Internet estate agents - anyone used one?

[TheCokeMachine]

I'm just about to put my house on the market. Local estate agents are quoting a minimum of 1% which equates to about £4000.

There are serveral internet only estate agents who offer services from about £500. I've looked at Hatched and HouseNetwork, they seem legit and advertise on Rightmove and I guess that is where everyone looks for property.

Have you used one or know anyone who has? I'd like some opinions before I decide.

P.S. I am on maternity leave at the moment so I'm home pretty much all of the time, so I have no need for an agent to 'show' my property.

I used Housenetwork
+
A lot of control over the marketing, photos, price etc
Price
It seemed to filter the viewers into genuinely interested as opposed to 'sent round by an agent to show we are doing something'

erm I can't think of any... oh yes ! The offer was made directly to me and possibly would have been better handled coming through the agents - they will do that but the client approached me directly and I said ok I'd talk. I regretted that.

I didn't sell but withdrew from the market for other reasons. I did get several very interested viewers.

That sounds great, I think I'll just go with the internet agent thenm if I can get it on Rightmove and they vet the viewings that is all I need. Thanks!

I've sold one (completed) and another (sstc) through Hatched. No problems. Easy to get hold of by phone.
If it's convenient enough for you to do your own viewings then I'd suggest it is a 'no-brainer'. Both the houses I sold were in areas where high st EAs charge 2.5-3% so a much bigger savings margin.

One thing I would suggest you bear in mind is your personal safety. Remember the EA doesn't necessarily have any legitimate information on the people you're letting into your house, so if alone you might want to have a friend over, let someone know you'll call by 10:45 etc...

Sold two properties through Housenetwork and would fully recommend and would use them again.

As RCheshire says, keep records of your viewings - although all EAs (high street or internet) will book in viewers by phone call - and none of them have any more information than what the viewer provides. People don't roll up to the EA's door in person quite so much these days, so most viewings will come via internet - which is why there's not much point in using a high st agent and paying huge commission (imo).

Sold through HouseNetwork 2 years ago and coincidentally the house we bought was also on with them.

Found them to be fine, as we have sold previously with a high street estate agent I could compare them.

Fortunately I am a SAHM so was available for day time viewings but to be honest most of them took place on a weekend.

Saved myself a fortune as paid up front for the move so about £700 with the HIP that was required. They did ace photos and floorplan and virtual tours of several rooms. Could not fault them.

Housenetwork was perfect for us... We even got £50 cash for recommending someone!

Where do you look when you want to buy a house? Rightmove... I've never signed up with agents, have never needed too.

Also, I 100% recommend Housenetwork's conveyancying team.. bloody brilliant! Infact, we majorly regret not using them again for when we bought this house. We went with the cheaper option of the the conveyancing company recommended by our mortgage provider! NEVER AGAIN! It is not quicker.. and they were complete numpties and delayed our purchase with their cock up - so we had to rent (with 3 kids (inc a newborn baby)) for 3 weeks inbetween. We were kicking ourselves for not using Housenetwork's conveyancing team to buy.

Housenetwork is great... as no-one is pushing you... and you are in control. I felt very strongly that no-one can sell your house like you do! Just make it clear to the Housenetwork - that you only want viewers who are 'procedable'. Otherwise, you'll spend hours cleaning up to have complete time wasters down. And do ask them questions about their situation... why they are moving etc... then you can tailor your viewing around them. Be honest about what needs doing in your house, and show that your flexible.. they like that.

And have fun... this is only the real area that 'you' will have control of during the ups and downs of selling and buying houses.

Any questions, feel free to message me. Good luck! xx

Wow that's overwhelmingly positive then! I'm just giving the house a quick lick of paint and doing all those silly little DIY jobs that never got finished - then I'll be putting it on the market.

Thanks for the advice on viewings and such like - it's much appreciated. Vickles it's good to know that they do the conveyancing too, as I love to do everything online or over the phone.

Thanks!

You're welcome... good luck! xx

Just sold through house network too - very positive experience. I just did viewings over two weekends and had five offers over a two-week period. Most of the viewers liked the fact that the owner was showing them round (though tbh I just let them get on with it and waited downstairs for them to ask any questions), and the fact there was no estate agent pushing them.
House Network were great at providing feedback and dealing with the offers (including encouraging a couple higher) so really didn't feel like a traditional agent would have done any better.

It may depend to some extent on your area, but IMO everyone searches for houses through the internet anyway these days and house network are on the four main property sites i think.

Am definitely happy we went with them - and saved around £4k by doing so.

We sold by housenetwork last year and so did our best frineds (they were skeptical but came round to it and saved loads of money).

They were brilliant.