Why you should not be afraid of an exclusive agency agreement with an estate agent

"So I won't be able to work with other estate agencies?!" – clients are sometimes surprised. In the contracts they sign with the owners of flats for sale, estate agencies usually stipulate so-called exclusivity. This means that by signing, the client declares that they will not commission any other agencies to act as intermediaries as well. Contrary to appearances, this is not a clause that restricts the client at all. In fact, it allows them to… sell their property more efficiently. Having several agencies at once often means nothing but unnecessary stress!

Some clients think that when more agencies try to sell their property at the same time, a buyer will be found faster. Perhaps in theory, but in practice, unfortunately, it is not so rosy. After all, the individual agencies are competitors, and when they are all supposed to sell the same property… a rat race begins.

It is burdensome above all for the client. First, representatives of the agencies, one after another, come to them to take photographs and finalise the formalities. Then a… marathon of flat viewings begins. The door never closes – it is enough for three different agencies to arrange for three interested people each on the same day. And visits are not always announced...

If the flat finally sells – fine. It took a lot of effort, but the goal was achieved. But what if there are many viewers and the property still has no buyer? It may mean that the property has "fallen victim" to a certain trick, and the flat has become a so-called showcase property.

If the client has started working with several agencies on the basis of an open agreement, their listing may be used as a backdrop, a contrast for other listings whose sale matters more to an unscrupulous agency. What listings are those? Usually the exclusive ones.

What do you lose by working with several agencies at the same time? Above all nerves, time and also money. Frustrated by the lack of progress, the property owner eventually starts to lower the price, just so that the flat finds a buyer. Less money in return for regaining calm and peace of mind. Will the seller be happy with such a turn of events? In a few months, when the emotions have subsided, they will certainly start to feel regret. Because it was not supposed to be this way.