Selling property is not an easy matter – you have to advertise your home, take calls from prospective buyers, manage your listings, and more. It takes a lot of time and effort on your part. But if you are thinking of selling your home and are not quite sure where and how to begin, you’ll be happy to know that there is one option you can take advantage of: an online estate agency. An online estate agent is a viable option if you want to a.) save money, b.) have more control over the selling of your property, and c.) are not in too much of a hurry to sell your home. Are you thinking of going for an online estate agent? Here’s how to determine if an online estate agency is the right choice for you.
What they offer
Online estate agencies differ from high street estate agencies in that their fees are not a percentage of your property’s selling price. Rather than charge a percentage, online estate agents simply charge an up-front fee so your property can be advertised and marketed online, through the agency’s network and through other property portals. Most online estate agencies will have fees of around £300, although some will have higher or lower fees. Bear in mind, though, that with online estate agencies, even if your property does not get sold after a year or so, the up-front fee is non-negotiable. With traditional estate agencies, the agency will only receive their fee if the property is sold. So the question is: if you are willing to pay an up-front fee (albeit a very low price compared to high street agents’ fees), then an online estate agency is often a good choice.
Determining if it is right for you
If you would like to have more control over the selling of your property, then it may be better for you to have an online estate agency. The online agency will just be in charge of a few aspects, such as advertising your property, listing it in portals such as Right Move and Zoopla, and coordinating viewings. You will often have to conduct the viewings yourself. But again, if you want to be the one to personally meet your prospective property buyers, then an online estate agency is a more suitable option.
Some online estate agencies can negotiate on your behalf, whilst others will leave the negotiation entirely up to you. Make it a point to ask the agency which process they follow, as this can also affect your decision in the end. And lastly, if you simply don’t want to pay thousands to a traditional estate agent and are thinking, “I’d like to sell my home and keep most of the funds!,” then it’s better to choose an online estate agent for the sale of your property.