House Selling - Money Saving Tips

Gillylou

Thank you to all the great advice on this site. Thanks to you I’ve saved a small fortune.

I had my house valued by the local estate agents, who were charging fees from 1%-3.5%(!) +VAT, plus extra for various different photo options on Right Move.
I decided to go with House Network, paying in total, £990 +VAT,with £195 +VAT upfront (didn’t want to pay it all and give them no incentive tosell my house).
I sold my house within 2 weeks (just before Christmas) and they were highly professional. They also do a referral scheme where you pass on your code to someone else so they get 5% off their fees, but you also earn too! So I've earnt £50!

Also, I was also quoted £95 +VAT by the local estate agents for anEPC, but was given a recommendation from a friend for a Surveyor who covers the south Birmingham area, who did it for £43 and was great. (oceanenergydea.co.uk - am I allowed to post that?)

Massive savings all round (maths is not my strong point so can't tell you how much exactly)!!!
So thank you, thank you thankyou.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

mrsdarbs

God I wish I'd seen this back in November! I am with Mann Countrywide and will be paying in excess of £2000 if they sell my flat. Been on since 9th November - 4 viewings and nothing else and tied in with them for 16 weeks!!

I feel this isn't going to sell and I will end up getting it repossessed.

Mike_4715

Thanks Marcus, some good tips there. In your time as anestate agent did you ever have many run-ins with online estate agents? I havejust sold my house using myonlinestateagent.com I have never really had a badexperience with traditional estate agents, only really that the first home Iever sold they did over price it by allot. I randomly came across my online estateagent after reading a very random article online about wall gardens lol. Untilnow I hadn’t really heard of them so researched all the ones I could find. Iliked my online estate agent as they just seemed to really want to help me, Ipaid £298 and they took care of it from there. All in all it took 8 weeks forthem to find me a buyer and I saved just over £4k – which I have just blown ona holiday J Iwould definitely use again but would be interested to know if anyone else hasused them and how they found it?

dworx

very practical and valuable tips. I really like the tip where you advice on cross checking on the agents as potential buyer of your own property. Its a very good way of checking whether or not the agents are being fair with you.

KimJules

Pretty nice marcus.

I am new to this forum site and I am thankful that the first thread I saw is this one.

Good!

kristenjames

Thanks Marcus for this important info..I am planning to sell my house so your tips going to help me lot. Thanks for sharing about agent & solicitor fees

petervekselman1

Hello everyone!

I'm Peter and I'm new at this forum.

I hope to give vital advice on buying and selling properties.

Would be very happy to extend a helping hand to anyone who needs one.

Regards,
Peter Vekselman

Lainers

I have decided to put my flat up for sale aftering putting it off due to the market for years, but its too small and I could end up living here forever. I bought it in Dec 2004 and paid £55k for it, I have kept an eye on house prices and noticed the flats went up to £83.5k during the boom early 2007 but noticed the last 'exact same type' flat sold for £63k 18 months ago.

I owe £65k for my flat as when taking out the loan I opted for an extra loan to cover the deposit and essentials for moving in, not a great idea and I realise this is alot to do with why the market crashed (Usa 110% LTV etc).

I had the surveyor and valuer out on Friday and received the valuation back this morning of £55k, exactly what I paid for it. I must also mention I spent £5k on a full bathroom re-fit.

I replied to the valuer stating my predicament but think my efforts are futile.

Can anyone help?

I used to be a mortgage underwriter 5 years ago and realise where he gets his figure from but he is taking into about the % drop of larger 2 bedroom flats in the area and the flats I live in have never dropped below £65k recently. Doesnt this just mean valuers are pushing down the market??

Any ideas would help.

Also note that there aren't 3 comparibles within the last 2 years to fall back on.

Lainers

GentleGiant_2

Why not put it on the market for what you want?

No reason to go with what the valuer says.

Try at £65K first

Lainers

GentleGiant wrote: »

Why not put it on the market for what you want?

No reason to go with what the valuer says.

Try at £65K first

I would like to, but thought it would be pointless cause any potential buyers wouldn't get a mortgage over the value £55k. (Depending on what the mortgage valuation comes in at I suppose).