Selling your house by yourself is entirely possible in the UK. And is more common than you might think.
If you do it right, it could save you a lot of money and time.
Why sell your house by yourself?
There are several main reasons to want to sell a house by yourself, including:
- Saving on the costs of selling a house
- Saving on the time it takes to sell a house (this is especially true if feel your house has been on the market for too long)
- Not wanting to deal with dishonest estate agents or other types of house-selling companies
- Not wanting to be tied to a contract
Of course, this list doesn’t cover every potential reason. You could, for example, simply want to take on the challenge!
Defining selling a house by yourself
‘Selling your house yourself’ might mean different things to different people.
Let’s look at some alternative house-selling channels and their levels of independence.
Selling without an estate agent
To many, selling without an estate agent is a priority.
When less of the commission from a sale goes to an estate agent, more money goes into your pocket.
However, estate agents handle many parts of the house-selling process. So, you will still need to:
- Value your house (estate agents usually do this for free)
- Organise the marketing of your property
- Stage viewings of your house
- Work with solicitors on the legal issues around selling a house
And more.
Exactly how you sell your house without an estate agent is another question…
1. Sell your house privately
If you are lucky, you can sell your house privately to a family member or a friend.
In this scenario, you will still need some outside help, but you will save time and money on marketing, viewings, and negotiations.
You also need to consider whether it is the best way to get the maximum price for your property.
2. Selling via online websites
In this digital age, it is increasingly common for people to advertise that their home is ‘for sale’ via online websites.
This can sometimes be enough to generate substantial interest and find a suitable buyer.
Some of the most popular online websites for advertising your house includes:
- RightMove
- Zoopla
- OnTheMarket
These websites are filled with users who are looking for their next dream home.
(There are other websites, too. Be sure to research each property website before signing up, though – some might be less legitimate than others).
You should ensure that you price your property appropriately when listing a house on these websites, as it can majorly affect the number of enquiries you receive.
If in doubt, you should speak with an independent valuer who can give an accurate estimation of your property’s value.
3. Sell your property at auction
Another alternative to selling through an estate agent is using a property auction.
This method can enable you to avoid the costs of an estate agent’s commission and the legal fees of a solicitor.
Conversely, auctions can come with the risk of not getting the price you wanted for your property.
The auction house will also usually take a percentage of your fee for the property.
So, while this option avoids using estate agents and saves time and effort on marketing, organising views, etc., you still rely on a property house.
5. Sell to a Cash House Buyer
Selling to a cash house buyer is easily the quickest way to sell a house.
When you sell to a cash house buyer, you typically receive less money for your house than you would’ve likely received ‘on the market’.
However, you can also save money by avoiding estate agent’s commissions and (in some cases) legal fees.
Tips for selling your house by yourself
Not everything needs to be done through online websites or outside facilitators.
Estate agents may help you with the marketing of your property. But if you choose to sell by yourself, then you can still do many of these things yourself.
At a minimal expense (or no expense at all, in some cases) you may be able to:
- Arrange open days
- Put leaflets through doors
- Buy a ‘For Sale’ sign and put it outside your house
- Place an ad in local newspapers
A major hurdle in selling your property is getting it seen by enough potential buyers.
All of these marketing methods can help you to do that – and, with a bit of luck, you may be able to attract a suitable buyer all by yourself.
Advice for selling your property yourself
Selling your property yourself is no small task – so, you should ensure you are thoroughly prepared.
If in doubt, an outside (independent) opinion can be valuable, so you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for expert help if you encounter any hurdles.
You should also make sure that all the correct paperwork is in place.
If you hire a solicitor, they can do this for you – but if not, thoroughly research everything you need to sell your house.
Sell your property with We Buy Any Home
We Buy Any Home are chain-free cash house buyers who can purchase your property fast and up-front, without hassle or stress.
Using our funds, we will purchase your property at a set price by your chosen date and fully manage it from beginning to end.
Fill in our enquiry form below if you want a cash offer for your house.
