Could You Be More Effective Than an Estate Agent?

New research has shown that around 40% of people believe that they would be better at selling their own property than an estate agent. If you are considering this way of selling your home, what are the important areas to consider?

The information from The iProperty Company also found that over 50% of homeowners don’t think that agents have either the seller’s or the buyer’s interests at the top of their agenda. Many of those looking to sell don’t necessarily trust agents, but are often left with very little choice. Around one third wouldn’t know what to do when it comes to selling their own home, and 40% would be worried about any legal implications. There is also the difficulty of pricing a property, with almost 25% of respondents not knowing how to go about this.

However, with the opportunity to save around £3,000 by doing all the work yourself, it is becoming an increasingly common choice. If you’re thinking about putting your property on the market, how would you go about doing it privately?

Make Sure the House Is Sellable

It doesn’t matter how you market your property, if it’s not in the right condition there’s less chance of it selling. Ensure that you have given the place a thorough tidy-up and removed any clutter. You don’t need to redecorate the entire property, but you should focus on key rooms that are looking particularly tired. It’s also important to carry out essential repairs and clean any stainless steel and glass balustrade sections, for example.

Decide on a Price

This can be a difficult area, but have a look at the asking price of similar properties. You can also research the actual selling prices, which might give you a better indication of how to price yours.

Compose a Description and Take Photos

You want to showcase your home in the best light to give it a better chance of selling. With the description, stick to the main points and have some good-quality photos of the inside, garden and exterior.

Upload to a Website

There are some private-sale sites, such as Houseweb and Houseladder. With these you will pay a set fee and the listing will be advertised on a range of sites, including some of the main property search engines.

Once the advert is live, you should hopefully start to get some interest. It’s then up to you to arrange the viewings and carry out any negotiations.