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Original poster

Selling property but requesting no advertising?

55 replies

birdseeder · 18/09/2020 12:35

Am I silly for pondering this?

Basically, we attempted to go on market last year, que neighbours and local mums at school going ooh, I see you have gone on the market etc...basically the local grapevine.

So I was wondering about asking our former EA to put us back on their books but not going on Rightmove and Zoopla and just relying on them doing some legwork to recommend our property to anyone already looking for a property in area

I know this will potentially make selling process longer...

Has anyone else done similar?

Thanks!

OP posts:
FlumpetCrumpet · 18/09/2020 13:37

You do occasionally see 'discreet' listings pop up on rightmove, it gives the area and the price and a few details but without photos and the exact location. We are looking to buy in a specific area and if one of these popped up I would enquire. That might be an option?

Viviennemary · 18/09/2020 13:53

I'd be suspicious if it wasn't advertised. I'd think there was some kind of issue and the person doesn't really want to sell.

Hollycot · 18/09/2020 14:41

We went under offer before the pictures had been taken due to the EA having people on the books waiting. However the EA told me they were contractually obliged with Rightmove to list the property for 24 hours despite already being under offer. I’ve heard other EA’s say the same. However I’ve noticed that our house is no longer searchable on RM (even when the search includes ‘sold properties’ option) so perhaps you could request it be removed as soon as it has sold to limit exposure period.

Bluntness100 · 18/09/2020 15:07

I’d also be wary of someone who didn’t wish to advertise, if an agent, who lets face it, remembered to tell me about the property, I’d ask why it wasn’t being advertised and if they said the seller wishes to be discreet, I’d assume a shit load of debt or trouble that they are running from and don’t want people to know they are doing a runner and I’d steer well clear unless it was beyond fabulous.

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 18/09/2020 15:14

Normally when an agent emails potential buyers about a property, they will send a link to the property details on their website (which are obviously also publicly available). What would your EA send out if they're not allowed to create a web listing etc?

You are willing to potentially cost yourself tens of thousands of pounds for the sake of being 'discreet'..... madness.

People will know eventually whatever you do, because you'll, you know, move house.

DrIrisFenby · 18/09/2020 15:35

Whilst I do understand your desire for privacy, by refusing Rightmove, Zoopla etc you will be making life very, very difficult for yourself. This is one of those instances where unless you want the process to drag out for months and months, I'm afraid you are just going to have to suck it up.

YellowNotRed · 18/09/2020 15:58

@birdseeder

Hi, thanks for your POVs, but I really I didn't ask for opinions on why I am considering it, more other people's experiences be it for or against.
The why is very important - it could be a safety issue for example (abusive ex you don't want knowing just off the top of my head).

But if there is no real reason, it's a dumb idea and I doubt the estate agent would consider it.

I'm very private but I don't care what people think/say, plus you're moving out the area so why does it matter at all?

Just list it, perhaps request no for sale board, and remember no one cares what you're doing.

YellowNotRed · 18/09/2020 15:59

@Bluntness100

I’d also be wary of someone who didn’t wish to advertise, if an agent, who lets face it, remembered to tell me about the property, I’d ask why it wasn’t being advertised and if they said the seller wishes to be discreet, I’d assume a shit load of debt or trouble that they are running from and don’t want people to know they are doing a runner and I’d steer well clear unless it was beyond fabulous.
Same.

I wonder, OP, are you ashamed/embarrassed about your house at all?

Asdf12345 · 18/09/2020 16:01

Might work, I imagine it would be a lot more work for the estate agent and they might want to increase their commission to compensate.

We weren’t recommended any houses by estate agents when we were looking, it was all online advertising.

shggg245 · 18/09/2020 16:09

I did this for exactly the same reason didn't want locals knowing my business. Used local estate agent and property sold within a week. Smile

MandosHatHair · 18/09/2020 16:13

Akward vendors can put people right off a house. I'm looking to move at the minute and if an agent told me about your house I would think they had something to hide, or there is some kind of messy situation going on eg a forced sale after divorce where they really don't want to move. If you are making it difficult for potential buyers at the first instance, they will wonder if you are going to be difficult for the whole selling process.

BananaLlamaConCalma · 18/09/2020 16:31

Nowadays people go on right move, see a house and then call the agent. Only if something bad happens do you ask them for similar houses in the area. Even in the olden days they were advertised in a paper. It will take you forever to sell if you don't.

user1471538283 · 18/09/2020 16:32

It will be much much harder to sell without an online presence. Whilst estate agents have a database they are not getting the footfall to just put something in the window. I didn't want my neighbours knowing what the inside of our house was like but its beautiful and sold relatively quickly because it was online

positivelynegative · 18/09/2020 16:32

Our friend bought a house that wasn’t listed. Whether they paid top dollar or not is another matter.

I think you’d sell but reduce possible competition.

As my DM used to say. Why do you think people are interested in you? Just get on with your own life!

Original poster
birdseeder · 18/09/2020 16:35

Ok thanks all! Guess I was silly for pondering it lol

OP posts:
parietal · 18/09/2020 16:42

My parents bought a house that was not advertised online (prev owner was a v minor celeb).

So it is possible if you have a unique house but you'll want an agent with good local connections

Feelingpoorlysick · 18/09/2020 16:45

I think you would be silly to not take advantage of rightmove/zoopla but I could understand you not having a for sale sign.

AdoreTheBeach · 18/09/2020 16:52

If you want to sell, you really do need to be on rightmove People contact the agent about what is in there

Yes, they can take on your property and only have it in their own website as discreet sale, log in for details

But you’d be limiting your options tremendously.

Rather, have it listed everywhere and once you have a buyer, have it removed ASAP. This way you reach maximum people right away, have larger pool Of people to view and hopefully a quicker sale at better price, then it’s off all platforms.

NeverEnoughCake2 · 18/09/2020 16:53

Think it all depends on how desirable your house/area is. If it's somewhere where people do miss out on houses they put serious offers in for, and so would be willing to view another house the estate agent suggests rather than looking on rightmove etc, you could pull it off.

We bought our house off a rather strange family. They didn't want to be on rightmove, so the house was listed there with zero bedrooms (it actually has four!) We only found the listing because DH is a bit of a terrier when it comes to finding properties. So, there are ways on being on rightmove but less findable.

Werk · 18/09/2020 18:09

We tried this at first, because my DH didn't want our house online.
We got a few viewings but I think because it wasn't online buyers thought we were not serious and/ or wouldn't accept a low offer. We got loads more viewings once we went online and yes we also got all the gossip too, it is annoying but short term.

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 19/09/2020 00:57

I can see why you wouldn’t want your house on rightmove, in pre rightmove days when you put your house on the market a picture of the front would be in the local rag, if someone was interested they would have to contact the agent and get the full sales details sent to them so generally only serious people would be viewing your house, now at the click of a button the world and his wife can see every single detail of your house and even more so if there is a virtual tour. I don’t think it’s necessarily the case that the OP is ashamed of her house that she doesn’t want the world to see it, just that she doesn’t want everyone knowing every detail of her home and being judged either positively or negatively by people you know at the school gates but who are not part of your life, so I can understand her feelings, but if you want to sell your house it’s really the only way to get the most interest. You could ask the agent to market it discreetly for the first couple of weeks to see if you could sell it before it goes online, might be worth a shot.

PuppyLuff · 19/09/2020 01:02

I've only seen this done successful for estates that are worth millions where they family don't want any press. Otherwise most estate agents would think you're going to be incredibly hard work. They'd rightly ask for more commission as well because finding a buyer will be hard.

Itwasaquarterpast11 · 19/09/2020 01:11

Selling a house is like having a baby. Everyone has a view, you lose all notions of privacy and you end up feeling slightly violated.
Private is great, but either you want to sell or not. Keeping it a secret because of your school mum cronies implies your house is shit, needs work or is in a crap area. Just suck it up, sell the house and move on.

WingingWonder · 19/09/2020 01:18

I hear you but the said grapevine sold my friends house in 3 hours :-0

RoseMartha · 19/09/2020 01:29

How about going on right move etc but dont have a for sale sign?

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