Sell Your Home Without an Estate Agent

Buying a property is a huge investment and nobody wants to be lumbered with estate agent fees after emptying your pockets for the deposit, stamp duty, legal fees and removal expenses. Commission on properties usually ranges between 0.75% and 1.5% plus VAT for estate agents. See our comparison table below…

How much can i save and is it worth it?

When choosing how to sell your house, it’s always worth asking yourself “can I sell my property without an estate agent?” Whilst using an estate agent is one of the most traditional routes to getting your property sold, often, many home sellers are not aware of the many costs associated with agents until it is too late. So before you make a decision about selling your house without an estate agent, make sure you know the facts.

Estate Agent Fees

Estate agents charge fees on a percentage basis. This means that the overall fees you are required to pay depend on how much your home sells for. Fees can range from anywhere between 0.75% to 3% of the property value, depending on what type of contract you opt for with your estate agent. The average fee is 1.42% (excluding VAT). It’s worth noting that “sell house without estate agent” services tend to have little to no fees involved. 

VAT (Value Added Tax)

Some estate agents will quote their fees to you without including VAT, which is an additional 20% of the cost. This means that a 2.5% fee is actually a 3% fee once the tax has been adding. This would mean that, were your property to sell for £300,000, your estate agent fee would be £9,000. It’s always important to take VAT into account, particularly if you could avoid it by selling your property without an estate agent.

Contacts

Fees differ depending on the agent and the type of contract you sign, so it’s always important to read the contract carefully before choosing whether to use an estate agent or choose to sell without an agent. Be sure to check whether any fees are incurred if the agent doesn’t sell the property. Additionally, find out what the terms are is using a sole agent. Fees are usually lower if you appoint a sole agent, rather than a multi-agent. However, if, further on down the line, you instruct another agent, ensure your original contract has been fully terminated, as you may otherwise have to pay commission to both agents. 

Additional Fees

Depending on your estate agent, you may be required to cover the costs of some of the services required when marketing a property. This includes photographs and floor plans, listing on property portals, installing a “for sale” board, accompanied viewings and negotiating offers. It is important to ask whether these services are covered by the agency fees before deciding to use them, or instead, using a “sell house without agent” service.

Conveyancing Costs

On top of estate agent fees, you will also be required to pay for conveyancing costs when selling your property. Again, these fees are usually linked directly to the value of the property, with the average cost landing between £850 and £1500 excluding VAT. This cost includes solicitor or conveyancer charges, but you should check their terms to make sure it also covers disbursements for the transfer of ownership and the title deeds copy.

What makes 123 direct Different...

At 123 Direct, we don’t charge you a penny. Your initial cash offer to you is FREE and you are under no obligation to accept it. You can take your time and decide if you’d like to proceed with the sale. If you do, great! You can rest assured that we will not charge you any fees at any time throughout the sale of your property – we will even cover all of your legal costs.

Steps you will not need to take when you sell your house without an agent using 123 direct

When using a traditional estate agent, there are many stages you must go through before (or if) you achieve a sale. Often these processes are long and drawn out. By using 123 direct and selling without an estate agent, the process is much quicker and easier. We can even buy your home in as little as seven days!

Getting a valuation

At 123 direct, we can provide a valuation and offer for your home in a matter of minutes. Our expert property analysts complete a desktop appraisal to value your home by data profiling, sourcing and electronically analysing your property over 4000 data points, along with the details you provide us. 

If you choose to use an estate agent, rather than selling a house without an estate agent, you’ll need to open up your home for the agent view, in order to provide you with a valuation. Most sellers will arrange for multiple agents to value their home before deciding which agency to use. It’s worth remembering that many estate agents will sadly over-inflate the value of a property to win the seller’s instruction, before lowering once on the market. 

Stating the property

Using a “sell house without an agent” service usually means you don’t need to stage the property. At 123 direct, we buy your home directly from you, guaranteed. We don’t need to take any photos of the property, meaning you don’t have to spend any time or money trying to make your home look like a show home for marketing material.

When choosing to sell through an estate agent, the agent will require photos of the property to use in any marketing material they produce. This means spending time, energy (and potentially money) making your property look its absolute best.  

Listing the property

Because 123 direct purchases your property directly, we don’t need to waste any time on listing the property online, trying to build interest from buyers and orchestrating viewings. This means we can focus on getting your property sale completed on the date you want. This isn’t the same for all “sell house without estate agent” services, so it’s always best to check.   

Taking viewings

At 123 direct, we don’t require any viewings to buy your property. This means escaping the inconvenience and hassle of arranging and hosting public viewings. This also makes us the safest way for you to sell your home right now.  

If you choose to sell your home using an estate agent, you’ll be required to open your house for viewings as and when the potential buyer likes. This means ensuring your property is always looking it’s best, so keeping on top of housework such as tidying and gardening, is a must.  During the current restrictions, you’ll be required to leave the property any time a viewing is conducted. 

Managing Offers

Managing and negotiating offers with a buyer can be stressful. At 123 direct, we give you an honest, up-front offer for your property at the start, which you can choose to accept or decline, so you aren’t forced to deal with haggling buyers. 

When selling your property with an estate agent, you’ll likely have to experience some sort of negotiation process, as buyers attempt to haggle down the price. 

Conducting a survey

At 123 direct, we arrange for a RICS chartered surveyor to check your property. This is completely free of charge.

When using an estate agent to sell your property, you may be required to arrange and pay for the survey yourself.

Paying for a solicitor

Part of the service we deliver at 123 direct is sourcing and paying for a solicitor to complete all conveyancing and legal due diligence on the property. This means you don’t have to lift a finger or pay a penny!

If you opt to use an estate agent, rather than a “sell house without agent” service, you’ll be required to source and liaise with a solicitor or conveyancer in order to legally sell the property and transfer ownership. You’ll also be required to pay for the costs incurred.

Selling a house without an estate agent

It might sound bizarre; how can you possibly sell your home without an agent? If you are happy with the house value, we give to you, this is what you can expect to happen….

Why sell your house to 123 direct Today

Each stage of the home selling process is highlighted below to give you an overview of how simple and fast our service is. You could have the cash in your account in as little as seven days.

The cheapest way to sell your house without an agent

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