{"id":561,"date":"2015-09-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/online-estate-agents\/"},"modified":"2018-02-19T14:08:02","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T14:08:02","slug":"online-estate-agents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/online-estate-agents\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Estate Agents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- SEO Ultimate Plus (https:\/\/seoultimateplus.com) - Code Inserter module -->\n<script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='b68b392479b5981b8acf46565e9fe32a0734fc21a1f7c1e60121eaa6ca1a1c64';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','\/\/load.sumo.com\/');<\/script>\n<!-- \/SEO Ultimate Plus -->\n\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<div>\n<p>If you are thinking of selling your <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"homes\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/housing-estate\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/housing_estate;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.01rtvp;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Housing_estate\" >home<\/a> you might be wondering what the benefits are of using an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/online-estate-agents\">online estate agent.<\/a>\u00a0In the UK more and more people <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Use (law)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/use-law\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/use_law;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.05r4j5;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Use_(law)\" >use<\/a> the internet to manage most aspects of\u00a0their\u00a0lives online. \u00a0Most buyers use <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/property\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/property;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.05wrt;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Property\" >property<\/a> websites to search for a new home, it makes sense to consider selling a property online, however it may not be for everybody I examine how online <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Estate (law)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/estate-law\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/estate_law;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.038t85;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Estate_(law)\" >estate<\/a> agents actually work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Are all services the same?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">Its important to know that when using an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/purplebricks\">online agency<\/a>\u00a0you will need to sign a contract, they are subject to the laws created by the\u00a0<a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1979\/38\" target=\"\">Estate agency Act<\/a>. This could mean that when a complaint arises the internet estate agent could in theory suffer sanctions laid down by\u00a0<a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tpos.co.uk\/\" target=\"\">The Property Ombusdman<\/a>. Online companies usually use online contracts that speed up the process and reduces cost however as always its wise to read the small print.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"display: block;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">How to find the best internet estate agency?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The House Shop has been helping homeowners save money by selling a property online since 2000. We have the expertise and experience to recognise the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/top-10-online-estate-agents\" title=\"online estate agents\">online estate agents<\/a> and work with a handful of selected internet only agencies. We can help you compare the best companies that have a proven track record is sales and service<\/span>.<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"display: block;\"><strong>Estate agent comparison service<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div style=\"display: block;\">Check out our guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/top-10-online-estate-agents\">Top 10 Online Estate Agents here<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><img src=\"http:\/\/i.telegraph.co.uk\/multimedia\/archive\/02222\/hous_2222301b.jpg\" alt=\"online estate agent\" align=\"none\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">No Commission\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One of the most <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Common land\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/common-land\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/common_land;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.013c51;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Common_land\" >common<\/a> complaints that vendors make when selling a property is the cost of selling a home. On average fees tend to be between 1.25% to 2% of the selling price + VAT. This can result in fees running into their thousands. Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/purplebricks\">online estate agencies<\/a>\u00a0charge a one off fixed fee and some even offer monthly payments<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The risks of an online estate agent.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/compare-estate-agents\" title=\"estate agents\">estate agents<\/a> normally charge their fees after sale , however online estate agents normally charge upfront a lower fixed fee. The risk is that that if you dont sell your home you have paid and not benefitted from the sale. My advice is to decide about the saleability of the property<\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Is there <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Land lot\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/land-lot\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/land_lot;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.0gs32y;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Land_lot\" >lots<\/a> of activity ion your local <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Market (economics)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/market-economics\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/market_economics;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Market_(economics)\" >market<\/a>? <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Have you priced to sell your home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Is the property presented well<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Is the property a real competitor compared against others <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: block;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most online estate agents\u00a0operate from a central office covering the UK and do not have the overheads associated with running a local estate agency. This means that the savings made can be passed on to consumers who opt for a low priced estate agency <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"houses\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/house\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/house;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.03jm5;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/House\" >house<\/a> sale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">What to look for<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My experience has shown that online estate agents\u00a0offer consumer friendly contracts that are transparent and do not aim to catch a vendor out. They tend to offer multi agency contracts allowing the vendors the freedom to work with other agents .\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The dangers of contracts?<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Traditional high street agents can ask you to opt for<i>\u00a0sole selling rights,<\/i>\u00a0and when you find a buyer yourself, you will still have to pay the fees. Another one to watch out for, if you are a seller, is a &#8220;ready, willing and able purchaser contract&#8221;. You will have to pay once a buyer, who is able to exchange unconditional contracts, is found. This still applies if you withdraw your property before the sale is completed. In this scenario, you may also be charged for the cost of &#8220;For Sale&#8221; boards and advertising.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The publication &#8216;Which&#8217; deal with this subject very well and you will find their\u00a0<a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/guides\/how-to-sell-a-house\/estate-agent-contracts\/\" target=\"\">article here\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The best way to price your home\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The worst thing you can do is over <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Value (economics)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/value-economics\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/value_economics;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.0bhr4z;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Value_(economics)\" >value<\/a> your <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"homes\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/home\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/home;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.01l0mw;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Home\" >home<\/a>. You also need to be aware that some shady companies may over value properties to win your business. They will ask you to reduce the selling price after you spend time on the market without a sale. I wrote an article that will help pricing a property\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/the-worst-thing-a-seller-can-do\/2423\/\">The Worst Thing a Seller Can Do<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The choices\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Today I believe we have three tier <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Real estate economics\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/real-estate-economics\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/real_estate_economics;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.04t2q1;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Real_estate_economics\" >housing market<\/a> for vendors seeking to sell a home in the UK.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>1. Traditional high street <\/i><br \/>\n<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Good local estate agents are part of the community and may have good local knowledge about your area and housing market. They attract buyers to their offices who may register with them so could be well placed to find you a buyer quickly. Some estate agents will provide a viewings service and additional local newspaper advertising. They normally charge excluding VAT and can be very expensive with commission based on the property sale price. Estate agents commission can range from 1.25% to 2% .\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/compare-estate-agents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To compare High Street Estate Agents and find the best fit for you and your home <\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/compare-estate-agents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Use our free online comparison service here<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><i><span style=\"font-size: small;\">2. Internet<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Internet based agents are in a position to give your property exposure on the major property websites ranging from Zoopla, <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/rightmove\">Rightmove<\/a> to Primelocation. They offer automated valuation services based on tools supplied from websites such as Rightmove. They will not normally charge a commission but a low cost fixed price fee that is paid upfront.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><i><span style=\"font-size: small;\">3. DIY\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Much like an online estate agent a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/private-house-sales-why-us\/555\/\">private sale <\/a>will give extensive online marketing but often without the exposure on the premium websites that refuse to promote properties that are not listed by an estate agency. Private sales means complete control as you are representing yourself and you take control of the marketing aspect of your home. Once you find a buyer you simply hand the legal process to a legal representative.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Alternative methods to sell BBC debate<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">View the debate that was aired on BBC breakfast concerning the different ways you can market a home.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gN21etVDz9I\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"line-height: 19.5px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/compare-online-agents\">Compare the best online estate agents here<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Author :\u00a0<a href=\" https:\/\/plus.google.com\/115654041100964611788?rel=author\">Nick Marr<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;\">\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; color: #000000; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; display: block; background-color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Useful Resources<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; color: #000000; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; display: block; background-color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thisismoney.co.uk\/money\/mortgageshome\/article-2202744\/Home-sellers-escape-estate-agent-fees-Government-plan-free-property-websites.html#ixzz27n0Se7Es\" target=\"\">www.thisismoney.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; color: #000000; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; display: block; background-color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/old.estateagenttoday.co.uk\/news_features\/NEWS-FLASH-Government-to-reform-Estate-Agents-Act-and-ditch-PMA\" target=\"\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Estate Agent Today<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you are thinking of selling your home you might be wondering what the benefits are of using an online estate agent.\u00a0In the UK more and more people use the internet to manage most aspects of\u00a0their\u00a0lives online. \u00a0Most buyers use<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/online-estate-agents\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":3783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[7,10,16,9,8],"tags":[23],"wl_entity_type":[602],"modified_by":null,"_wl_alt_label":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/online-estate-agents.jpg","wl:entity_url":"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/post\/online_estate_agents","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=561"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15031,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561\/revisions\/15031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=561"},{"taxonomy":"wl_entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wl_entity_type?post=561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}