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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think estate agents aren’t worth the money?

88 replies

Thatescalatedquickly2 · 07/02/2026 18:36

We are looking to buy a bigger place. Selling our flat in. London to buy a family home.

I’m told estate agents charge 1-2 percent commission on a sale. Our place is worth about 650k, so that’s going to be hugely expensive for taking a few pics and sticking it on rightmove.

I’ve also been viewing some places and I can’t say I’ve ever met an estate agent who adds value. When we were looking for our flat, they often hardly knew about the property, no idea about the area and didn’t really ‘sell’ a place to us.

aibu for thinking we should just go for cheapest option?

OP posts:
Isit2026yet · 07/02/2026 19:05

Ours in London charged 1% and they were worth every penny.

MidnightPatrol · 07/02/2026 19:05

I feel similarly about mortgage advisors.

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 07/02/2026 19:04

Personally, I wouldn't want to conduct and organise the viewings. Also, some potential buyers don't want to be shown round by the current owner as they can't make honest comments in their presence (eg "good god that bathroom is awful, that would need to come out").

KidsDoBetter · 07/02/2026 19:04

For a decent one huge amount more to it than that. If you’re too cheap to pay then try Purple Bricks. They are shite.

id only pay 1% however. Maybe fractionally more if they get over asking price. It’s possible to negotiate both the fee and the tie in period. I only give them 6-8 weeks max in case they turn out to be dire

Pricelessadvice · 07/02/2026 19:02

Estate agents negotiate the sale and chase the solicitors a lot more than you might realise! There’s a lot more stuff that goes on behind the scenes once a sale has been made. It’s not just an advertising service.

RaininSummer · 07/02/2026 19:01

I am contemplating doing it myself one day but wouldn't know where to advertise for traffic.

PandorasSockBox · 07/02/2026 19:00

When we were selling our parents' house, I actually rewrote the entire spiel, because it was ungrammatical and inexact. The photos were not brilliant, overexposed, but I did not have time to take them again. Considering that, at the time, my time was worth around €100 an hour, I probably should have charged, but she was just learning.
We got 2 full asking price offers, so job done.

BudgetBuster · 07/02/2026 18:55

Jc2001 · 07/02/2026 18:54

Not sure individuals can advertise directly on Rightmove.

Show quote history

Well then that's another cost for the EA 😂
I'm in Ireland so wasn't sure about Rightmove

Jc2001 · 07/02/2026 18:54

BudgetBuster · 07/02/2026 18:52

Just list on rightmove yourself then?

You are paying for their time dealing with potential queries & time showing people around.

Not sure individuals can advertise directly on Rightmove.

Chisbots · 07/02/2026 18:54

The one I use is worth every single penny. Their chain chaser is amazing.

So not all agents...

Twiglets1 · 07/02/2026 18:53

YABU but there’s no poll.

BudgetBuster · 07/02/2026 18:52

Just list on rightmove yourself then?

You are paying for their time dealing with potential queries & time showing people around.

TeenToTwenties · 07/02/2026 18:38

But surely estate agents do more than that?
Don't they also liaise after an offer is accepted to ensure things go as smoothly as possible? (I may be out of date.)

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