This may be a repeat question on this site, but it is closed being more than 90 days. Should I use a local agent or an online agent to sell my property? As the property is less than £90k, the fees are based on a minimum fees with local agents and Yopa, which is more like 2.5 or 3% with VAT. I want someone who can sell it fairly soon. I may have to use a local one, but who?
You should as a minimum look on rightmove for similar properties near to yours and consider those agents. Alternatively, you might consider selling it by auction as it sounds like an investment property.
Have you considered who would do the viewings for an online agency? Do you want this managed or are you prepared to accommodate & host the viewings yourself?
Lots of negative experiences of online agents on Propertytribes. Have a look. I have no personal experience of Yopa, except that last year an identical flat to mine languished on their site unsold for about a year, whilst mine sold pretty quickly through a regular agent.
I saw 3 agents, including an online, Purple Bricks. I rejected Purple Bricks very quickly when he went through all the pricing and I realised, none of them were right for me. In fact they were more expensive than the local one and wanting upfront fees. It was double if you wish to pay after the sale completion. He said it works out cheaper if the property is a lot more higher priced. Maybe but I woudl even wish to sell with them. On the phone they never gave me any details of the pricing except to say they do not charge anything. I kept phoning and asking them how they make money, they gave me some rigmarole. I may go with the local one or the one who came from a nearby town. I chaose both of them as they were advertising properties on the rightmove, as Graham said. All respondents here stated some valid points. Thanks.
Unfortunately, I have to wait until the tenants have left as the house is full of stuff in numerous black bags, spreaded everywhere. The lovely carved fireplace and mirrors featured in the lounge and other aspects were not visible or much surface floor, so one agent suggested to put it for sale once they have left. Also then I can get some work done like a lick of paint and any small jobs needs doing. Then probably pass it to the agent who gave me advice to wait until the tenants have left within 8 weeks. I hope they leave, considering I had told them about 3 months ago about selling it.
Strike was an agent who merged with purple bricks. When I rang and asked how they make any money if they charge no fee, Strike said they make money off the other services such as mortgages. Now I thought this was a load of baloney. Also there was a bungalow by me Strike put up for £450k saying "the value is in the land "Now my place is nearby and my plot is 7 times the size. I know what I paid so knew their valuation was ridiculous, I said to my lady that is well over, it will be under 300k poss £250k. Guess what ? Now with a new agent down to 300k and still not sold. Nothing is for free Sell when empty . I am selling a rental and the fee is 1% incl vat
I am aware that Strike has bought Purple Bricks for £1. But Purple Bricks do trade with their name. On the phone they tell a lie and then the agent who comes from there says they should not have told you that it is free but given you the correct pricing. This again is not true, as he must know that is their business model.
I cannot sell as a rental. I can see that, as all the lovely features like the beautifully carved fireplace with mirror above and across to it and the lovely border throughut the through lounge is hidden.
There are a lot of black bags spreaded out throughout the 2 bedroom house with one tenant, whose partner joined her later. But there are 2 double beds in 2 double bedrooms. Has one of the bedrooms been sublet? Why so much stuff all around the house? So I need to sell it when it is empty. I shall get some minor work done. I cannot do this when there are tenants. I have tried selling it to the investors, but I have not had any luck so far. Any buyer would like to see what the house looks like. Currently the way it is presented is not right. The tenant was told in June that at teh end of the contract I wish to sell so it will need to be vacant. But then I told her that I shall try for an investor but have not been fortunate otherwise I would have done the viewing. Now the partner said to me they have very short time to find another place. One of my other tenants left on time when given notice. Next door to that another landlord gave notice and the tenants said they had plenty of time with 2 months notice to find somewhere. This worries me that this tenant may not leave on time and will not be able to put it for sale.
Would u sell it easily? What about £19 for a decent For Sale sign on Ebay; get a post and attach it - and do your own viewings? Save u a couple of grand? You’d have to prepare the Memorandum of Sale for your Conveyancer (which E/A would normally do -(straightforward templates available on line)
If I lived in the area, I may be tempted. But it is a long way away to go fro viewings. I may consider it if there is chance if viewing can be booked as an open day. Yes the minimum fees with VAT will be over £2k, so a board and viewing personally done would be useful. Then there is a process of communication from selling to completion. I cannot put it for sale until the tenants have left in November. Then it is trying to sell in winter, usually not a good idea. Best to leave it t an agent.
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I sold mine STC within two days with YOPA and was delighted with their customer service.
However, this might be due to the fact that the flat was a good first-time buy on a popular estate and that the YOPA agent was local and very professional. It was listed on Rightmove, YOPA website and another (famous) site whose name I can’t remember at the moment. We paid upfront because it was much cheaper and we knew it would sell quickly; had it been a more ‘quirky’ property, I think we would have used a high street agent.
(The conveyancing took six months and only completed last week, but that was nothing to do with YOPA!).
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