Given the demand for houses ( multiple offers for good properties ) and everyone viewing via Internet site like "rightmove" has anyone considered using one of the new online agents that get you a posting on '" rightmove" or similar . All I am told for a few hundred pounds and all it takes is some common sense ... Way of saving £ '000s .Considering it and had some positive views but wondered if anyone had used or considered this ?
Peter Truesdale ● 4759d9 Comments
I don't think that the value a good agent offers is in the promotion of the flat - as you say it is the internet that does this. I think agents would argue that they have 'registered' buyers but I've never really bought into that.However I do think that there is, or should be, value in having someone who is not emotionally involved controlling the process - making sure if there is massive interest in the property that there is a timetable for offers that ensures you can negotiate between different parties, checking the status of the different buyers and their credibility and making sure that everyone sticks to an agreed timetable and that there is a strategy if they don't so that chains don't collapse. I recently sold a house in Poet's Corner and used Winkworth's - I was very happy with them. They advised me not to accept the highest offer as they didn't think the buyers were credible enough and ensured that our buyers stayed with the deal even though it was very prolonged because it took us an age to find anything. They were constantly in contact with everyone in the chain which meant there were no crossed wires. They also advised on a sensible pricing and marketing strategy - we put it on the market at a fairly low price but got multiple offers at well above asking price which gave us a choice of buyers in a very short timeframe (8 offers in 12 hours). In contrast a friend just sold a flat in Chiswick and had a situation where his buyers pulled out 2 days before exchange and in post mortem it was very clear that they had not been committed to the purchase for some time - but no-one had picked up on it.
Anna John ● 4759d
That's very interesting Anna. Maybe in the later stages the agents come into their own - but you would think your lawyer would also pick up any lack of commitment.
Sara Nathan ● 4758d
I managed to sell my one bedroomed flat 18 months ago in W10 by doing it myself by advertising it for sale on the Gumtree and then bought myself a lovely garden flat in Poet's Corner. I did have to be careful doing the viewings by myself but it proved successful and I saved a lot of money and was able to give my buyer a good deal! All for the price of a free advert on the Gumtree.Needless to say Foxtons, Winkworths and Bernard Marcus were not impressed that they missed out on their huge fee. Interestingly, I actually sold it twice via the Gumtree but the first time it fell through due to the buyers mortgage valuation. So I ended up with two offers when all the large estate agents did large amounts of viewings but produced no offers. So always worth a try to by pass greedy estate agents!
Rachael Moore ● 4758d
If you are just selling, then doing it yourself is the way forward.The difficulty comes when you are buying as well. Coordination could be difficult if you are not organised.But in today's market it is definitely the way forward. Just stick a for sale board up in your front garden.
Dee Cook ● 4758d
So what do I do? Stick a "flat wanted" sign up in our front garden or leaflet the neighbourhood?
Sara Nathan ● 4757d
I would leaflet the roads you are interested in.Did you see the 2 garden flats I mentioned? No good?
Emilia Fitzpatrick ● 4757d
The flat in Woodhurst Road looks very nice but I'm not convinced that staircase is ideal for an octogenarian.
Susan Kelly ● 4757d
Laefleting might work but the vast majority of sales go through an agent and at the moment there are more buyers than sellers so it is important to be a 'good buyer'. This means being a cash buyer with nothing to sell or at least having your own property under offer to a chain free buyer. In my experience offers from buyers who have something to sell and are not well down the process don't get a look in.
Anna John ● 4756d
Susan, quite right, I was focusing on ground floor, 2 bedrooms and Acton Central.Just re looked at the Cumberland Road one and it looks very good, maybe the garden is too big.
Emilia Fitzpatrick ● 4756d