Selling house quickly how to get the best from estate agents?

stalkah

Morning All,


So my ex was trying to buy me out of a house we own together and has now decided just to sell it.


I'm on a pretty tight timeline for needing to sell as want to reserve a plot that will be released in June on HTB EL however the builder won't let me reserve until an offer is accepted on this house


I'm going to put the house on at a reasonable price and the lowest I could go.
So what I was wondering is how can I approach an estate agent to ensure a quick transaction?


They've advised their standard fee is 1.5% + 20% would it be wise to try and negotiate something like if they sell within 6 weeks I'll up it to 2% + 20% and if it goes beyond the 6 weeks it drops to 1%+20% ?


Any other hints and tips would be welcomed.


Thanks

Foxy-Stoat_3

Just price it keenly and consider all the offers, ie FTB with a high deposit or people buying chain free.

stalkah

Just been looking at the likes of hatched and emoov, this would save us almost £3000 on estate agent fees. I guess if I marketed with those that gives me the opportunity to price it slightly better

Hoploz

Best thing to do is show them your wonderful home, which they desperately want on their books as it will sell so easily, then haggle like hell! Play them off against each other. It's the right time for selling now and next month, so you shouldn't need to pay more than 1% +vat. That is usually enough motivation. I wouldn't bother with the extra complications, it could even end up costing you more.

Do your bit by making sure the house is in tip top clean tidy condition, and let them do viewings whenever they fancy - give them a key.

mrginge

stalkah wrote: »

So what I was wondering is how can I approach an estate agent to ensure a quick transaction?

You can't.

Its solicitors and mortgage lenders that hold up the process. Estate agents are generally just slimeball spivs who look after their own interests first and yours second.

Annie1960

In your place, I would make sure I chose a small independent agent (not one of the national chains).

Ask for a short contract (not more than 4 weeks with 2 weeks notice) and also ask them to do an open day. If your house is priced appropriately it should sell on the Monday following a Saturday opening day, (assuming property is selling well in your area).

Around here they normally advertise the property for 2 weeks before the open day to get viewings lined up.

stalkah

I think I'm going to try it online for a couple of weeks to a month and see how that goes, keeping costs down I could theoretically sell it cheaper. If no success then the next option would be a local estate agents. Looking at properties available there were a few just after Christmas but they now all seemed to be sold which can only be good news