Advice for buying - not using an estate agent

[MumofSpud]

Looking at buying somewhere without using an estate agent - has anybody done this ?

So as not to drip feed - I would have been looking to downsize in the next year or so and knew where I would like to buy

Was walking past a property in this area - doors were open - it looked empty - with 2 men working on it - one of them was the owner (had inherited it) and I asked if it was for sale and it was /is but they hadn't put it on the market yet!

We would, of course, be using solicitors!

We did this recently. We approached the relatives of a neighbour who had passed away and bought the house privately. No issues. They had to sell and we were keen to buy. However this was earlier in the year when the market was crazy, we immediately put our place on the market and it sold in days.

Ps beware probate might hold things up.

I have bought and sold without an agent, to people in the village. No problems as long as everyone is reasonable and polite ( no filter about viewing etc, except for solicitor).

I am doing the same. My solicitor seems delighted nit to have to deal woth an estate agent. Just keep everything via email and keep communication up.

Great! All positive so far (touch wood!)

Yes we bought ours privately. We knew the owner was thinking of selling. We agreed a price and left it to the solicitors

You have nothing to gain by not using a EA

the buyer will save very nicely on his EA fee

so factor that in to your offer

And don’t scrimp on solicitor. Get a well recommended local one

Probate… unless he is the only beneficiary then in all likelihood they will want to use a EA

I’m also doing the same, again using solicitors and communicating with the seller by email. No problems, no EA. All good, I wish you all the best