So we have a lovely, spacious, garden flat in Stroud Green near Finsbury Park. It's got high ceilings and original features and chandeliers (!) and we've been renting it out to lovely tenants who are on a rolling-monthly contract and have a great relationship with us and are happy to facilitate viewings. One of the reasons we get on so well is that we maintain it really well for them - new boiler and radiators last year, new (madly expensive) timber-framed double glazing to match the original windows, new consumer unit 3 years ago, etc. Because it's currently rented we have elec and gas safety certificates up to date (as per the landlord regulations). Also it's chain-free at our end as not our main home.
We are selling due to impending separation/divorce so really need to maximise the sale price - if I can't buy DH out after the (hefty) mortgage is paid off then I have to sell the family home and kids will have even more upheaval to deal with! The local EA who we bought from 14 years ago has valued it and complimented it, and then said their fee is 1.25% plus VAT - which is a hefty chunk when the sums are as tight as ours.
We have great photos and a floorplan from using OpenRent to find the tenants, and (obviously) we know it well enough to write a compelling listing blurb. Even if we went with the local EA we would likely do "open house" style viewings where the tenants vacate for 2 hours and lots of people view at once - one on a Saturday and one on a weekday evening - this would be so that the tenants are disturbed as little as possible. Given this, it would be quite easy for us to conduct the viewings ourselves.
I am sorely tempted to either use Purplebricks or just whack it on Rightmove myself and sell privately. What do people think about this? Would it put you off as a buyer? I believe (but might be massively naive) that as long as we have decent solicitors then there's not loads of value the EA can offer in these circumstances? But am pretty stressed ATM and would be grateful for any advice!