Selling a property yourself

michael8626

Hi

Does anyone have any experience of selling a property without using an agent? 

I am being told by agents that demand is extremely strong, I have the time to do this myself and I hope to a professional level, what are the downsides to doing it yourself and using a firm to get it listed online? 

What are the pitfalls please? 

Snookie12cat

You can use online firms to get your house on Rightmove, like 99home or strike etc. They are like £100 and they will vet your buyer too. 

Then you basically have to do everything else yourself, as in speak to your buyer etc. 

I have done this and one transaction was super easy and fine, but it does become awkward if things go wrong. That being said people pay purple bricks £1000 for the exact same service. I know which one I would prefer. 

If you have the time and are able to communicate effectively with your buyer then it's a no brainer tbh.

MobileSaver

michael8626 said:

 what are the downsides to doing it yourself and using a firm to get it listed online?

That's the main downside; it's impossible to get your property listed on Rightmove without going through an agent.

michael8626

Thanks 

I’ve had a quote of £450 for pictures, drone shots, floor plan, EPC, walkthrough 3D tour inside and out, I think it’s about £300 to get it on zoopla, right move etc. 

The property is an ex let, it’s empty, freehold, ready to sell, Suffolk, 

Im thinking of a having an open weekend, have a viewing at your leisure. 

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

Snookie12cat

michael8626 said:

Thanks 

I’ve had a quote of £450 for pictures, drone shots, floor plan, EPC, walkthrough 3D tour inside and out, I think it’s about £300 to get it on zoopla, right move etc. 

The property is an ex let, it’s empty, freehold, ready to sell, Suffolk, 

Im thinking of a having an open weekend, have a viewing at your leisure. 

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

If you take your own photos, do your own floorplan (places do this for £5 online if you cant), you can save more again and probably do a better job of it. Write your own description by taking a good format from Rightmove listing and editing. 
I liked 99Home because you can edit the ad yourself, can mark it as sold etc and have more control over another I used where the agent had to do that.

Also look into how easy it is to book a viewing, without having to call - as these cheapy agents normally are difficult to get through too and if that's the only way to book then its useless. 

I have found one of my buyers beyond frustrating, but I imagine that was the buyer and not a reflection on me doing it myself. You get a good buyer, and the whole thing is easy from start to finish. Agent isnt missed at all. 

michael8626

Snookie12cat said:

michael8626 said:

Thanks 

I’ve had a quote of £450 for pictures, drone shots, floor plan, EPC, walkthrough 3D tour inside and out, I think it’s about £300 to get it on zoopla, right move etc. 

The property is an ex let, it’s empty, freehold, ready to sell, Suffolk, 

Im thinking of a having an open weekend, have a viewing at your leisure. 

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

If you take your own photos, do your own floorplan (places do this for £5 online if you cant), you can save more again and probably do a better job of it. Write your own description by taking a good format from Rightmove listing and editing. 
I liked 99Home because you can edit the ad yourself, can mark it as sold etc and have more control over another I used where the agent had to do that.

Also look into how easy it is to book a viewing, without having to call - as these cheapy agents normally are difficult to get through too and if that's the only way to book then its useless. 

I have found one of my buyers beyond frustrating, but I imagine that was the buyer and not a reflection on me doing it myself. You get a good buyer, and the whole thing is easy from start to finish. Agent isnt missed at all. 

Thank you 🙏 

I am happy to pay for a bit of marketing. 

Do you still need to go through the online agent for viewings, is there no way of having my own mobile, landline, email etc and handle all correspondence direct? 

I just want an online portal to get me solely listed on the property sites, that’s all 

Snookie12cat

@michael8626

You cannot put contact details on Rightmove etc, so you have to go through the agent.

99Home - they have a form which the buyer completes online, and it emails you the details for you to call and make an appointment/vet them.
Others I have seen have an online form where you can put in your availability and the buyer can book - like purplebricks.

All require the agent as the go between though. 

user1977

michael8626 said:

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

You being worse at negotiating than the agents (and/or losing some potential buyers through less exposure or them not wanting to deal direct with a vendor), and ending up with more than £7500 less than they would have?

michael8626

user1977 said:

michael8626 said:

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

You being worse at negotiating than the agents (and/or losing some potential buyers through less exposure or them not wanting to deal direct with a vendor), and ending up with more than £7500 less than they would have?

That’s a valid point, but I keep getting told demand is incredibly strong and I have a figure in mind that I’m happy with. I have always found most estate agents to be slippery. 

Why would a buyer not want to deal direct. I would be available 24/7 for any questions, with a direct answer? 

user1977

michael8626 said:

user1977 said:

michael8626 said:

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

You being worse at negotiating than the agents (and/or losing some potential buyers through less exposure or them not wanting to deal direct with a vendor), and ending up with more than £7500 less than they would have?

Why would a buyer not want to deal direct. I would be available 24/7 for any questions, with a direct answer? 

Some buyers feel a bit icky even about vendors doing the viewings, never mind being the sole point of contact for queries/negotiations. No, I don't really understand it either, but it comes up here a fair bit.

Snookie12cat

michael8626 said:

user1977 said:

michael8626 said:

Saving agent fees of around £7500

What can go wrong? 😂😭

You being worse at negotiating than the agents (and/or losing some potential buyers through less exposure or them not wanting to deal direct with a vendor), and ending up with more than £7500 less than they would have?

That’s a valid point, but I keep getting told demand is incredibly strong and I have a figure in mind that I’m happy with. I have always found most estate agents to be slippery. 

Why would a buyer not want to deal direct. I would be available 24/7 for any questions, with a direct answer? 

It can be awkward like I said before -  That being said, I do prefer it in most cases. If I loved the house I would not care who was selling it, I would still buy it as would most people.