A step-by-step guide to selling your property yourself ¦ Property Guides on Times Online

The internet is revolutionising the home-selling business. The proliferation of “private sale” websites proves that increasing numbers of people have the confidence to go it alone, without engaging the services of an estate agent. And some even take on their own conveyancing and do the whole job themselves. If you're thinking of doing it yourself, here are ten things you need to know:

You can do it. An estate agent’s duties typically include: advertising property; valuation; taking sale photographs and writing details; arranging and accompanying viewings; chasing feedback; forwarding offers; liaising with solicitors, and holding keys. However, you are not legally required to employ an estate agent to do any of the above. If you are prepared to put the time and effort in, you can sell your house yourself.

What does it take? Estate agents require no qualifications whatsoever. Anyone can set themselves up as one. Even established estate agents are not necessarily valuers or surveyors, unless they are qualified as such, so be clear about what “professional” qualifications you might pay for. Good estate agents have strong people and communication skills, sales ability, patience and determination. Do you have these? You will need them to sell your house yourself

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Keep your cash Estate agents have cashed in on the property boom. Why should you hand over your equity to them? When average house prices were around £70,000, an agent would have made £1,400 a sale, working on a typical percentage of two per cent plus VAT. Now, average house prices have risen to around £190,000, an agent will make almost £4,000 on a sale, for doing exactly the same job.

A matter of trust A recent survey by YouGov found that 64 per cent of British vendors do not trust estate agents, and 77 per cent of these say that estate agents are more interested in their profits than their customers. In 2006, the estate agents’ ombudsman received more than 8,000 inquiries from dis-satisfied customers, up from 6,021 in 2005, a year-on-year increase of more than a third.

Be straight You can engage an estate agent, and market your house yourself at the same time. Tell your agent though, and be careful about the terms of your contract:

Sole agency: this means you are employing one agent to sell your house.

Joint sole agency: you employ two agents to sell your house, typically at a higher commission rate than single agency. The agents split the commission on a sale.

Multi-agency: you employ several agents to sell your house. The one who secures the sale receives the commission.

With all of the above, you may also market your house privately. But be warned - if you have signed up to “Sole selling rights”, even if you sell your house yourself, your agent is still entitled to his commission. Signing up for “sole selling rights” is never advised.

Double agents It is vital to recognise the difference between an online estate agent and a private sale website. An online estate agent typically, will “sell” your house for a fee – expect to pay around £500 plus VAT or commision of up to 0.75 per cent - fielding inquiries, arranging viewings and monitoring a sale as it progresses. It will have a register of potential buyers and its “For Sale” boards will feature a company telephone number. A private sale website will advertise your property for a flat fee (see Cost Calculator below). If you sign up with an online estate agent, rather than a private sale website, and also an estate agent, you could be in breach of contract.

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