How to buy/sell privately?

gromit69

We're wanting to buy my in-laws house, so we're wanting to avoid estate agents (and their fees!).....

Does anyone know how to buy and sell a house privately? We'll obviously still be using a solicitor (probably the same one), but what do estate agents do other than talk rubbish and drive flashy cars?

Many thanks!

ooobedoo

I don't know about selling privately but I am sure (not sure enough to bet my children on) that you have to have different solicitors...you can have the same company but a different person.

Hope it helps!

gromit69

Ah, conflict of interest - that would make sense!

wecanhelpu

You don't need estate agents or a solicitor to buy/sell a house.

All the estate agents do is find a buyer for the seller and all the solicitor does is the legal side of the transfer of ownership and the checking of particulars involving searches etc..

You can do it all yourself if you want to.

But the solicitors/conveyancers side can get a little complicated.

So at the very least all you need to do is sort out the finance, instruct a solicitor and away you go.

Riv1980

I bought my flat privately after seeing it advertised on houseladder.co.uk and it was not a complicated process without an EA. You do need to use a different solicitor though from the vendor and vice versa. Luckily I had a good rapport with the vendor however I suppose EA comes in handy in that they can liaise directly with both parties solicitors and chase things up a bit. I was not authorised to consult directly the vendors sols, I had to either ask the vendor or my solicitor who then contacted them. As you know who you're buying your place from there is absolutely no point using an EA, save yourself the money.