Selling your home yourself, online. Anyone done this?

[GoForFairTradeEggs]

We're thinking of signing up with an online sales site, which would cost under £500, compared to thousands with an estate agent. Has anyone done this? Also, does anyone have any experience of buying HIPS packs online? Be really grateful for any info, good or bad. The company we're thinking of using btw is housenetwork. Thanks!

We're selling via House Network at the moment and have got as far as accepting an offer.

They actually do far more of the process than I realised when I was checking out online agents - really the only thing we have had to do ourselves is the viewings. They do all the negotiating etc for you. We paid the extra for a dedicated agent which has been good as you always speak to the same person.

They have been pretty efficient at everything so far, and their photos were good. You have more control over the photo selection and number of photos you choose to display than you do with a conventional agent, which I liked. The photographer was good and he helped me to stage the rooms. I've seen some photos on conventional agents' sites where the photographers haven't even bothered to ask the vendors to remove the washing from the radiators!

You can also more easily control how they describe your house as they submit their descriptive text to you for checking.

You can also monitor how many people are logging onto your page, and there's a page for feedback so you can see what the viewers have said about your house after they've seen it.

We did the package where the HIP was included - apparently it hasn't been completed yet so we haven't seen it, but the energy assessor has been round. The agent said it would just be forwarded to our buyers solicitors when it was complete.

I'd say it has worked really well for us so far and would recommend it as long as you don't mind doing your own viewings. Personally I prefer to do them anyway, you get to meet the buyers and chat to them about their position which we found useful when weighing up offers. They have to give this info to the agent as well, but you do get more detailed answers and a feel for what they are like to deal with when you chat to them directly. Of course this is what a good agent should do anyway, but some don't ime!

We're selling for around £350k, and were quoted fees of around £5.5k by conventional agents. House Network will end up costing us just under £1000 when vat and extras are added.

hth!

Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us all that Pixel! It does sound like they're good value for money. I think we'll give it a go, as the conventional agents would cost us around £7k. Like you, I'd rather do our viewings, as I think if you love your house you can really sell it to them! Hope your sale goes through quickly and smoothly and thanks again for all the info.

Thanks and good luck with yours too

Well we are always looking on the websites etc. for new property and search for house websites. So I don't really think it matters, some also provide a house sale board, which is good to put up to let drivers round know that there is a house up for sale.

Yes - I think as long as you are on Rightmove you're pretty much guaranteed to be picked up by serious buyers, unless you're specifically trying to sell to a demographic that aren't so likely to be online a lot.

Even so, the For Sale board should attract a lot of interest - just about everyone that walks past our house gives it a quick once-over as they go by, and quite a few stop and have a good look!

Not sure we'll have a for sale board, as we're a bit out of the way, so not much "passing trade". Our house will probably appeal to 30 somethings with children, and I figured that, like us, most of them will be looking online. Had the man round to do the energy survey today for the hips pack, so it's all happening. starting to get cold feet though, it's a bit scary this moving lark!