Homeselling. Made Easy.
Latest News
-
Purplebricks review: We delve deeper into the online estate agent
4 May 2019“Traditional estate agents have charged too much, for too little, for too long,” Purplebricks says on its website. It’s a sentiment shared by many modern homeowners and sellers, who are increasingly turning to online estate agents to cut out the middle man and save on the sale of their property. And when it comes to Purplebricks, the figures are pretty impressive - the company claims it sells three times more homes than any other estate agent in the UK, but our research found that they just sell around 50% of the properties they list on their website. At GetAgent, we think homeowners should be armed with all of the necessary information before choosing an estate agent, which is why we’re taking a closer look at Purplebricks, and advising on whether it’s the best online estate agent for your family’s circumstances… How does Purplebricks work? Like other leading online estate agents,...
-
Estate agents fees, what are you paying for
3 May 2019Once you’ve decided that you want to sell your property, the next step is to think about the right estate agent. Understandably, many homeowners pick the cheapest estate agent on the market to save them a pretty penny, whilst others take the sale of their property into their own hands and list with an online estate agent, with some promising to help sell your home for less than £1,000. Understanding agent fees before you make a decision is important. The truth is, estate agent fees can vary enormously from city to city, and there can be huge discrepancies between high street estate agents operating in the same region. Therefore, it’s important to understand exactly what your agent fees cover, to ensure you’re getting good value for money and sell your home without having to hand over a fortune to your agent. To help you understand estate agent fees, we’ve put...
-
When is the best time to sell your house in the UK?
2 May 2019If you’re thinking about selling your house, then the chances are that you’ve asked whether it’s the right time of year to put it on the market. There are tonnes of myths about the best time of year to sell, but the truth is that each region and property is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution or date that will help you to sell your home in break-neck speed. Having said that, though, savvy homeowners should take note of quiet times for the market and decide when to list their property based on demand. If your home goes on the market too soon, you could get lost in the crowd when the market recovers, making it harder to sell. Below, we attempt to answer “when is the best time to sell a house in the UK?”… Spring comes out on top The rumours are true. Statistically, spring is the...
-
Yopa Review: We review the online estate agent so you don’t have to
1 May 2019Online estate agent Yopa has exploded in popularity in recent years as homeowners choose to move away from high street agents and manage the sale of their property online, in an attempt to save money. According to Savills, Yopa is now the UK’s sixth biggest estate agent, growing their market share in challenging conditions as the housing market stagnates. At GetAgent, we’re passionate about helping homeowners find the best estate agent for their property to help them sell fast and get the asking price they deserve, so we decided to take a closer look at Yopa, and advise whether it’s the right option for your circumstances… How does Yopa work? Although some online estate agents allow you to list your property online immediately, Yopa works a little bit differently, requiring you to book a free valuation of your property. A member of the Yopa team will visit your property, wherever...
-
How do I change/switch estate agent?
1 May 2019If your property has been on the market for months with little to no interest, then the chances are you’ll be considering whether your estate agent is doing their job properly. You may even come to a point when you decide to stop working with them and look for another provider, either because you’re dissatisfied with their performance or they’re not responsive enough. Unfortunately, though, switching or changing your estate agent isn’t as always as simple as it may seem, with many homeowners tied into contracts with a particular agent for a minimum period - or worse still, tied into fixed-fee agreements that mean they’ll have to pay the agent, whatever happens. Below, we share more information on how to switch successfully… Considerations before switching Before you switch, you should take a good look through your agreement with your estate agent to understand your position and rights. Most agents have...
-
How to use data to sell your house faster
30 Apr 2019Nowadays, data is everything. From trying to game the algorithm on Instagram to get more likes, to calculating every step and movement we make on our Apple Watch - we’re all pretty obsessed with numbers, helping us to quantify our lives and understand the world around us. The same is true in the property world. Your asking price is not the only number that will help you sell your house faster. There are lots of ways to increase the appeal of your home and get more potential buyers through the door and increase the likelihood of a quick completion. Below, we’ve rounded up just some of the ways to use data to sell your home faster… Compare estate agents If you’re not sure which estate agent to choose, or you’re considering listing your property for sale online, it can be tough to make your final decision. We’re witnessing a huge...
-
How to save money moving home
20 Apr 2019Moving home is inevitably going to cost money, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the amount you would have been charged. With some effective preparation and planning, you can avoid costly estate agent fees, make some money off unwanted items and find the best deals possible to save money moving house. Declutter Decluttering before a move is just one of many moving house tips you should follow. Give yourself enough time before the move to declutter, especially if you are downsizing. Go through each room one at a time and get rid of anything you haven’t used or needed recently. This will significantly lighten your load, saving you time when it comes to packing and money when it comes to your removal company calculating the volume and resulting cost of your move. When you declutter, try avoid simply throwing your items away unless they are broken or significantly worn...
-
How to sell your London home quickly
19 Apr 2019A large number of factors dictate the time it takes to sell a flat or house within the M25 and beyond. These include the current state of the market, the type of property, whether it is leasehold or freehold home, how long is remaining on the lease, whether the sale is to a cash buyer and even the time of year the property is launched on the market. As a very rough guide, it takes between 11 and 15 weeks to complete a property sale in London after it has been listed with an estate agent, according to London property sales specialist Plaza Estates. This includes the average of between three and four weeks the property spends on the market. But this time can fall to 4-6 weeks if it is a cash deal for a freehold property. In a sellers’ market – when demand for property outstrips the number...
-
House prices: the brexit effect
7 Apr 2019We’re now six years in to what can be termed the ‘Brexit period’ – the time between David Cameron’s fateful announcement of his clear intention to hold an EU referendum in February 2013 and now. Brexit, markets and house prices Markets hate uncertainty and even more so, political unrest. Entering into the abyss of a political, economic and social dynamic that is new and uncertain would be bad enough however add to that a multi-factional disagreement within our political class and with increasing anxiety, protests, u-turns and fibs – coupled with attempts to overthrow the Prime Minister herself, and what you have is a cocktail of Kryptonite, nitro-glycerine and gunpowder fuelled, of course by the oxygen of a relentless, headline grabbing media. Logic and history tell us that. as a consequence of the foregoing, the UK should be on its knees with begging bowl in hand asking the IMF in...
-
Five tips for first time home-sellers
20 Mar 2019Move over first time buyers, you’ve had the lime light for far too long… now its the “First Time Sellers” turn! With ample tips and tricks for first time buyers, even seminars and free (yes, thats not a typo… FREE) advice workshops available, first time sellers do not have the same prelividges as first time buyers, but are still trying to navigate the property mine field & this time with even more to lose… £1000’s of THEIR investment! I spoke with a 71yr old lady recently who is earning her “First Time Seller” Brownie Badge this year, having never moved house & still living in the home she was born in, married in and lost her husband in… and she’s not alone. As an ex-first time buyer and a soon to be first time seller, Its occurred to me that the help available for newbies is somewhat limited. So, as...
-
True costs of moving home
5 Mar 2019Selling your home to buy a small cottage by the sea may seem like a dream, but with the costs of moving rising, it is no surprise that the little cottage may just stay a dream for a lot longer than you’d have liked. Moving home can be expensive! From estate agent fees, EPC costs, additional deposit for the new property, survey costs, stamp duty, legal fees, removal costs, gas safety checks, domestic disconnections (and reconnections!) and even a change of locks – All of these aspects do not come cheaply! Estate Agent Fees Unlike when you purchased your first home – you now have an additional cost: Estate Agent fees! For the UK, the average agency fee is 1.3% of the sale value but can range up to 3.5%. Additionally, these fees do not include VAT so ensure you add this on. Comparing fees early on will allow you...
-
What to ask to estate agents
5 Mar 2019Selling your house can be a daunting task, especially if you have never done it before. There are lots of things to consider such as when you want to have it sold by, where you are going to be moving to, what price you are going to get and how the conveyancing process works. On top of that you also need to find an estate agent that you trust and can get you the best price. This post will show you what questions to ask estate agents in order to filter out the bad and instruct a good one. In general, using an estate agent to help with the selling process can give you a very useful sounding board as to how to present the house for photos and viewings, value the property accurately as well as guiding you through the conveyancing process once they have also found a buyer...