Not happy with your local agent? In this blog, we’re going to look at the best ways to sell your home online.

Where to sell a property online

As technology progresses, the traditional method of buying and selling property via a high street estate agent is slowly disappearing. In the last five years alone, almost 2,500 estate agents have permanently shut their doors as online rivals continue to thrive, offering flat rate fees and the ability to market listings nationally without the need for a brick and mortar storefront.

There are currently three main ways to sell property online. The first is through one of many online estate agents such as Purplebricks or Emoov. These agents employ regional specialists around the country who negotiate with potential buyers once they signal their interest in a property via the website.

The second main way is to use a traditional agent who will list the house on an online portal such as Rightmove, a website that has exploded in popularity since its inception almost 20 years ago.

The third method is often preferred by those who wish to sell their property online fast, and that is via a house buying company such as National Homebuyers, who will purchase any house, regardless of location or condition, without the delays that are often associated with estate agents.

Selling a property online vs other methods

The key benefit of selling a property online is the number of potential buyers you can reach. In the days of old, the only people who would see your home for sale are those who happened to wander past your estate agent’s window. Nowadays, however, your home can be viewed 24 hours a day by anyone with an internet connection.

Of course, rapid growth often encourages controversy – and this is especially true with some of the online estate agents. Both Purplebricks and Emoov have faced lawsuits from clients over hidden costs, and they have been on the receiving end of several warnings from the advertising watchdog as a result.

Tips for selling a property online

If you want to sell your house online, there are some things you can do to encourage buyers to notice your listing:

• Research your chosen method or agent carefully, including visiting forums where past clients discuss their experiences. If a company has a reputation for not getting the vendor within a reasonable range of their asking price, it may be worth looking elsewhere.
• Be prepared for the necessary photography by cleaning the house thoroughly and reducing clutter – buyers find it harder to imagine living in a house if it looks messy.
• If possible, buy a premium listing to make your home stand out.
• Keep your home in show-room condition, you never know when a potential buyer will call on short-notice to arrange a viewing.
• Ensure that once your listing is online, you set aside some time to check it thoroughly for errors and spelling mistakes – especially if the company have missed a marketable feature of your home.

How to sell a property online quickly

One issue with online agents is the speed with which a sale can be completed, as listings can often become lost in the sheer number of houses for sale. And as certain vendors use the ability to promote their listings for a cost, those who are unable to afford a premium listing for their home can often find themselves waiting a long time for an interested party to call – often leading to lower sold house prices.

Luckily, if a vendor needs to sell their house fast, they can always enlist the help of a house buying company who are able to purchase a home in as little as two weeks from the first point of contact. The benefits of companies such as National Homebuyers is that receiving your quote is absolutely free, and many clients are surprised how much they can get for their home.

With a slowed market, many individuals have found their life has been put on hold as they wait for a buyer to make an offer, preventing them from moving closer to family or to a new area for a new job – and in these instances, a house buying company is always the best option.

Looking to sell your home online fast? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.