Over a million houses are sold every year in the UK.
Estate agents positively assist most of these. But bad estate agents are memorable because of the stress involved. So, jokes like this exist:
How many estate agents does it take to change a lightbulb? Just one, but he’ll tell you it takes three people and charge you for it.
Distrust is only one of many reasons you might want to sell your house without an estate agent (we’ve listed more below).
Either way, read on to learn more about how to do this.
Is it possible to sell your house without an estate agent?
Yes, it is possible to sell your house without an estate agent.
There are several different ways to do this. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Read on to find out what these ways are.
How common is it to sell a house without an estate agent?
Precise statistics are difficult to collate or find, but estate agents likely sell most houses in the UK.
Extrapolating from different sources confirms this.
For example, Statistica estimates that 1.1 million properties were sold in the UK in 2022. A report by Nested.com estimated that estate agents sold 844,995 properties in the same year.
This would mean approximately 77% of houses were sold by estate agents.
Why sell a house without an estate agent?
Sellers decide not to use an estate agent for several reasons, including:
- Saving on fees: Estate agents charge a commission on each property’s final selling price, typically between 1.5% and 3%
- Gaining control: Some sellers can do what estate agents do but better
- Speed: Some alternative channels enable house sales to be completed much faster
- Convenience: Some selling channels require less effort from sellers
- Privacy: Using estate agents usually requires marketing the property in public
Example of reason why some don’t use estate agents
Most estate agents provide free valuations without any obligation.
These are generally accurate. However, some may give you a higher estimate to win your business.
They will inevitably have to tell you to lower the price later, once you have wasted time.
What does an estate do?
Estate agents carry out many tasks throughout the selling process, including:
- Completing valuations
- Marketing the property (organising photos, creating listings, etc.)
- Organising and hosting viewings
- Managing and negotiating offers
- Consulting sellers
- Handling or monitoring paperwork and relevant administrative tasks
- Coordinating and communicating between all parties
Most of these tasks involve time and costs. And to do them efficiently often requires knowledge and experience.
How to sell your house without an estate agent
Option 1: Sell your house privately
Selling your house privately means selling without an estate agent or other third-party property seller.
It involves the following steps:
Prepare your property
Before listing it on any platform, you should ensure your property is in good condition.
(Derelict properties can still be sold, but usually at much lower prices).
And the property should be clean and tidy. It’s best if you can de-personalise it, too.
Get a valuation
The next step is to get an accurate valuation of your property to determine its current market value.
Ideally, you should get several independent opinions.
Get listings
It’s worth listing your house on websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla. And find other ways to market your house yourself.
This might include:
- Posting about it on social media
- Paying for an advert in local magazines
- Putting a ‘For Sale’ sign outside the front of your house.
Online listings should include your contact details.
Arrange (& host) viewings
Arrange a time for potential buyers to view your house, then host these sessions yourself.
Prepare documents (& get legal help)
You can collect most of the forms needed to sell your house yourself.
However, without legal expertise, you will likely need a solicitor. They will help transfer funds, exchange contracts, etc.
Option 2: Sell your house privately to someone you know
If you already know someone willing to buy your house, then selling privately to them is much simpler.
After all, it saves marketing and viewing costs and effort. It also likely reduces negotiations – especially if you can sell privately to a friend or family member.
Option 3: Use an online estate agent
Perhaps you want to use an estate agent but take greater ownership over the process. In this case, an online estate agent might help.
These companies can charge a lower fixed rate. You take control of photography, asking prices, setting up online listings, and more.
Option 4: Use a cash buyer
There are several main alternatives to using an estate agent.
Cash buyers can quickly buy your house for a below-market rate (usually 75 – 85% of the market value). You won’t need to do much work at all.
Option 5: Use a property auction
Some people choose to sell their houses at auction. These still require viewings (before the auction day).
But they can usually help you sell quicker than on the open market (though not as quickly as cash buyers, and they don’t offer a guaranteed sale).
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