On the surface it might seem reasonable to consider selling your house yourself, yet only the smallest minority of people attempt to do so, even in the face of so-called “online” estate agents, usually with disappointing results. Yes, you could put a home-made board up in your front garden or write your own ad and put it in the local paper or on some private sellers’ website. But apart from the problem of appearing “cheapskate” to prospective buyers who might assume that you have also skimped on the home maintenance as well, there are some serious flaws to the idea of going it alone.

Not only are there the obvious security issues of letting strangers into your home, but could you show it with the skill of a trained salesperson, well-versed in the psychology of buying? Could you handle the negotiations impassively? Would you be able to draw on various resources to determine the correct asking price, as a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing in this respect and could cost you thousands. Indeed, a failure to interpret the market correctly on an almost daily basis could mean that your house goes stale, severely limiting its saleability and eventual selling price.

And what about qualifying buyers, managing a chain, facilitating financial services, liaising with solicitors or handling a gazundering attempt following a misinterpretation of a survey? These are common issues that need to be handled by a well-trained and experienced professional estate agent.

Perhaps the most compelling reason of all to use an estate agent is a simple one. Most buyers end up buying a property that is often quite different to the one about which they first enquired. This is because an agent will identify a buyer’s wants and needs and, in working with them, may well offer the buyer a property that would not otherwise have been on the buyer’s radar initially. In other words, it is the volume of properties on an agent’s books that firsts attracts buyers. The skilful agent then helps the buyer to buy the right property – hopefully yours – and then makes sure the sale sticks!!

For further advice, free of charge, please contact us on 01371 876678 for a friendly initial chat.

– Richard