Is there a website/forum for house buying/selling privately?

Whistler23

Hello all,

Not sure if my title might be a little off what I mean (I couldn't think of a better way to describe it!)

Is there a website/forum (not for profit) for house buyers and sellers that wish to deal privately? Getting fed-up with estate agents!

kinger101

Not that I'm aware, or for that matter, anyone likely to buy the place will be. Unfortunately, the important ones like Zoopla and Rightmove only allow agents to list, which at the very least means you'll need a web-based agent like Purple Bricks or Tepilo.

If you think you might get a local buyer (e.g., popular village which people like to stay in), there's no harm sticking your own for sale sign up in the garden for a week or two. Stick an ad up in the local shop as well, and mention it the landlord in your local pub.

googler

Once it goes on a website or forum, it's not private any more...

kinger101

Private does not mean the same as secret. Private education and private sector for example

Whistler23

kinger101 wrote: »

Not that I'm aware, or for that matter, anyone likely to buy the place will be. Unfortunately, the important ones like Zoopla and Rightmove only allow agents to list, which at the very least means you'll need a web-based agent like Purple Bricks or Tepilo.

If you think you might get a local buyer (e.g., popular village which people like to stay in), there's no harm sticking your own for sale sign up in the garden for a week or two. Stick an ad up in the local shop as well, and mention it the landlord in your local pub.

Sorry, I am coming at it as a buyer. I have a deposit, I have spare cash for fees, I have a DIP. I am good to go. But estate agents I am dealing with don't seem to be taking me very seriously. Well that's how I feel, maybe all estate agents are the same and I am expecting to much. They know what I want and the budget I have, yet I am finding properties from Rightmove/Prime Location when they should be phoning me and saying Mr B we have something that might interest you.

A property has come back on the market which we made an offer on and was not successful, yet I find out about it via Rightmove, EVEN though I have spoken to them twice today...how's that for customer service.

I was just thinking a website where the brave can go and say (in my case). I want a 4 bed detached house with a garage and a 100ft garden. I have £500k to spend. Etc. Someone can contact me and say I have something, here is a picture. I go and view it, we agree a price. We instruct solicitors. Win - Win...

I know it isn't as black and white as that, but you get the picture.

googler wrote: »

Once it goes on a website or forum, it's not private any more...

Thanks for that, extremely helpful.

kinger101

When I was buying, I'd have been very annoyed if an agent phoned me. For the very reason I'm capable of browsing myself on RM and deciding what I like. I think you're being unreasonable in expecting market updates from them.

Once you've had an offer accepted the buyer's agent is very useful. A person motivated for the sale to go through who actually answers the phone and is willing to chase things up at the buyers end.

MerrilyA

Build connections with agents that you think could be good to work with and let them know what you want and how you would like to be dealt with. Not all agents are the same, perhaps google some agents in your area and look for ones with good reviews.

davidmcn

Whistler23 wrote: »

Is there a website/forum (not for profit) for house buyers and sellers that wish to deal privately?

Why would it be not for profit?

ThePants999

googler wrote: »

Once it goes on a website or forum, it's not private any more...

As you were told in the last thread in which you said that, your use of the term differs from everyone else's. As far as everyone else is concerned, a private sale is one that doesn't involve an estate agent, not one in which the public have not had the opportunity to engage.

AdrianC

Whistler23 wrote: »

I was just thinking a website where the brave can go and say (in my case). I want a 4 bed detached house with a garage and a 100ft garden. I have £500k to spend. Etc. Someone can contact me and say I have something, here is a picture. I go and view it, we agree a price. We instruct solicitors. Win - Win...

If you haven't heard of it, how many other buyers have?
If buyers aren't looking there, why would sellers be looking there?

What proportion of sellers do you want to be looking there, in order to have a reasonable change of finding the house you actually want?

gld73

Property section of your local branch of Gumtree - private sellers (and buyers) sometimes post there, it's not just rentals.