beware of selling privately online

[LAYSTAR]

Omastra06 has the general idea. The estate agent strips the details from am internet property marketing site and then, if it can find a buyer, the private vendor is approached. If the vendor wishes to enter the deal, then the vendor signs a contract that allows the estate agent to levy their fee upon the completion of sale.

This is actually quite healthy because, if the vendor so wishes to, they can enter the greement. However, if they choose to leave it, they can carry on marketing via the internet marketing site and are not legally obliged to pay the interfering estate agent anything.

Notice I use 'internet marking site' rather than 'privately through the internet'. The reason is that many internet based sites are actually estate agents or are put their by estate agents. As someone mentioned above, they would go to estate agents as they have better coverage. Well, they achieve this partly by having a good network of marketing outlets on the internet, as well as local media coverage and of course their high street shop. This is why you pay estate agents £thousands and why some internet marketing sites will charge you far less.

The point is, anyone can take any information from the internet. Estate agents are seeing the traditional views of many sellers gradually swaying from estate agent only to what we have today as a mix of private and estate agent sales. So, employing other tactics to boost business is just one way of staying in business.

Regards

[omostra06]

the main objective is to find a buyer...as long as the seller is happy with the price they get then its a result for the seller... the house gets sold..no matter how the buyer is found..

[House Finder]

Selling your own property online is the future of property selling. No longer do you have to go to an Estate Agent and pay thousands in commission for them to advertise it for you. Lets not get confused the majority of Estate Agents do an excellent job of selling your property, but its about time that alternative came about, and private selling is it.

My website along with many others are now offering a full one stop shop for people looking at giving it a go selling by themselves.

Sites can offer you advertisng across the internet.
For sale boards outside your property
virtual tours
floor plans
house pricing methods so you can set a realistic price.

You then can sit back and wait for enquirys. When they come you show them around your house, after all you know more about that property and the local area then anybody.

If an offer is made, and you accept you just exchange solicitors details and the purchase process begins just as if you went through an agent.

Websites will also guide you for choices of solicitors, removals and much more so the whole process can be handled by yourself easily and save you thousands of pounds in commission.

This method has been common place in US for ages, and its now time for the UK home owners to have this option.

[Psl]

I think the future of marketing homes is online and with technology getting better everyday this will ensure that buyers see what is available virtually instantaneously.

[Rob]

I think this is a great way of selling a property because i found when i was working as an agent we would get vendors to do the viewings for us anyway so you might as well save yourself a couple of grand, just got to make sure you go with a website who advertises it right.

[Melsa]

If you are advertising your home privately online, you can always add the sentence:
No Agents
Then if any agents bring you a buyer you can decline any offers

[Slow Rambler]

Are there any advantages in taking the opposite approach -- and posting details online specifically to appeal to any agent interested enough to actively sell. I think I might be more interested in signing up with an agent who has put in some effort before approaching me.

[sale_boards]

Online is where most people will look to find their new home. If you don't advertise online, you are missing out on loads of potential purchasers. However, houses are still sold using "old school" techniques such as for sale boards. If an agent sold my house for more than what it is worth I would be happy.

An agent shouldn't be advertising a property as being more expensive than it is worth because they won't be able to sell it, therefore, it is a waste of time.

[Propertyguru28]

I think you should use all means you can when trying to sell a property - why not generate as much interest as possible and hold out for the best price?

If you are doing viewings yourself - just bear in mind that you need to be SAFE - don't conduct viewings alone - and make sure you are careful.

[Ownerhome]

Online is the future of property sales, which is why so many Estate Agents are falling by the way. Gone are the days when buyers will hike up and down the high street looking in estate agency windows.

Selling a property is all about exposure and making the most of every avenue available. Sale board outside the property, major property portals and yes...if you must an estate agent! But there is no reason why you shouldn't try to sell yourself aswell, after all you don't pay your agent if you find your own buyer and most agents won't conduct a viewing for you anyway, so essentially you are doing most of the work.

There are sites out there who offer cost effective advertising...ours for one, that add your property to the larger portals and offer all you need to assist you when selling your property privately. Also you can reduce your asking price to compensate for not paying £**** in agency fees! win win situation.