Selling Without an Estate Agent

[Homeseller]

Showbusiness? Reckon I have the perfect face for radio.

I take your points. I still think that the power of the internet is only just starting to be realised with estate agency and property sales in general. The people that are capitalising on it are the portals and they are starting to be resented for it because they have increased their prices. I don't think this weakens their position though because, like it or not, the internet is where a lot of people go to start their search for property. The problem at the moment is that times are hard for agents. Couple that with expensive portals and a few of them look as if they've decided to sit the recession out and wait for those green shoots. It'll be back to normal in 18 months and the portals will be raking it in again when the agents all go back to them.

[drhouse]

Originally Posted by Homeseller

Showbusiness? Reckon I have the perfect face for radio.

I take your points. I still think that the power of the internet is only just starting to be realised with estate agency and property sales in general. The people that are capitalising on it are the portals and they are starting to be resented for it because they have increased their prices. I don't think this weakens their position though because, like it or not, the internet is where a lot of people go to start their search for property. The problem at the moment is that times are hard for agents. Couple that with expensive portals and a few of them look as if they've decided to sit the recession out and wait for those green shoots. It'll be back to normal in 18 months and the portals will be raking it in again when the agents all go back to them.

I agree that portals are very important and will be a major player. The main problem with Right Move is they got bigger and bigger and then pushed the prices up without offering any added value. There needs to be a shakedown as there is now a proliferation of property sites, both free and paid for, all offering pretty much the same thing. In aggregation they get a lot of hits but individually they are poor. I really want some publicity put towards Property Live as i think a site which only has agents who are members of the NAEA is a good thing.

When the market turns the use of portals will be back but it shouldn't be forgotten that in good times as well as bad it is vital to have someone working for you who will do their utmost to get a sale and, more importantly, negotiate hard to get the best price.

[googler]

Originally Posted by Homeseller

I still think that the power of the internet is only just starting to be realised with estate agency and property sales in general.

In other words, now is not the time to be using an internet-only operation if you're selling your home.

If the 'power of the internet' hasn't been realised yet.....?

[property investor]

If you sell your home privately you don't have to provide a HIPs report, the obligation lies with the buyer to do all checks on the property. I think if you have a good idea about how you want to sell your house and you are prepared to put in the time and effort you could save money. I do think that you can haggle with estate agents at the minute with their fee so don't be afraid to ask for a discount.

[googler]

You may theoretically 'save' money, but how do you value your own time?

Once you add up the time and effort of marketing your own home, and apply a theoretical hourly rate to it, what figure do you arrive at, and how does it compare with merely hiring an EA to do it?

Is this a true 'saving'?

[googler]

Note that selling 'privately' means just that - no placing it on self-sale websites, no advertising cards in the local newsagent, no advertising. It's not a 'private' sale if you advertise it to the public.

[AshfieldFOCUS.com]

The selling privately by Property Investor is not quite right...

The way I understand it is that if for example, someone approaches you to buy your house and it is not on the market, then yes, you don't need a HIP, but if you go out to actively selll it, no matter what the marketing method, then you do have to have a HIP, or at least, have arranged for a HIP.

[rivercottage]

Rightmove have the market. You simply HAVE to be on rightmove - its a damn shame. Their fees for estate agents are just criminal, especially in the current climate

[googler]

Disagree. That depends on where you are in the country. Rightmove don't hold sway everywhere.

The majority of properties in my area aren't on Rightmove, and they still sell.

[Homeseller]

Originally Posted by googler

In other words, now is not the time to be using an internet-only operation if you're selling your home.

If the 'power of the internet' hasn't been realised yet.....?

No. You misunderstand. The internet EAs can do it just as effectively as those "traditional" EAs that have an office. What's the difference? The point I was making is that there aren't many of them and the internet EAs are practically unknown by Joe Public.

If a reasonably intelligent person actually sat down and thought about what an EA actually does, they would discern that a large part of it is marketing and that putting particulars in a shop window in the high street and on a proprietary website is badly outmoded. Honestly, I can't believe you can't see this. It can't last and it won't in my view, particularly as the older generation that are not internet-savvy is dying out. Get with the programme, Googler! We need to drag you into the 21st Century!