Landlord Products / Services
Take 46!
*mutters*
I’ve updated this blog post so many times I’m on the brink of losing my mind. The landscape is constantly shifting; new house-selling services are popping up, and old ones are being quietly killed off.
Unfortunately, right now, this page is going through one of its darker periods. It was only a couple of months ago it was flourishing – we were spoiled with unbelievable and genuine house-selling services that didn’t cost a penny – no fees, no gimmicks, and real sales without spending a bean!
Today? There are still plenty of free services floating around, but 99% of them are exactly what you’d expect – ineffective garbage! Most of the genuinely useful ones have been axed (likely because they were bleeding their providers dry, especially in today’s brutal economy), and we’re currently left with just one man standing, at least according to my calculations — and even that isn’t an ideal solution. But hey, it’s still free, and even though it’s not ideal, it’s still pretty decent.
That said, while I know nothing beats free, there are still some excellent options out there that cost just a fraction of what traditional estate agents charge. All things considered, they’re not far off free – and definitely worth exploring. I’ll cover those, too.
So, if you’re on a mission to dodge those gut-wrenching estate agency fees – which average around £2,000 for UK sellers – then you’re probably in the right place.
Table of contents
- Introduction to Online House Selling Services
- How to list and sell your property… for FREE
- Should you use a free solution to sell your property? What’s the catch?
- “Almost” free solutions that are worth a look
- What about PurpleBricks, Yopa & eMoov? How do they compare to the free and cheaper solutions?
- Fees you will need to consider (not everything can be free)
- Conclusion
Introduction to Online House Selling Services
The good news: no longer do we need to rely on our local estate agents and their extortionate fees to sell our home. We can do it just nicely in the comfort of our own home by clicking a few buttons and completing a few online forms.
Welcome to the digital world of property sales!
If you haven’t heard of online estate agents by now, you might’ve been living under a rock, because they’ve become the trendy way to sell your home in 2025. Marketing property via online services for a lot less is officially the fastest growing means of selling property, and it’s a beautiful thing.
In some cases, they’ll do it for peanuts. And in others? Totally free.
Within minutes, you can create a property listing and have it distributed across the UK’s biggest property portals (including Rightmove and Zoopla) for millions of eager punters to drool over.
How to list and sell your property… for FREE
Here we have it, the last man standing…
Option 1) Purplebricks.co.uk
Yes, really! Since December 2023, Purplebricks offer their house-selling service for completely free.
| Estate Agent | Rating | Duration | Includes / Notes | Price from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PurpleBricks | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 12 months | Includes / NotesFree package
| PriceFREE | Visit WebsiteBook Free In-Person Valuation |
The reason Purplebricks’ freebie isn’t ideal, in my opinion, is because it only gets your property listed on their website. Once upon a time, their free package included listings on Rightmove and Zoopla – what a time to be alive! Alas, if you want access to those precious portals today, you’ll need to cough up at least £599 for an upgrade. Well, that’s not free! No, it certainly isn’t.
That said, don’t get it twisted – while a listing on the Purplebricks website won’t attract as many eyeballs as Rightmove or Zoopla, they’re still a hugely popular brand. So being featured on their site could absolutely bring in some bites.
Should you use a free solution to sell your property? What’s the catch?
It’s FREE, you have nothing to lose! There’s no catch.
YES, use the damn free solution(s)!
But I personally wouldn’t rely on Purplebricks’ freebie alone. At least, not if you’re aiming to maximise exposure and get the quickest sale possible. You’ll still want those precious Rightmove & Zoopla listing…
“Almost” free solutions (for a bit of variety)
No freebies here, I’m ‘fraid.
But still worth a look, certainly!
If you’re looking into how you can get a free property listing, then the odds are you’re trying to avoid spending a penny! No judgement here.
That said, the reality is most people are willing to pay something – they just want to avoid the extortionate fees charged by high-street agents.
The following online estate agents can get your property listed on Rightmove and Zoopla for as little as £218 (including VAT). While it’s not free, it’s pretty darn close when compared to the hefty price tags of traditional agents. These can even be used alongside Purplebricks’ free package. That’s a solid combo and more than enough firepower to generate serious interest.
As mentioned, Purplebricks does offer an optional add-on to list your property on Rightmove and Zoopla, but with prices starting at £599, you might find the online agents listed below a lot more enticing, as they offer the same exposure for a fraction of the cost.
The reality is, most estate agents, whether online or high-street, rely heavily on Rightmove and Zoopla for leads.
| Estate Agent | Rating | Duration | Includes / Notes | Price from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quicklister | RatingGoogle Reviews | Duration 3 months | Includes / NotesSaver package
| PriceDiscount price£202.2 Inc VAT | Visit Website20% Discount Code: x74tbhrV |
Emoov | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 12 months* | Includes / NotesEssential package
*Rightmove listing is included for the first month. After that, you have the option to renew the listing for £25 per month. If you continue advertising on Rightmove for a full 12 months, this would amount to an additional £275. | Price£295 Inc VAT | Visit Website |
Fees you will need to consider (not everything can be free)
Yes, in this digital age, it’s entirely possible to market your property, find a buyer, and negotiate a deal all for free (or, at least, peanuts), but unfortunately, rarely is it the case that you’ll be able to complete the entire process of selling your property without spending a dime. No one should be surprised by that. I hope.
There are a few services that you will most likely require and certainly won’t be getting for free, so you’ll need to consider the following:
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Regardless of how you choose to sell your home, you are legally required to have an energy performance certificate/report (EPC) when marketing your property for sale. This is so all prospective buyers can clearly see how energy efficient your property is so they know how much they should expect to pay on energy bills. Most estate agents will offer EPCs at an additional cost, but you can also easily arrange one independently if you want.
You can order an EPC online from energyperformancecertificates.co.uk from only £59
Conveyancing fees
Unless you know how to manage the legal process of purchasing/selling a property, you will need a property conveyancer to prepare and manage all the [boring] legalities, which includes searches, exchanging contracts and title deeds.
Almost all estate agents will try and up-sell their in-house or recommended conveyancing services because it’s a massive money maker for them. However, that’s usually the most expensive option because most agents will add their commission on top, so you end up paying above retail.
You can expect to pay anywhere between £500 – £1500 for conveyancing fees. The price can vary depending on the complexity of the purchase, for example, conveyancing fees for a leasehold property is usually more expensive than a freehold property, because there’s more paperwork involved.
Personally, I would avoid using the conveyancer recommended by an estate agent, because not only are they comparatively expensive, but they often don’t provide the best service.
You can use this free tool by Reallymoving.com to receive conveyancing quotes from expert SRA or CLC regulated conveyancing solicitors and Licensed Conveyancers. Average saving is £365.
Removal services
As you’d expect, removal service fees will vary depending on the quantity/weight of goods you wish to transport and the distance to the destination.
Once again, You can use this free tool by Reallymoving.com to compare house removals quotes from local and national Ombudsman regulated house removals companies.
To summarise, Purplebricks’ house-selling package is a solid freebie option. But for the most effective (and still budget-friendly) marketing campaign, I’d definitely recommend pairing it with a Rightmove and Zoopla listing. Yes, we’re not longer in “free” territory, but with the option I’ve shared, it’s close enough. After all, we’re selling houses here, not a bag of peanuts.
Landlord out xo
Disclaimer: I'm just a landlord blogger; I'm 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I'm a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.
I'm planning to give " I am The Agent" a try in few months...