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Original poster

Has anyone sold their own property?

16 replies

mckenzie · 06/08/2011 17:49

DH wants us to consider selling our house ourselves rather than using an Estate Agent. Has anyone done this and can offer any advise please?

TIA

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Original poster
mckenzie · 06/08/2011 20:38

Bump

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midnightexpress · 06/08/2011 20:45

I haven't, but have you seen Sarah Beeny's site Tepilo? It's a way of selling it without an estate agent and it's free. Might be worth a shot?

groak · 06/08/2011 20:45

Yep, we did it. As long as you swap solicitors details and solicitors start getting in touch with each other, it's a doddle.

We just put word of mouth out that we were selling our house, neighbour a few doors up had a mate that wanted to buy. Person came to view (remeber, your estate agent doesn't 'check' poeople who view ypur house so no difference here) just gave mobile tel no to keep in touch. person verbally agreed price, we gave each other details of solicitors and then solicitors started doing searches and things.

Honestly, we have bought and sold without estate agents and as long as you're prepared to give mobile number as contact and be the persobn to show people round, it has been briliant,. you are effectively paying people to show some one round your house with estate agents. i know sone people say they check buyer has a mortgage, but our solicitor kept us up to date with this info, so would def say go for it Smile

Original poster
mckenzie · 06/08/2011 20:56

Thanks for the messages. I'll check out that site now.

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Original poster
mckenzie · 06/08/2011 21:15

Groan, I have a question please. How did you decide on your asking price?

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AgentTracker · 06/08/2011 22:27

My sister bought without an agent (although she did pay about 25k more than it was worth but she loved it). It went through very easily. Why would you not want to use an agent, just out of interest? Is it the cost or just a poor selection?

violetwellies · 06/08/2011 22:50

We sold ours, dp made details on his computer, gave them to anyone who expressed an interest. We ended up with an email bidding war, the cottage - an absolutely fabulous place that dp had put his soul into (as well as a lot of time & energy ) went to the person who came up with the cash first.

Original poster
mckenzie · 07/08/2011 08:26

Thanks for the posts. Our house is a corner plot that we have extended quite considerably and to a high standard so that it's now unlike anything in the immediate area. DH thinks that the agents are under valuing it hence his suggestion that we sell ourselves. I'm not so sure but when we sold our last house DH sniffed at the valuations we got from 3 local agents, put it on with the one with the highest suggestion but for 30k more and it sold within the week. So maybe his views are valid Grin

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midnightexpress · 07/08/2011 09:56

I guess that depends also on when you last sold though - the market has changed to dramatically, hasn't it?

On the one hand, I suspect that agents are probably so desperate to get things moving that they may well encourage a lower starting price than in the past. However, otoh, a house, any house, is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it, and if the market is sluggish then it depends how quickly you want to sell. Apparently, there's something of a Mexican standoff at the moment, with sellers not prepared or able to lower prices, and buyers not prepared to pay asking prices.

That said, I do think that estate agents often are not worth the money.

nondomesticgoddess · 07/08/2011 18:53

We've just put our house on with HouseNetwork after a friend sold very quickly and easily with them. They are online agents - they do the photos and floorplans, you do the viewings. They get the house on all the big property sites like Rightmove. It can cost as little as about £500.

We went with them because all the local agents were awful and because it's cheaper. I have been pleased with them so far. Although not a sniff in terms of an actual buyer!

Could be a possible compromise...

groak · 07/08/2011 21:02

mckenzie sorry for late post..
we got estate agents round to do valuations, kept our free copy they hand out then said we were using some one different and used that as our asking price! Think we gotr 3 diff estate agents in and used highest price (not muxh i=diff) but left us room to barter Grin

Original poster
mckenzie · 07/08/2011 21:22

Thanks groak. DH wants to go in higher but hey ho. Until tonight's riots I was in two minds about moving but after last night and tonight I want out of North London ASAP Sad

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emanuela · 08/08/2011 12:42

Hi Mckenzie, where do you live? We are looking to buy in north London (not in the riot areas) and would live to do it without estate agent. Please let me know

Original poster
mckenzie · 08/08/2011 15:31

hi Emanuela, we are EN2, West Enfield, Oakwood, Trent Park, Grange Park, Winchmore Hill side of Enfield Smile

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emanuela · 09/08/2011 07:56

Hi thanks for your answer. Unfortunately we are looking a bit more central as the children go to school in Highgate and hampstead. Thanks and good luck with selling the house!

Original poster
mckenzie · 09/08/2011 08:37

thanks emanuela and good luck with your search too

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