The way of the Dodo

High Street Estate agencies; are they going the way of the Dodo?

All definitely need to watch out the small print on contract belonging to High Street Estate agencies. Take a tip: never believe that "our contract is the same as all others." "If you had one estate agent and all the others have the same rules". NEVER!! Or, "You really don't need to read the rules on the contract. They are stacked in your favour anyway". Then they chatter their dribble as you try to read the rules. High Street Estate Agencies have contracts that are not in the sellers favour. They are worded in a way that may be most misleading.

The cost of having a High Street Estate agent is high. 1% being the lowest and 2.5% may be the highest. Work that out according to the value of your property and you could be paying them a tidy sum. (Oh plus 20% VAT)

At 1% you pay them £1,000 on every £100,000 plus 20% VAT
At 2.5% you have to pay them £2,500 on each £100,000 plus 20% VAT.

Say you sell your house for £200,000 at 2.5% they get from you £5,000 plus £1,000 VAT.

Can you afford that?  
How would you describe someone who throws away that sort of money?.

Even if you just pay 1% at the end of the day you are out of pocket. 
Do the maths. £200,000 x 1% = £2,000 +20% =£400 = Total £2,400.

That is why it is asked are the High Street Estate Agencies going the way of the Dodo?

Are we waking up to realise that there are other ways to sell a house without using a High Street Agency.

What can we do? There are a number of good online agencies who do not cost much at all if you are willing to show the people around your house. Answer the viewers questions and deal with the offer made. Buyers are less likely to make you a cheeky offer when  are dealing with the  buyer personally.

Make a search on the internet.

Three Online Agencies come to mind quickly that have a good selling reputation and do not cost more than you can afford.

With online agencies. You must do the showing of the house yourself.

House Hut 01373 473 782
House Network 0808 163 35 68
House Simple 0845 603 99 09 (lowest prices but service as good)

What with Lawyers. You can take a High Street lawyer if you wish or they are also online. Check the reviews on their service. You can do that with Internet lawyers. Not so easy with a high street lawyer. We have worked successfully with the online Premier Property Lawyers. We have found them most supportive. Here is the phone number we used. 0845 234 02 20.
Just one persons point of view.