Is selling your house via the internet safe and cheaper

[Nightdreamer62]

Hi guys newbie here. I have a question to ask you all who decides to change house prices for sale on Zoola? Strange one I know. I live on Isle of Skye and had my home on Zoopla just to watch over the years if it went up or down in value. Well lucky or so I thought my home rose in value. To £155.995. Two years ago I decided I wanted to sell. I checked Zoopla and is had gone up to £157.560. there are four estate agents on Skye and I had each one come. Not on same day. and advice me on selling. The first said I would be lucky to get £115.000. Now this shook me.The following three said same give or take 2 grand. At this point I said my house has risen in price in past ten years by Zoopla. They were taken aback. The very next day I went onto Zoopla and my house price had fell to £115.000????????

My home is very much wanted by several locals I know this as when I bought it ten years ago it went to sealed bids there were 9 others and they were locals and neighbours. I am not paranoid but I don't trust these agents on Skye or the Surveyor.

Sorry it's a long story but I have to sell my home due to ill health and have not got a clue who to trust for home report and for sale.

Please can anyone help me with some advice on what am I to do. I am on my own and have no family close to me.

You need to take advice from proper estate agents. Zoopla is just an on-line guess at your property value. It will look at how much the property sold for last time and any other properties in the area - this takes no account of the condition of the house which can only be seen by someone actually coming round.

Sorry OP i can not help with your question but i just wanted to say how strange that it has dropped by 40 grand. That is a huge amount. However if 4 estate agents have all said £115k then thats its value.

You can put any price that you want on it does not mean people will buy it.

Zoopla is a best guess. It's very flawed, as it bases on previous sold prices. If nothing like your property locally has sold, it can only use an algorithm to try and guess. The prices also fluctuate wildly. My previous property was apparently worth 150k at one point. Even though no one in my street had sold for this amount. Estate agents will give you a more accurate picture but be prepared that you'll only get what someone thinks it's worth. I wish house price estimates were real money but sadly they are just that, estimates.

It is worth what someone would pay for it. Estate agents have a better on the ground knowledge based on local market, demand and condition.
Zoopla says mine is worth 250k but the agent said 320k min. Zoopla had based it on similar property sales recently of new boxes and past sales (ten years ago) of our row. They had not taken into account the huge extension on the back that adds another 30% on the house.

Posted too soon
On the house footprint

I also believe zoopla not to be accurate, My house was well overpriced on there too, I think it depends on who sells in your neighbourhood too that can make them drop or rise.

Okay thanks everyone

Hello agent here
Zoopla estimates are a pain in the arse they get people's hopes up or set their expectations to the floor and it makes our job a lot harder when they've been watching them and get set on what they say.

They basically take an average for your postcode area of similar properties (detached 4 bed for example) with no accord for the condition of the property, any work that's been done, lease details, your circumstances or the demand for the area.

It's fine (ish) if you live in an estate of very similar size and condition houses.

Have a minimum of 3 agents out to get a better idea of its value.

My house price was going up and up on Zoopla last year whilst we were in the process of buying it, because a few sales of 3 bed properties in the area went through - but they happened to be big fancy houses with expensive refurbs on the most expensive streets in my area!

It went 'down' when I bought it - because I, a real human, had set a real price upon it! Zoopla just guesses. Often quite well, but it really does guess.