Revolution! Can we advertise our houses privately too?

loofah_3

Hi. My house has been on the market (Scotland) for a few weeks with not one viewer yet. Personally, not a problem as I am not in a hurry to sell. But, comparing it to the last time I sold a property when I had viewings every day, this seems odd. I know the housing market is in decline and am ready for this. But was wondering....is there anything to stop me taking matters into my own hands...advertising the house myself ( in addition to solicitors) through newspapers etc? I'd like people to know how economical my house is to run and that it would be the ideal family starter home. I'd like them to know that it's in a quiet cul-de-sac and that the park is less than a minute away. I want people to know the lifestyle they would be buying into. The way houses are marketed is sooooooo boring and unappealing....let's get to the nitty gritty and say what our utility/council tax bills are. I'm not in a chain...People....we need a revolution and not to just sit there like muppets!!

Was just wondering what the legalities were? I'm wanting to try and advertise in quirky ways just to get folk thru the door!!!! Folk are nervous the noo and worried about mortgages..we need to get change!

I'm assuming there must be legal barriers to people advertising their houses in additional ways otherwise evreyone would be doing it......help!?!

RLH33

You need to check your contract very thoroughly, some hold all rights for a sale. This is especially the case if you have a For Sale board outside - if someone hears through a neighbour that you are selling or someone just comes and knocks on the door - the estate agents are still entitled to the commission from any resulting sale.

If your contract is along these lines it is not worth marketing the property yourself as you will lay out your own money and the estate agents will get their cut anyway.

puddy

i dont know if its different in scotland but it doesnt affect your right to advertise privately even if you have sole agency. i am advertising with one online agency, one private sale and if things get nowhere, i might then go with a high street estate agency

Felicity

Why not put together your own home buyers pack? I did and I sold our house very quickly. I firmly believed this helped.

Too many people think that the Estate Agents will do all the work and they leave it in their hands. If you are firmly motivated to sell your house, I believe you should put the ground work in yourself too.

Put together a pack with all the information that you want (including all the emotional stuff that estate agents leave out (most people buy houses based on emotions), put it into sections, do your own viewings, ask your potential buyers lots of questions and then give them a pack to take away with relevant information. Take out the sections that are not relevant.

I really think this is the way forward if you are in a buyers market and you want to sell your house!