Estate Agents - Moving House

[Mark_Solesbury]

Hiya

We will be moving this year - found a new house an all, just need to sell ours.

Now - If i put it on the market with an estate agent, they want to charge me 2% + vat for the privilege... Im sure they will go lower with some banter, but that does not get away from the fact that they are robbing bar stewards.

If i put it on the market could they get the aarrse if i sold it myslef without going though them? My neighbour is trying to soruce funds to purchase it with his Mother for permanent baby sitting duties and is really keen...

Id like a fall back incase they cant get the money.....

This is my first house, so any experience would be appreciated!

[Boggert]

To be fair you are right 1.75 is about ok, however if you consider in the states you get charged up to 7 % listing and selling fee and in some part of europe its 5%... 2% is not bad.

Selling the property is one thing, its keeping waring buyers sellers and pain in the backside solicitors on thrac is where they earne their money.

If you sell it your self you will save 2% or so, but remember you have to deal direct with the buyers and all their problems, however you can save a few grand doing it.

I would let your neighbour have a go, but put it on with an agent incase he fall out of line.

i use to be a surveyor so no a bit about it, even wrote a book about how to buy and sell your first home. :dance:

[freelanderpx54]

Put it on the open market and if the neighbour comes up with the readies take it off sale with the agent. Make sure that the agent doesn't charge a fee if you do take it off the market.

You can also use this as a marketing ploy if you are showing folk around that the agent has sent. " I can knock X thousand off if we don't go through the the agent"

Unethical maybe but with the housing market in the doldrums you need to look after yourself

[waveydavey]

We just sold and jot charged 1.5%
I was very impressed with the agents; hard glossy brochures rather than an ink jet sheet of A4 and they sent a professional photographer rather than an agent with a compact camera, you could really see the difference.

Oh yes; and put up a board - houses really do sell from the boards.

[denviks]

we are just beginning this process ourselves.......... this was our first house that we bought 6 years ago. we saw a house we really want so are beginning the process of second viewings etc.....

its hard work when you dont know what your doing so i would say its worth keep an agent on to keep you on the straight and narrow.. their advice is often very good. we are having our house valued next week  but already know what its worth...we will haggle with them for their % as the house we are buying is also on their books  :twisted:

i reakon 1.5% to 1.7% is fair ....2% i dont think is really bad ....

[carbore]

Hello,

There are quite a lot of "sell your own house" webistes that will have details of what to look out for on the legal aspects of selling and I wouldnt skimp on a solicitor.

If you are with an agent then you are tied into them by whatever the terms of the contract are even if you "sell" the house to someone you know.

[SteveGoodz]

Hiya

We will be moving this year - found a new house an all, just need to sell ours.

Now - If i put it on the market with an estate agent, they want to charge me 2% + vat for the privilege... Im sure they will go lower with some banter, but that does not get away from the fact that they are robbing bar stewards.

If i put it on the market could they get the aarrse if i sold it myslef without going though them? My neighbour is trying to soruce funds to purchase it with his Mother for permanent baby sitting duties and is really keen...

Id like a fall back incase they cant get the money.....

This is my first house, so any experience would be appreciated!

Have moved a few times and always used an estate agent simply because they can save you a load of grief if the buyers drag their heels. When we moved back in May last year we had some problems and the estate agents earned their 1.75% (and more).

You need to read the agents contract very carefully if you are also planning to let your neighbour make an offer. Most standard contracts will not exclude you from having to pay the fee even if the agent didn't introduce the buyer. You might be able to exclude a specific buyer if you name them up front.

One final piece of advice: choose your estate agents carefully, preferably by personal recommendation. Glossy brochures and promises aren't everything  ;)

HTH

[V8MoneyPit]

Be careful putting it on with an agent and then selling it yourself...... agents have been known to sue for this. You sign a contract with the agent. Make sure it allows you to sell without them.

[Range Rover Blues]

Agreed, if you find your own buyer you need to be able to back out, though I'd expect to pay something if an agent had been genuinely trying to sell your house.  The one I'm using in Stocksbridge is working really hard to sell anything at the moment, mine included.  Oh and they are only charging me 1% for the priviledge