Selling an Apartment

[scraggy55]

Has anyone sold their home themselves, without an estate agent? How did you go about it? Can you suggest the best way of doing this? Did you put an ad in a paper, how did you choose which paper to put it up for sale in? Did you use an on-line method or other? Any suggestions would be very welcome.

[Buenchico]

(Two-part post):

I only ever sold two houses, both without using an estate agent. In the first case I simply sold to a friend, so that won't help here. However, when my father died I sold his house entirely by using my own 'DIY' approach.

The first thing I did was to make sure that I was in a good position to answer any questions about the house. I got out a tape measure and drew up plans of both floors of the house, clearly showing the key dimensions. I also took some photographs. I also made sure that I knew what the Council Tax band was for the house. From those details I put together some 'flyers', which I could send to anyone who made enquiries.

I already knew which local newspaper carried a weekly 'Property' supplement, so I placed a few ads in that. However, what actually sold the house was to cost me next to nothing. I simply produced a very simple poster on A4 white paper, with just the basic details. i.e. "FOR SALE. 3 Bedrooms. Separate garage. No chain. £xx,000. Phone: xxxxx xxxxxx". I took it to a local print shop, where I had two copies blown up to A2 size, on fluorescent paper. The house was an end property, so I was able to put one poster in the front window, and one facing onto the side road.

[Buenchico]

I knew that there were several other properties for sale in the area, and I guessed that people viewing them would spot the posters. The first phone call I got was from a local estate agent, who was trying to persuade me to use his services. I pointed out that, because he had two properties for sale very near by, I was already getting his services for free. (i.e, people who were going to view those properties were finding out about mine). Instead of being offended, he congratulated me on my tactics, and wished me well with the sale.

Shortly after that I got the call I'd been waiting for, and someone came to view the property. (The couple said that they'd seen my posters while viewing the properties advertised by the estate agent). Within a couple of weeks, we'd exchanged contracts. Easy peasy!

Chris

PS: A slight correction to the above: The VERY first thing I did was to go round the local estate agents, to find out what similar houses were selling for. Then I chose a price which was just below that of similar properties in the neighbourhood, but with a determination not to allow my price to be knocked down by very much.

[Buenchico]

Further points to note:
1. While I could have handled the legal side myself, I still decided to use a solicitor to do the work.

2. When I sold those houses, there was no requirement to have an Energy Performance Certificate. It's now a legal requirement:
http://www.direct.gov...ertificates/DG_177137

Chris

[mrs.chappie]

Many years ago (my first ever flat).

I typed about a dozen postcards out and put them in newsagents' windows (this was in the days before home internet).

Guess I was very lucky as, within a week, I'd sold the flat.

[tamborine]

I sold a maisonette giving price, zip code & phone. Advertised in local news shop 1month. Organised my solicitor to do buy & sell docs. Legal costs £250 Advert £1.

[craft1948]

I bought my last house through a private ad in the local paper.