Would I still be liable for estate agents fees if I sell my house privately?

[mulranno]

House on with an agent...but want to sell to a family member...will I still be liable for estate agents fees

yes if its thru them

You'll need to check your contract. Typically you'd have to pay if you sell it when it's on the market with them or if you sell it to someone they introduced. You would probably be OK if you gave them notice / waited for their exclusivity period to end and then progressed with your family member's offer, but it will depend on what you signed up to.

Probably - your contract will normally have a notice period and provision built in for sales via other introductions.

It depends on your contract, if it states sole SELLING rights then you would be liable, this is unusual though. Sole agency should be fine, BUT it will be tricky selling to a family member with noone, ie agent to be a buffer between you.

Yes, until your contract with the Estate Agents is ended.

I don't see that it would be tricky selling to family at all (other than the legalities of excluding the EA!). We need to look at the role of the EA in general. When all is said and done, all they do it place the adverts then, rather than acting as a 'buffer' between the 2 parties, they dissemble, bribe, threaten, coerce (I could go on), playing one party off against the other with the sole intention of getting their commission. I am actually impressed by the sheer skill EAs have exercised in the UK by making themselves seem so indispensable to the activity of house buying and selling.

The persons that REALLY count in this transaction are the solicitors. As long as EVERYTHING is handled via them, it's no different than selling to a complete stranger.

Boot the EA out!