Estate Agents

Many people are unaware that they can utilise the services of more than one estate agent to sell their property. However, this depends on the type of contract you have with them. Proceed with caution. As with all contracts, read thoroughly and seek clarification on anything that is confusing before you put pen to paper.

There are five different types of contract you could sign with an estate agent:

Sole selling:
The estate agent retains the right to charge commission for the sale of the property even if you find a buyer independently without the assistance of the agent.
Sole agency:
The estate agent is still the only agency with the selling rights. However, there is no commission to pay to the agent if you find a buyer yourself.
Multiple agencies:
You can take on a number of estate agents to market your property but you only have to pay a fee to the one agent that actually sells it. This contract usually specifies a higher commission rate.
Joint sole agency:
You appoint two or more agencies to work together to sell your property and they split the fee equally between themselves, irrespective of who is responsible for the sale.
Ready, willing & able:
It is recommended to stay away from this type of contract. If the estate agent finds a buyer and you pull out of the sale, you will still be required to pay them.

Because Internet-Homes is the UK's leading commission free 'For Sale by Owner' site, there are no contracts to sign. For a one-off fee of £249, Internet-Homes will do virtually everything that a high street estate agent does, and without any commission fees to pay at all.