Quick fact: The average ‘traditional’ high street estate agent fee for selling a property in the UK is £4200. Online agents charge an average of £500, and as little as FREE (no strings attached! It’s not a gimmick)!
Thanks to the rise of “online estate agents”, such as Purplebricks, Yopa & 99homes privately selling property on the biggest UK property portals has never been easier… or cheaper, and that’s precisely why they have become incredibly popular among UK home-sellers!
Online agents allow homeowners to advertise their property on Rightmove & Zoopla (along with other property portals) without a traditional high street estate agent and their hefty [and often hidden] fees, which means there’s opportunity to save £1000’s on fees.
Bottom line, selling your house privately can cost peanuts! Here’s a complete guide on how to get started…
Okay, so, if you’re keen on the idea of selling your home effectively without having to absorb the extortionate Estate Agent fees that we’ve all grown to fear and despair, then you’re probably in the right place!
More and more home-sellers across the nation (including England, Scotland and Wales) are ditching traditional high street Estate Agents to sell their home because it’s become so damn easy and cheap to privately market properties on the biggest UK property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla via Online Estate Agents… for a one-off fixed fee. No hidden fees, or a pricing structure based on a percentage of the sale price (which can add up to a small fortune).
Most high street estate agents leverage property portals like Rightmove, Zoopla, and PrimeLocation to market their stock, and that’s where the majority generate their leads from (the reality is, if you want to sell your house privately with the best possible chance of succeeding, then you need to list your house on those portals, particularly Rightmove & Zoopla). So why not just bypass high street estate agents and advertise on Rightmove and the alike by using an Online Estate Agent and handle all the enquiries yourself, for a fraction of the cost?
High street agents charge a whopping 1-3% + VAT commission (approximately) of the selling price, whereas online agents charge a considerably lower one-off fixed fee. Why are high street agents much more expensive? There are a few reasons, but it basically boils down to high street agents having significantly more overheads to cover because they require a high street presence.
Online Estate Agents that will advertise your house ‘for sale’ on the most popular UK property portals like Rightmove & Zoopla:
Please note, the prices shown have exclusive discount codes applied where available.
Use the search filters to select which services you require from your online agent. The total prices will automatically adjust and order the agents based on the most competitive price for the overall package (i.e. including the add-on products you require).
Each agent listed is hand-picked and highly rated.
Search Filters
Require any of the following?
- Rightmove listing
Rightmove listingAdvertise property on Rightmove (The UK's largest property portal)
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- Zoopla listing
Zoopla listingAdvertise property on Zoopla (The UK's second largest property portal)
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- OnTheMarket listing
OnTheMarket listingAdvertise property on OnTheMarket
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- EPC
EPCAn Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is needed when a property sold in the UK. They are valid for 10 years, so if you already have a valid one you do not to order another.
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- Photograghs
PhotograghsThe agent will arrange for a photographer to visit your property to take pictures, which can be used with your adverts. Good quality photos are important in making your property look attractive and can increase enquiries.
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- Floorplan
FloorplanThe agent will arrange for a professionally produced floorplan showing the layout and room sizes of your property. Many buyers find floorplans useful when viewing property details online.
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- Negotiation
NegotiationThe agent will help to negotiate with potential buyers on your behalf. If you are confident in negotiating then you may not need this service.
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- For sale sign
For sale signThe agent will arrange for a 'For Sale' sign to be placed outside your property to attract passer-buyers.
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- In-person valuation
In-person valuationThe agent will arrange for a local expert to visit your property to conduct a proper valuation. Please note, some agents offer "free, no obligation valuations"
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- Hosted viewings
Hosted viewingsA local agent will take viewings and show potential buyers around your property. Please note, some agents limit how many viewings they will take, so please read the T&C's carefully.
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- No sale, no fee
No sale, no feeIf the agent doesn't sell your home, you don't pay their fee. (T&C's may apply, so please read carefully).
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Estate Agent | Rating | Duration | Includes / Notes | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PurpleBricks | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 6 months | Includes / NotesFree package
*YES, Purplebricks now offer a 100% free house-selling service, no strings attached. | PriceFree*Free | Visit WebsiteBook Free In-Person Valuation |
Visum | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 1 month | Includes / NotesBasic package
| PriceDiscount available£34 Inc VAT | Visit Website£15 Discount Code: PIP1 |
Quicklister | RatingGoogle Reviews | Duration 3 months | Includes / NotesSaver package
| PriceDiscount available£63.2 Inc VAT | Visit Website20% Discount Code: TWe22dhT |
99Home | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 4 months | Includes / NotesStandard package
| PriceDiscount available£94.05 Inc VAT | Visit Website5% Discount Code: PIPSSTD5 |
I Am The Agent | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 30 days | Includes / NotesTaster package
| PriceDiscount available£179.1 Inc VAT | Visit Website10% Discount Code: propinv21 |
Griffin Property Co | RatingTrustPilot Reviews | Duration 12 months* | Includes / NotesSell Your Property package
*Rightmove listing is included for the first month, but after that there is an optional renewable listing for £50pcm. So if you end up advertising for 12 months on Rightmove, that's an additional £550 (£245 + £550 = £795). | Price£245 Inc VAT | Visit Website |
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 |
Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Other Useful Services
Since keeping costs down is the name of the game, it’s important to remain savvy throughout the process of selling your home. Get quotes for every service you may need, because prices drastically vary, including the following…
Table of contents
- Why use an Online Estate Agent & Rightmove?
- How do I actually list my property on Rightmove?
- High street Vs Online Estate Agent Fee comparison calculator
- Can I advertise my property for sale on Rightmove without an agent?
- Besides from paying for an online agent to advertise my property on Rightmove, what else do I need?
- Can I REALLY sell my house privately without an agent?
- Will advertising on Rightmove REALLY help me sell my home?
- How long will it take to sell my property on Rightmove?
- What about the other portals, like Zoopla, OnTheMarket, and PrimeLocation- do I need to advertise on them?
- Is there anything I need to be wary of when using a Rightmove Estate agent?
Why use an Online Estate Agent & Rightmove?
Besides from the obvious benefit of saving massive amounts of money when compared to the traditional route, the reason why online agents are becoming increasing popular is because they operate how society now operates i.e. research and buying online worries fewer and fewer people as every day goes by.
While marketing on Rightmove & Zoopla to sell a home independently may seem alien to some, it’s actually becoming the “norm” for more people every day. However, that said, I believe there’s always going to be a need for the traditional high street agent, because ultimately, I do believe both online and high agents offer two different services for two different types of sellers.
So that raises the question, should YOU use an online estate agent to sell your house? It’s a question I have addressed in detail already (in the article I just linked to), so in order to refrain from repeating myself, here’s an overly simplistic answer: online agents are for those that don’t mind doing some of the leg-work that agents have notoriously handled (e.g. managing and handling the viewings) in exchange for a significantly cheaper process. While high street agents are better suited for those that would rather pay a premium for someone else to manage the entire process. That’s the difference in it’s raw form.
So really, can you be bothered to do work in order to save money? If so, you could be onto a winner with this whole online agent malarkey.
How do I actually list my property for sale on Rightmove?
Via an online estate agent that specifically feeds Rightmove (or any other portal you want to be listed on – the agent must support the portal).
Below is a cool (and short!) video by Quicklister, demonstrating how you can use their service to submit your property details, including photos, and how it gets distributed to and listed on major portals like Rightmove & Zoopla using their dashboard.
Broadly speaking, it’s how most online estate agents operate, so the process should be relatively straightforward.
High street Vs Online Estate Agent Fee comparison calculator
Ok, so you want real numbers! You want to know exactly how much you can save by using an online agent, because money talks! No probs, I’m with you.
Use the calculator below to find out how much you can save by using an online estate agent…
What’s your property worth?
You could save approx:
with an Online Estate Agent
Savings based on an estimated traditional estate agent charge of 2% + VAT of the overall property price and the average Online Estate Agent fee of £600 inclusive of VAT.
Can I advertise my property for sale on Rightmove without an agent?
Nope, unfortunately not. You need some kind of agent to facilitate, whether it be an online agent or your local high street agent.
Portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla don’t deal with the generic public directly, which includes private home-sellers, they only allow estate agents to feed them with stock.
That’s precisely why online agent services were created, to provide a bridge for private individuals to able to advertise their property on the likes of Rightmove and Zoopla quickly and cost-effectively, all without having to through a costly traditional high street agent (which used to be the only option).
Besides from paying for an online agent to advertise my property on Rightmove, what else do I need?
- Energy Performance Certificate
Anyone that markets their property for sale is required by law to have a EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). You’ll be required to display yours with your listing on Rightmove (and any other portal). It’s not optional.EPC’s are valid for 10 years and reusable, so you don’t need to buy a new one if you already have one (unless you have made significant energy improvements to the property since the energy assessment was conducted), nor do you have to buy one from the agent you’re selling with. It really doesn’t matter where you source yours from, as long as the assessment is conducted by a qualified EPC assessor.
Most agents will provide the option to order one as an ‘add on’ product during checkout, but you’ll be lucky to find a bargain! At the time of writing this blog post, the cost of an EPC from the top 3 Online Estate Agents are as follows:
- Yopa: £99
- Purplebricks: £119
- Quicklister: £119
But you can also get an EPC from a 3rd party supplier for approx £59 (which is 50’ish per cent cheaper)…
Supplier Rating Notes / Includes Price Supplier
Rating
TrustPilot ReviewsNotes / Includes - Book online
- Nationwide coverage
- Approved accredited assessors
- Track your order online
*Their website says prices start from £34, but the cheapest quote I could get is £59.
Price
£59*Inc VATOrder Online Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Needless to say, I’d personally get my EPC sourced from a 3rd party.
- Conveyancing Solicitor
You’ll need a solicitor to handle the legal paperwork so your property is transferred over to the buyer.Most online agents will try to up-sell their conveyancing services, and it’s actually a huge part of their income stream. From my experience, conveyancing services offered by agents aren’t competitively priced, so you wouldn’t be unwise to gather your own quotes before opting for the easy option of going with your agent’s recommendation. Here are a few ways you can do that:
- Instant Online Quotes: fill in this quick & easy form to receive 4 instant quotes from expert SRA or CLC regulated conveyancing solicitors or Licensed Conveyancers. Average savings is £365.
- Local Conveyancing Services: there’s still a huge demand for local high street Conveyancing Services even though they’re generally more expensive, simply because many of us (buyers and sellers) prefer face-to-face service. So checkout your local area for Conveyancing Services.
- Recommendations: unfortunately, If you spend a little time researching ‘conveyancing services’ it will quickly become apparent that there isn’t a shortage of complaints about dire service. Using a conveyancing service seems to be a real hit or miss experience. So it’s always worth asking friends and relatives for recommendations.
Here’s a guide on conveyancing, if you’re interested in learning more.
- Professional Photography
Of course, not a legal requirement, but essential for maximising appeal and those precious enquiries. Please don’t be one of those tight-wads that skimp on high quality photos and end up taking wonky and dingy pics on a smartphone. Please, for the love of God, resist the urge!Don’t get me wrong, smartphone cameras have come a long way and they can take incredible pictures, but if you don’t have any comprehension of composition, lighting, and if you don’t have a wide angle lens, you stand a good chance of killing your marketing campaign before it even kicks off.
Some of the more pricy packages will include a Professional Photography service as part of the deal, while the others will give you the option to buy it as an ‘add on’ during checkout.
Of course, you also have the option to source an independent supplier (which, similarly to sourcing EPCs, may work out cheaper) and use them for your Rightmove and Zoopla listing:
Professional Property Photography + Floor Plan Service Supplier Notes / Includes Price Supplier
Notes / Includes Property Photography
- 10 high-quality photos
- Helps grab online attention
- You own the photographs
Floor Plans
- Professional 2D marketing floor plans
- Expertly trained Photoplanners and Floor Plan Technicians
- Includes room measurements
- Helps tenants visualise
- Recommended for larger homes
- Rapid 24-hour turnaround
Price
£149Inc VATMore Info Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Can I sell REALLY my house privately without an agent?
What, you mean, without any kind of agent, including an online one?
Technically, you can market your property anyhow you want – even without an agent – but I personally wouldn’t bother.
Local newspapers and pin boards in the local corner shop just aren’t as effective as they used to be. With 90% of home-buyers researching properties online, you’d be bonkers to try and bypass using an agent, even as tempting as it may seem.
For now, estate agents are the gatekeepers for getting your property on the UK’s biggest portals!
Will advertising on Rightmove REALLY help me sell my home?
Please be assured that I can’t guarantee that any of these websites will successfully find you a buyer. But then again, a high-street agent can’t guarantee that either.
All I can say is that I’ve used similar online agent based services in the past, and they’ve worked for me (and thousands of other people- and that’s why they are becoming incredibly popular) by generating plenty of interest and enquiries.
As said already, the reality is, most traditional high-street agents generate the majority of their enquiries from online portals like Rightmove and Zoopla. So as long as your property is marketed on at least Rightmove (but preferably Zoopla as well), you stand as good a chance as any high-street agent to generate enquiries.
How long will it take to sell my property on Rightmove?
It really depends on a few moving parts.
But maybe what you’re actually asking me is if it would be more or less efficient if you tried selling your property privately on Rightmove compared to using a local and traditional high-street estate agent. While I have already indirectly answered the question – when highlighting the fact that high-street agents receive the majority of their leads (from prospective buyers) via the big online portals – I will clarify that, in my opinion, you’re not likely to flog your property any quicker or slower.
Yes, it’s true, high street agents can tap into the local trade (i.e. the foot trade and window-shoppers) and that can make a difference, but that market is dwindling quickly and becoming lifeless- the majority of buyers go online searching, to websites like Rightmove and Zoopla, as their first port of call.
Other than that, the effectiveness of your Rightmove listing can be a deciding factor of how quickly (or slowly) you sell your property. In other words, if your advert stinks, you’ll likely gain little interest.
Top tips for advertising your property on Rightmove (and other portals)
- Photos sell
A lot of the premium sales packages include a professional photography service, while the more basic ones don’t (but do provide the option to include it as an add-on).Bearing in mind that you’re trying to flog a house and not peanuts, I can only recommend using high-resolution photos that showcase the property’s best features. They can make a huge impact on interest levels.
Often home-sellers using an online agent try to save [even more] money by whipping out their iPhone to take photos, but the results are often horrendous, resulting in less views and consequently less enquiries.
Use professional equipment, otherwise it might be wise to include a professional photography service.
- Order of photos make a difference
Your photos should highlight key features of your property and take priority, especially if you have open space. Interestingly, since the pandemic, outdoor space is now a top priority for most home movers. - Floorplans are helpful
Similarly with a professional photo service, many online agents will either include a floorplan service with their packages, or make it available as an add-on option.According to Rightmove, home movers want floorplans. According to their search,. 59% of buyers said a floorplan is essential when looking for a new property.
Including accurate and detailed floor plans helps potential buyers visualise the property’s layout, and helps them understand if it meets their needs.
- Include essential details of your property
Some online agents do include “property description” as part of their service, but if you’re responsible for writing it for your Rightmove listing advert, then ensure it’s captivating, highlighting your property’s unique selling points. Focus on key features such as location, size, amenities, and any recent renovations or upgrades. It also helps to be accurate and honest in order to build trust with potential buyers. - Most common reasons for lack of enquiries
- Poor photos
- Poor presentation of property (i.e. messy, unclean)
- Overpriced
- Lack of details / description
- Competition – if you’re competing against a lot of other similar properties in the local area, then you may want to think of ways to stand out from the crowd. This could include making your asking price more competitive, or upgrading your Rightmove listing to Featured or Premium to get extra exposure.
Understandably, most home-sellers are reluctant to lower their asking price, but often it’s necessary, and can be better in the long-run if it means selling quicker.
- Update photos/details if you’re not getting the enquiries
If you’re not getting many enquiries then don’t be afraid to experiment with your listing e.g. change photos, alter the ordering of your photos (especially the primary/profile photo), make your description more appealing etc. Sometimes the smallest of things can be causing a roadblock for no apparent rhyme or reason.I’m not sure if this is an urban myth or not, but some say that “refreshing” your listing can give it a boost in the search results. Again, not sure if this is true, but it if is, it’s a nice added bonus.
What about the other portals, like Zoopla, OnTheMarket, and PrimeLocation- do I need to advertise on them?
Nah, I personally wouldn’t rely on any portal other than Rightmove. Actually, that’s not entirely fair. Zoopla deserves for its potency and influence!
As covered in the section above, I would focus on choosing an online agent that will market your property on both Rightmove & Zoopla (the one’s listed above currently do), all the others are just added bonuses which aren’t as popular (i.e. they won’t have as many people looking for property on their website), in my opinion.
Is there anything I need to be wary of when using a Rightmove Estate agent?
Definitely!
An online agent that markets on Rightmove & Zoopla is an awesome and cost-effective solution to selling your home, and their awakening has made it infinitely easier to sell privately. While I’ll happily endorse using an online agent, I will also always caution every vendor to use the same thorough due diligence required when choosing a high-street agent as when using an online agent.
The following won’t apply to all online agents, and certainly not in the exact form, so it’s crucial for you to do your own research. To clarify, I don’t necessarily think the following should scare you away from using an online agent, they’re just points you should be aware of…
- Limited marketing period / No refunds!
Most online agents will charge a fixed-fee to advertise your property for a maximum amount of time (I’ve specified how long each agent will advertise your property for in the table above; it’s typically 12 months, which seems fair to me), so if your property fails to shift with in that time frame, you’re very unlikely to get reimbursed. If you wish to continue trying to sell your property, the odds are you’ll have to stump up for another round of advertising. Although, they may give you a discount the second time round (I’m not sure if that’s of any consolation).However, that said, and in defence of the agents- if you haven’t sold your property with in 12 months, then it’s likely that there’s something fundamentally wrong with the property you’re trying to get rid of.
- The “Pay on completion” option
Many of the agents will offer a mouth-watering “Pay on Completion” option, or something to that effect, as well as the “Pay Upfront” option.As enticing as the pay on completion option may seem, the beauty is often only skin-deep. Unfortunately, once you start asking questions and reading through the small-print, it doesn’t always seem so appetising.
In most cases, not only is there a hefty premium on the “Pay later” payment option (i.e. it’s usually significantly more expensive than the pay upfront option), but I’ve also noticed other unpleasant conditions tied into the option. For example, some agents force you to use their recommended Conveyancing partner if you want to use the “Pay Later” option.
From my observations, the “Pay Later” option usually comes riddled with conditions which aren’t entirely transparent (that’s putting it lightly). I’m not saying that’s ALWAYS the case, but my only advise is to make sure you understand exactly what the “Pay later” option means if you wish to use it.
- Conveyancing
Using a good conveyancing company is imperative when buying or selling property; they can either make the process a delight, or an absolute nightmare. I’ve learned through experience that you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to conveyancing, so it’s important not to make a bad choice.Among the dozen products an online agent will try and ‘upsell’ you along the process of selling your home, a conveyancing service is almost always one of them. From my experience, they’re not all that competitively priced, you can definitely find cheaper conveyance services from elsewhere.
If you are compelled by the conveyancing services offered by the agent (there’s no shame in that), understand that the work will most likely be outsourced to their preferred supplier(s). If that is the case, I recommend finding out who that firm is, and then run their name through Google for reviews/feedback. You know, the usual checks.
For more info and tips, here’s a guide on conveyancing solicitors and how to pick the right one for you.
Want to advertise your rental on Rightmove?
If you’re a landlord wanting to market your rental property on Rightmove and the alike and bypass the cost of using a high-street letting agent, then you may want to visit the Advertise Rentals on Rightmove page.
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.
thanks everyone. i dont want to use our local EA far to snobby and uriah heep for me. I am reasonably intelligent so will try this on line way. Can always go back to EA if it doesnt work.The road i live in is very in demand ,houses sell with in hours !! it seems so i think it will save me some money.I know a good solicitor so here we go!