Selling a property without an agent: the case for and against
Selling a property privately is one possible option. Whether it suits you depends on which tasks you can reliably take on yourself and what support you need. Compare the effort involved with the services that are agreed, instead of looking at a single cost item in isolation.
What stays with you in a private sale
You organise the gathering of information, the price positioning, the presentation, the enquiries and the viewings yourself. On top of that, you also have to agree the terms of offers and coordinate the rest of the transaction. Legal, tax or structural questions may still call for outside professional advice.
What you are buying when you instruct an agent
The actual benefit comes from the agreed scope of services: preparing the documentation, marketing and looking after prospective buyers, for example. Check how the working relationship is organised, what reporting you receive and what fee is agreed.
An honest look at your own resources
Do you have time for follow-up questions and appointments? Can you substantiate the details of the property and keep price negotiations businesslike? A lack of experience is no reason for blanket scaremongering, but it does belong in your planning.
Comparing service, cost and control
Ask for a clear, understandable proposal and record any open points in writing. An agent is no automatic guarantee of higher net proceeds; conversely, a private sale does not automatically come free of further costs. Decide on the basis of your specific property and the help you actually need.
A specific question about your property?