General Chat

It's certainly possible to sell without using an estate agent but it can be harder than you think, particularly if there is anything about your house that would put people off.

We have just moved and sold our house through an agent, having considered other options. It was not cheap but we found it worth it. The advertising was pitched just right and to the right sort of buyer. He acted as a middle man in difficult negotiations over what the buyers would offer and what we were prepared to accept. He conducted viewings for us when we weren't available as when we were on holiday. Our house had been underpinned which frightens buyers off and there was also a covenant on part of the land. We told him we wanted to be completely honest about this with prospective buyers and he was superb at helping us sort out how to tell them and at what point. On average houses were taking around 2 years to sell in our little hamlet - ours was sold in two months.

We got 5 different estate agents in to value our house and came down to a choice between two of them. If you go down the estate agent route make sure you read all the small print in their terms and conditions and make them explain them if you don't fully understand, or you could find yourself paying out more money than necessary. Then get the best deal you can out of them. We paid 1.3% of the sale price.

Whether you take on an agent or do it yourself I wish you the very best of luck and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Our daughter & SIL found their present house through the internet .

Both her and the vendor used conveyancing solicitors though for the sale

I haven't actually done it, but managing without an Estate Agent should be easy. The main thing they do is the advertising.

In Scotland Estate Agents are a fairly recent idea. Before that it was all done by solicitors, and in many cases still is.

I believe, in England/Wales, you can also manage without a solicitor (another expense!) but I don't know how easy it is.

Has anyone sold their property without an Estate Agent, if so was it cheaper, easier and successful , I have been told it is a lot cheaper and hoping it is.