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Wondering if ‘No sale, no fee’ estate agents are worth it, or if there’s a catch?
Obviously, ‘no fee, no sale’ isn’t anything new. It’s the traditional model used by high-street estate agents, where you only pay once your property sells. But it’s a very different story in the online world, where most agents charge a one-off, upfront fee (usually much cheaper than the high-street alternative).
Lately, though, a handful of online agents have taken a page from the high-street playbook and started offering fixed-price, no-sale-no-fee packages. Naturally, that’s turning heads, and raising eyebrows.
At face value, paying only when your home sells sounds like a no-brainer, especially when it’s offered by an online agent, which we tend to assume is the cheaper route. But here’s the kicker: with online agents, that peace of mind often comes with a hidden price tag that many sellers overlook.
In this post, I dive into the top online estate agents offering ‘No sale, no fee’ deals – who won’t ask for a penny until they’ve done something as remarkable as… errr, their job. But is it worth paying extra for that?
Spoiler alert: I don’t think they’re worth it!
Yup, Online Estate Agents are continuing to gather momentum – and to the utter disappointment of most high-street agents – it doesn’t seem like they’ll die a painful death anytime soon.
However, one of the biggest criticisms of the online model is the upfront fee – you’re expected to pay it whether your property sells or not. So to stay in the game, some online agents are now fighting back by offering ‘No sale, no fee’ deals, so you only pay if your property actually sells.
List of recommended ‘No Sale, No Fee’ Online Estate Agents
Update: When I first published this blog post, the roster of online agents offering ‘No sale, no fee’ deals was a lot more impressive. But one by one, they’ve quietly pulled out of the race (not sure why, probably a money thing). Not that it really matters, because I only need a couple of lab rats to show you exactly why I don’t think those packages are worth paying extra for when it comes to online agents…
| Estate Agent | Rating | Duration | Includes / Notes | Price from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
99Home | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 3 months | Includes / NotesNSNF-Bronze package
| PriceDiscount available£1424.05 Inc VAT | Visit Website5% Discount Code: HomeCPIP5 |
Yopa | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 12 Months | Includes / NotesNo Sale, No Fee package
*Yopa don't disclose the price for this package, they state "ask your agent for details, as prices vary." But bear in mind the base price for their service is £999. | Price*On Request | Visit WebsiteBook Free In-Person Valuation |
THE CATCH with using most “No Sale, No Fee” online estate agent…
They come at a premium, a hefty one, at that.
The same agents offer the same packages for significantly less, but without the “no sale, no fee” guarantee. Take a look…
| Estate Agent | Rating | Duration | Includes / Notes | Price from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99Home | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 3 months | Includes / NotesCombo package
| PriceDiscount available£569 Inc VAT | Visit Website5% Discount Code: HomeCPIP5 |
| Yopa | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 12 months | Includes / NotesCore package
*Selling fee of £1,499 in a few specific London postcodes. | Price*£999 Inc VAT | Visit WebsiteBook Free In-Person Valuation |
My very initial thoughts? It’s terribly appealing to only pay a fee if a sale is achieved, even if it costs a little extra. I can see why people would, and do, opt for the eye-candy.
But then.
I actually thought about the situation for more than 10 seconds, and I realised… that’s all it is, eye-candy!
While I wouldn’t discourage anyone from going for a ‘No sale, no fee’ package, I’ve got to be honest -it grates on me that these agents charge significantly more without offering any real added value. That’s the crux of my issue.
You’re essentially getting the same level of service, just at a much steeper price.
From a business standpoint, I get why they do it. But from a consumer’s perspective, it’s a bitter pill to swallow, and frankly, I care more about that than justifying their business model.
Aren’t they simply saying, Pay us extra for doing our job, or pay us less in case we don’t do our job?
Should you opt for a ‘No sale, no fee’ package?
I can’t answer that for you, obvs. But here’s my personal take, if that counts for anything.
If you only want to pay an agent when your property actually sells, and you don’t mind being temporarily locked into a sole agency contract (which is standard for both high-street agents and online services offering no sale, no fee), then why not – go for it. You’ve got nothing to lose.
But a word of caution: do the maths first. In some cases, depending on your property’s value and which online agent you choose, it might actually work out cheaper to go with a traditional high-street agent, who offer ‘No sale, no fee’ as standard. High street agent fees vary wildly, usually between 1% and 3%, though some charge less.
The whole point of using an online agent is to save a decent chunk on fees. If you’re not actually saving money, you’re probably better off going with a local agent on your doorstep.
Another point worth bearing in mind is that many reputable online estate agents offer house-selling services from as little as £50, often including listings on Rightmove and Zoopla. So even if your property doesn’t sell, losing that small fee probably isn’t the end of the world. Personally, I’d go with the low-cost option, not just to dodge the hefty premiums that come with no sale, no fee services, but also because most leads come from Rightmove and Zoopla anyway. As mentioned earlier, it’s not like you actually get more of a service with a no sale, no fee deal.
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.
