Do I need an estate agent ?

longforgotten

Someone has intimated they are interested in my house and I haven't even said I'm selling it ! Would I still need to have an estate agent ?..........uncharted territory for me

G_M

If you have a buyer, why would you need an estate agent?

Of course that assumes you know what your property is worth, and are not interested in finding out if other potential buyers exist who might pay more.

longforgotten

I'll have the house valued and go from there then ?

longforgotten

I thought gazumping was dead ? ........

Prothet_of_Doom

Ask yourself what an agent does for the money. They might have a list of potential buyers, they might advertise for you in the local paper or on line.
They might be better at negotiation than you. They might check the buyer can afford it.
More likely they'll be irritatingly mediocre and care not a damm about your house, or getting you the very best deal.

But, you have a buyer, who has offered a fair price, so IF you want to sell it, you instruct a solicitor, and get the name of his solicitor, and get the ball rolling.

csgohan4

is it the we buy any house companies scammers? where they gazunder you last minute when you have incurred costs already day before exchange?

eddddy

longforgotten wrote: »

Someone has intimated they are interested in my house and I haven't even said I'm selling it ! Would I still need to have an estate agent ?..........uncharted territory for me

As a starting point, tell 3 EAs that you're thinking of selling your house - and invite them to come and give you valuations (and ask them what their fee for selling is).

Use that info to decide what price you would accept from your prospective buyer - and start negotiating.

And/or if your prospective buyer makes an offer of £X, you could tell your chosen EA, and give them, say, 14 days to get a better offer.

longforgotten

ok I'm missing something here I know, but I've yet to hear of anyone who has put their house up for sale , with an Estate Agent, and got more than what they put it on the market for. This playing one prospective buyer against another I thought was gazumping.


This is a friend who has asked after the house so no it's not scammers.

G_M

longforgotten wrote: »

I'll have the house valued and go from there then ?

Well, it's not really for us to tell you what to do....

ot sure where gazumping comes in - Until you agree a sale with a buyer, no one is being gazumped.

mije1983

longforgotten wrote: »

but I've yet to hear of anyone who has put their house up for sale , with an Estate Agent, and got more than what they put it on the market for.

Quite a common occurance for houses to go above asking price where I am. More buyers than available houses push up the price.

eddddy

longforgotten wrote: »

ok I'm missing something here I know, but I've yet to hear of anyone who has put their house up for sale , with an Estate Agent, and got more than what they put it on the market for. This playing one prospective buyer against another I thought was gazumping.

I'm not sure where you're coming from here.

If you're responding to my post... here's an example of what I'm saying.

- Let's say an EA says they can sell your house for £110k

- Your friend offers you £100k. As it's a lowish offer, you say you'll wait 14 days before accepting/rejecting the offer.

- So you say to the EA, "My friend has offered £100k. Put it on the market at £110k. I'll give you 14 days to get an offer over £102k (to allow for EA fees), otherwise I'll sell to my friend"


There's no gazumping, and no dishonesty - you're keeping everyone informed of what's happening.