"Mike Mitchell" wrote in message
...

If agents were not allowed to erect the "Sold" board until contracts
had been exchanged, the meaning of "Sold" would carry a lot more
weight. As it is, I feel it is being used as a kind of scam to force
up the market and make would-be vendors believe that the agent in
question must be doing a good job by apparently selling a house so
quickly.

MM

I agree. Also, prospective buyers can be put off making an offer on a house
they're keen on if they think it's gone. There used to be a 'Sold subject to
contract' sticker which was attached to the For Sale board which gave some
indication of what was happening.

Mary