UK sellers - The benefits of First4sale
Estate agents and the internet
The rapid growth of internet use has provided the online community with much more choice and online purchases and services often represent much better value for money. We believe that the current process for selling property is far too expensive and outdated and by using the latest technology in conjunction with traditional property marketing methods, can be radically improved. Although we accept there are many reputable estate agents, buyers are often left in the dark as to how, where and to what extent their property is marketed. The Office of Fair Trading produced a damning report after a two-year study into Estate Agent practices and a similar report was produced by the Consumer's Association Which? You can read both by looking under Estate Agent Reports in our Useful Links section. There is very little legislation governing the estate agency industry and the only regulatory body is an under-subscribed (only 36% of agents are members) voluntary one.
Most estate agents charge between 1.5 - 2.5% + VAT. Let's take 2% as an example. Whilst 2% doesn't on the face of it seem a lot, it is 2% of the total value of the property.
If your home is worth £250,000 an agent charging you 2% +VAT will charge you £5,875 to sell your property
.
The alternative
At first4sale.com our aim is to give you a real alternative, where you are in total control of your marketing strategy. We offer you great on and offline market coverage, putting you in control of exactly how your property is marketed. By combining a 'For Sale' board, by far the best traditional method of property advertising, and exploiting the incredible power of the internet, we've harnessed the latest and most powerful tools available to put your home in front of the widest possible market. Already more than 75% of successful house hunters look to the Internet and we are convinced that this will be the way that the majority of property will eventually be sold.
Look at the saving you can make
Most estate agents charge between 1.5 - 2.5% + VAT. Let's take 2% as an example. Whilst 2% doesn't on the face of it seem a lot, it is 2% of the total value of the property. If your home is worth £250,000 an agent charging you 2% +VAT will charge you £5,875 to sell your property.
Compare this example to the value that first4sale.com offers to sell your most valuable asset and you can see that our way makes serious economic
sense. House prices have risen dramatically over the last few years, which in the light of failing pension schemes has been a great relief to many
people who have seen the collateral in their homes become their main source of retirement income. Alongside these rises has been a similar rise in
the cost of selling property as estate agents' commissions have risen at the same rate. Conversely, recent interest rate rises have resulted in some
property prices starting to fall, making it even more important that you protect the value of your biggest asset. It is also widely believed that stamp
duty will continue to increase - all good reasons to consider the cost benefits of using first4sale.com.
Get your own property listed on First4sale now!
- Home Page - Your own property minisite with unique web address - featuring up to 8 photos, full descriptions, location map and details of local transport and schools, so important to most buyers. Edit your property details and photos in your own time, 24/7.
- Total security - Your name and full address are never revealed and our site is designed to allow you to vet buyers. Only registered buyers (registration is free) can contact you through your personal message centre and their name and contact details are automatically disclosed to you, allowing you to initiate contact and reveal your details only when you are ready.
- Keeping you informed - Optional SMS text messages to alert you to a message in the message centre.
- Personal Message Centre - allows you to communicate securely with and track your messages to and from buyers, and if you're also looking to buy, with your sellers as well.
- Home Information Pack - All sellers in England and Wales must provide a Home Information Pack, and we link our site to the market leading facilitators of HIPs which will offer you a HIP at no cost (you will only have to pay for the Home Condition Report and Searches) when you choose to instruct a local property lawyer to assemble the HIP and act as conveyancer for you.
- Listed on the first4sale.com website until sold
Other services we offer include:
- For Sale board with FREEPHONE number (Installed AND removed!) Dramatically increase your chances of a quick sale with one of our For Sale Boards. These are manufactured and installed by the same companies that are used by many of the high street estate agencies. Furthermore as around 75% of sales are generated initially by a For Sale board enquiry, this is one marketing tool you should definitely not be without.
- International Home Page - You can also sell your overseas property using first4sale.com
By planning your selling strategy carefully you could save thousands of pounds and avoid any pitfalls. Before selling bear these facts in mind: -
- Many people feel that one of the major benefits of using an estate agent is the valuation service they offer. An agent values your property by giving you an estimate of what, in their opinion, it could be worth in the marketplace. Their valuation will be based on properties of the same type in your area and the unique features and condition of your home. In reality however, it is almost certain that 2 or 3 agents will differ widely on their perceived "valuations", and often by thousands of pounds. Only a surveyor is qualified to give you a true valuation and one that will be accepted by your lender. Read our useful guides for great tips on how to determine the value of your property, maximise its value and pitch it at the right price.
- UK Estate Agents need no formal qualifications, nor do they have to register with a professional monitoring body. The Office of Fair Trading has uncovered some appalling practices. An unscrupulous agent may well overvalue your home in order to gain your instruction, but then suggest you lower the asking price after a while. Then again, if his main objective is to increase his turnover he may undervalue to achieve a quick sale. An agent may well push your property hard, but after a couple of weeks and no sale, promote their newer listings. Don't leave it to chance. With first4sale.com you have TOTAL control of your property sale.
- The estate agent is not involved in the legal processes of selling property, but will refer you to a solicitor or conveyancer. first4sale.com provides you with all the information to complete both efficiently and cheaply. To speed up the legal process, all the forms currently required by your conveyancer are provided in our Sellers Pack which you will receive once your property is registered with us. From August 1, when all sellers in England and Wales must provide a Home Information Pack, we will be linking our site to the market leading facilitators of HIPs, who will offer you the HIP at no cost (you will only have to pay for the Home Condition Report and Searches) when you choose to instruct a local property lawyer to assemble the HIP and act as conveyancer for you. For those looking to save even more, we can offer you great value fixed price conveyancing and Positive Solutions, our financial services partner, can offer you COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, FACE TO FACE financial advice relating to mortgages, insurance etc. no matter where in the UK you live. You can find them both in our Useful Links section.
There has never been a real alternative to using an estate agent. There is now.
We believe that first4sale.com offers you a better way. Even if you are still not totally convinced, using First4sale costs very little, you may make huge savings and you could also sell privately in conjunction with an agent.
Take control, sell your property with first4sale.com
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