Selling House Privately

Beachview_2

I'm wondering what other people's experiences have been of selling their house privately. I was shocked when I saw how much the EA fees. I might as well see if the house can be sold without an EA first.

I've a few things to buy for the house now anyway such as replacing badly steamed up windows in the conservatory, replacing the boiler, and of course a bit of paint. Maybe a few other things will need done too when I get a look over the house with my Buyer's Glasses on

Are there any websites that are worth advertising the house on that aren't too expensive to use? Or do buyers even look at those sites? What about the likes of ebay? Or do they charge massive fees?

Looking forward to all the advice I've a busy 3 weeks ahead now getting it all ready for the market!


Update : Decided to go for normal estate agent instead, after reading about places such as Express Estate Agency, and other similar companies. I did actually contact an online agent but they couldn't even be bothered to get back to me

Xiderpunk

The big property websites do not allow private sellers to list their own property. You require an agent to get onto those.

I can not offer any experience of having privately sold so will have to leave that to others.

Beachview_2

I know the bigger sites don't allow private sellers, I was thinking of any sites that might specialise in just private sales

alexanderalexander

Xiderpunk wrote: »

The big property websites do not allow private sellers to list their own property. You require an agent to get onto those.

I am by no means an expert, but I understand that private sellers can get around that by using an ultra-low-cost online-only "estate agent" to get their house on Rightmove.

WebGuru

Rightmove and Zoopla don't allow private listings so you need to go through an Online Estate Agent. Have a look at www.cheapmove.co.uk as they are all listed there.

£249 is the cheapest listing with no commission. Most have different options depending if you want to pay upfront or not, or a bit of both.

You need an EPC and you will save loads if you get this yourself via a local google search for a surveyor.

I have used House Network twice but also hear good things about hatched and emoov.

Beachview_2

alexanderalexander wrote: »

I am by no means an expert, but I understand that private sellers can get around that by using an ultra-low-cost online-only "estate agent" to get their house on Rightmove.

Thanks very much I must look into that.

Ciderarmy1987

Beachview wrote: »

I'm thinking of selling my house privately, and I'm wondering what other people's experiences have been. I was going to use and agent but when I saw how much the fees were I soon changed my mind. I might as well see if I can get the house sold without an EA first.

I've a few things to buy for the house now anyway such as replacing badly steamed up windows in the conservatory, replacing the boiler, and of course a bit of paint. Maybe a few other things will need done too when I get a look over the house with my Buyer's Glasses on

Are there any websites that are worth advertising my house on that aren't too expensive to use? Or do buyers even look at those sites? What about the likes of ebay? Or do they charge massive fees?

Looking forward to all the advice I've a busy 3 weeks ahead now getting it all ready for the market!

When we were looking at houses we were usually put of by small/internet only agents (probably silly I know) unless it was obvious from the pictures that it was going to be a house that ticked a lot of boxes.

Also we really didn't like viewing houses when the vendor was present, made it us feel like we could really ask the estate agent all of the questions that we wanted to.
This would have been even worse if there had been no agent present at all, and again something that may have stopped us even viewing the property

Now we have had an offer accepted we have found the agents very useful as a point of call for us to direct questions to about different things to do with the property, otherwise we would have had to be constantly phoning the vendor to ask questions etc which I'm sure would get annoying quickly. They have also been good at pushing along different parties when things have been moving a bit slowly.

Whilst I realise that agents do get a lot of stick for lying etc, I do think that on the whole they are a bit under-appreciated for the work that they do.

We definately had agents that we prefered and are very happy that the house we are buying happens to be with one of those estate agents.

Just something to think about

moneyistooshorttomention

alexanderalexander wrote: »

I am by no means an expert, but I understand that private sellers can get around that by using an ultra-low-cost online-only "estate agent" to get their house on Rightmove.

That reminds me - I STILL haven't received the details I asked one of these cheap online agents for.

When I ask estate agents for details of their properties they have all turned up promptly (apart from one - which never turned up at all:cool:).

Thus, I wonder just how good these online "agents" are at sending details of requested property out.

I do begrudge the money I am going to have to pay my estate agent. However, the reason for that is that in more "normal" times I wouldnt have to bother with an EA at all. My house is of a type/in an area that normally its possible to "just put the word around" that a house is for sale and most of our houses wouldnt need the services of an EA at all. In the current climate I have had to use an EA though and at least take comfort from the fact that they are the ones who will do the viewings and they will be the ones who sort out any "chain" problems I get into and find ways to keep the chain moving on. As an efficient person myself and someone who will "keep my word" on selling this house/buying the next one - I would hate to have to deal with people potentially holding me up/messing me around because they arent efficient and/or honourable and am happy to pay for that "chain holding together" service alone.

Dan-Dan

you forgot to mention the negatives Adam....

pmlindyloo

There are bound to be lots of differing views on using online estate agents versus high street EAs.

So, just my opinion!

We sold our house through Housenetwork in two weeks. They were professional (excellent photos and good write up), easy to contact and everything went very smoothly.

However, it was in a very sought after location so think it would have gone very quickly whichever route we took.

I did not want to pay huge estate agents fees for doing what I consider to be very little. I also dislike the 'patter' of EAs who are usually commission based and are not always totally honest with prospective customers.

We liked Housenetwork because basically they do not 'sell' your property. They act like an intermediary for your sale - no personal involvement. They take the photos , write up the desciption, stick it on Rightmove (a must for me) and then deal with potential viewers and then the offers. They do not do valuations (easily dealt with by getting 3 free quotes from high street EAs and doing your own research.)

Of course it can go 'belly up' and there are people who do not want to be involved in selling their house. They want it taken out of their hands with the EAs doing the viewings and dealing with the potential buyers.

Basically you need to decide if you are willing to be proactive in the sale, do the viewings yourself and consider how desirable your property is,whether it will, in fact, sell itself because of the location/other factor.

There is nothing to stop you trying an online EA like Housenetwork and then after a while putting it on with a high street EA if you have no success/are unhappy with the service.

Good luck!

Ciderarmy1987

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That reminds me - I STILL haven't received the details I asked one of these cheap online agents for.

When I ask estate agents for details of their properties they have all turned up promptly (apart from one - which never turned up at all:cool:).

Thus, I wonder just how good these online "agents" are at sending details of requested property out.

I do begrudge the money I am going to have to pay my estate agent. However, the reason for that is that in more "normal" times I wouldnt have to bother with an EA at all. My house is of a type/in an area that normally its possible to "just put the word around" that a house is for sale and most of our houses wouldnt need the services of an EA at all. In the current climate I have had to use an EA though and at least take comfort from the fact that they are the ones who will do the viewings and they will be the ones who sort out any "chain" problems I get into and find ways to keep the chain moving on. As an efficient person myself and someone who will "keep my word" on selling this house/buying the next one - I would hate to have to deal with people potentially holding me up/messing me around because they arent efficient and/or honourable and am happy to pay for that "chain holding together" service alone.

You wouldn't use an EA, but yet you say that you refuse to be present for viewings! how would you have got around this in "normal" times? Would you have just left the key under the doormat and asked prospective buyers to put it back when they were done!