Are you looking to sell your property but don’t know where to start? We’re here to help. In this blog, we look at some positives and negatives to using online estate agents compared to other methods, plus we compare some of the best online estate agents out there.
What an online estate agent is
An online estate agent is an alternative to traditional high street agents, with lower fees and more control over your sale. It’s not always best to go ahead with the cheapest online estate agent out there; other factors need to be considered like how much work you have to do during the sale that a traditional estate agent would normally do. With an online estate agent, you may be the one who has to write your own description on your property, provide photos, and book and hold viewings.
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How online estate agents work
Often the free is paid upfront with online estate agents, and this allows them to list the property online to platforms like Rightmove and Zoopla. Online agents will often claim that they post the listing on hundreds of these property listing websites.
If someone is interested in a property, they contact the online agents and arrange a viewing. If they want the home, negotiations take place until a price is agreed, and the sale goes on as normal.
You may notice on many online estate agents’ websites they claim to have local property experts who can value your property, but bear in mind these often aren’t as local as they appear. They likely use online tools to valuate your property which may make the valuation less accurate and impact what you get for your home.
Most online estate agents offer a ‘basic’ service with optional extras at additional costs. They may provide a viewing package where an estate agent holds the viewings on your property rather than you doing them yourself.
Popular online estate agents
Here we take a look at the most popular online estate agents, considering their fees and services, to help you decide which may be a best fit for you. Please note that fees mentioned may not be accurate as online estate agents often change what they charge.
Love Your Postcode
This online estate agent prefers to leave more control of the sale in the hands of the seller, enabling them to charge less for their service. They claim to list your home in places which receive up to 180 million searches per month. They also don’t negotiate which can leave you with a better selling price (but also potentially losing possible buyers).
Love Your Postcode fees aren’t provided
Emoov
Pretty similar to a high street agents, Emoov provides a valuation all the way through to negotiations and completion on the sale, but for cheaper. They actually visit your home to provide a valuation and even the most basic package includes professional photos of your home.
Emoov fees from £895
Housesimple
Founded in 2007, Housesimple are members of several bodies ensuring you’re protected if you sell through them, including The Property Ombudsman. They claim to get your property on the open market within just a few days and you can book the local agent to visit your home as soon as you sign up.
Housesimple fees from £995
Tepilo
Providing a simple to use website, Tepilo notify and allow you to track every step of your selling journey with them. You’ll have help from experienced sales managers, valuers, negotiators, and sales progressors.
Tepilo fees from £895
Purplebricks
Operating on a huge scale in the UK, Canada, US and Australia, Purplebricks was founded in 2012. They provide experts including local property professionals to manage viewings and potential buyers.
Purplebricks fees from £899
Doorsteps
Without taking a step out the door, Doorsteps allow you to sell your home for less than a hundred pounds. They are a ‘hybrid’ estate agency providing local property experts and combining the human face of high street agents with an online presence which is unique. This is likely the cheapest online estate agents in the UK.
Doorsteps fees from £99
My online estate agent
This estate agent will send an agent to visit your property before putting it on the market. They support you through the whole sales process, while arranging viewings, contacting possible buyers for feedback following viewings and negotiating on your property sale price.
My online estate agent fees from £99
Imovehome
One of the newest players to the market, Imovehome use smart data to value your property online instantly once you’ve made an account with them. However if you aren’t happy with this you can set an asking price that you choose. You don’t sign a contract with them and you have total control over your sale, just upload your property to their website directly.
Imovehome fees from £249
House network
Started 15 years ago, House network have custom software to allow them to handle huge sales volumes at a time. They’ll visit your home and be able to get it on the market within 24 hours.
House network fees from £795
99home
Members of The Property Ombudsman, 99Home ensure a smooth sales process with advanced marketing and property management software. They provide you with a competitive and accurate valuation for free.
99home fees from £99
SellMyHome
Allowing you to choose your level of control over the sale, SellMyHome also offer variants to the amount you can spend on marketing your home. This level of variance can suit some as you can choose how much you spend and therefore how much control you have.
SellMyHome fees from £575
Griffin Residential
Offering a variety of add-ons, you can choose how much you spend with Griffin Residential. Some of these include boosting your listing to reach more prospective buyers.
Griffin Residential fees from £195
Yopa
This estate agent provides a dedicated local agent for a free valuation. You also get access to a personal online control centre where you can see viewing requests and feedback at any time of the day.
Yopa fees from £889
Upad
The largest online letting agency in the UK, Upad helps landlords find tenants for their properties.
Upad fees from £149
I began writing for Property Press Online in October 2019. Particular areas of interest are housing market news and new developments in the market.
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