What are estate agents selling fees normally ?

[mousemole]

We were quoted 2.5% by Savills. DH thinks this could be negotiated down at the moment.
Anyone had any recent experience of being able to negotiate their selling fees down ?

That is high.I have never paid more than 1% plus the VAT.definitely try to get them down a bit

We're paying 1% plus vat.

2% more normal
1.5% is a good deal

Sole agency gets a more favourable rate
You should negotiate what advertising you expect as part of the deal eg 1 page colour advert in local magazine/ own full colour brochure/ active marketing to overseas clients etc

ah
clearly 1.5% is not particularly good! Ignore me!

Darthvader, didnt think of the marketing deal etc, thanks for that. I think we paid 1.5% on our last house quite a few years ago. 2.5% did seem a lot and northernlurker and noddyholder seem to confirm that.
Anyone else - let me know what deal you got ?

1% + VAT. Although there is a local agent (newly started up so only internet at the mo) who is offering 1% with no VAT for a limited period. We had an amusing conversation with another agent who was insisting on 2.5 %, to which we said "on yer bike, then" to. What is the justification for that sort of price? The service is no different, as far as I can see.

Before we had an offer I was talking to another agency about switching to them and they said their commission was 1.75% plus VAT - I said no way - we're paying 1% now - oh replied the agent - well that can be negotiated - too right it can!

Darthvader - I thought 1.5% sounded very good compared to 2.5! Ooh, I get frustrated with estate agents ! The no VAT tip is a good one as that really racks up the price.Savills claimed with all their London offices they would have hundred of buyers looking to move out of central london to the suburbs ( which is where we are). There are quite a few local agents who seemed a bit technologically challenged ( terrible websites etc) but I think they are likely to have good selling fees.

anyone else- what were you charged by your estate agent for selling your house ?

All charges can be negotiated and should be. We paid 1% about 3 years ago. The estate agent was based on the estate we lived on everyone else was talking 1.25% and above.

I think it depends on how much the estate agent does. We had registered with them when we were buying a house and they had rung us everytime something came on the market and I mean literally as the agent had left the property!!!

So we were happy to pay them as we knew they would work their asses of to sell our house. And they did, we had 3 asking price offers and then one under the asking price but he was a doctor and first time buyer so we took his offer as the others had yet to sell their houses. Oh and all this was within 10 days of going on the market.

depends where in the country you are.

1 - 1.5% average round here (midlands), but i think prob more like 2% in london.

you have to work out what is good value for money tho. an agent who charges 1.5% and gets you laminated colour brochures, advertising in specialist magazines, local and national press etc is earning their money. there is one agency round here that charge a 750 quid flat fee, but all they do is put an ad in their window and a board outside your house. if you really want to sell you have to go with the agency who are going to put the most effort into selling/marketing your property to the right people, rather than just who's cheapest imho.

Savills, at least in my area, do produce particulary good literature and generally take on properties in a higher price range.

I've never paid more that 1.25% (I'm obviously not such a good negotiator as some!) but would be happy to pay a higher % for a better service.

i think even with glossy brochures etc etc that 2.5% seems very high ? I worry that the local agenets who will offer lower will just do the board and window ads but will see what they offer to use a bargaining tool if necessary with Savills.

I got 1.25 with agent at beginning of the year but they failed to sell it so we have changed to different agent for 1.6% + VAT.

We are paying 1 per cent. This is perfectly sufficient for what EAs do and will work out way way in excess of the legal fees for example.

Anything over 1.5 per cent is a complete rip off IMO

As long as the house is on rightmove and is reasonably priced it will sell.Local agents or specific agents are not as important as they once were as most people look online 1% plus vat is more than enough as they do very little for the £

1.25% +vat. In London

I've been quoted 0.75-1.5% (the 1.5 was described as negiotiable in the same breath!)

we charge between 1-1.5% plus vat. as for 2.5%