nothing wrong with prospecting homeowners listed elsewhere; done well, it can be welcome. But if one of these "We have a buyer" letters lands on your mat, here are four things to know.
“I believe” is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Belief is not a buyer. People believe in lots of things, the Easter Bunny, the Loch Ness Monster and Father Christmas being three of our faves.
If an agent genuinely has a specific, qualified buyer for your home, they should be able to tell you the buyer’s budget, chain position, and why your property fits. Ask them.
If all you get back is a softer version of “I believe”, you have your answer.
A genuine buyer match should go through your instructed agent.
If an agent genuinely has a buyer for a home already listed elsewhere, the professional route is to speak to the agent holding the instruction.
Two agents talking. One deal handled well. Seller protected.
The reason these cards go to the homeowner rather than the existing agent usually is not to introduce a buyer. It is to win an instruction.
The small print can leave you exposed to two fees.
Read the bottom of these cards carefully. The wording is often along the lines of: “If our buyer completes on the purchase of your home, we require our normal fee from you, the seller, on completion.”
Now read that alongside your existing sole agency agreement.
You are already paying one agent. If you engage a second agent during your contract term, or sometimes during a tail period, you may leave yourself exposed to two fees on the same sale.
These cards rarely lead with that risk. It is not in their interest to.
You are already paying for representation. Use it.
If a card lands, do not phone the number on it first.
Phone the agent you instructed, send them a photo, and ask three things:
What does my contract say about speaking to or engaging another agent?
If there is a genuine buyer behind this, can you take it from here?
Have other sellers received the same card?
If you want straight advice on selling in Coulsdon, Purley and the surrounding areas, Walter & Mair will always be happy to talk it through.
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A lot of people don't trust estate agents. We're trying to fix that.
That's why we're proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN).
We're the only local agency to have passed the EAN bar, and we're reassessed every six months to ensure our standards stay high.
So, if you've had one of these cards through your door, or you want a straight answer to any question, talk to us.
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