Best Way to Sell Your House

Selling your house is difficult.

Timing is important.

So, too, is how you sell it.

Finding the best way to sell your house is different for each seller.

We analyse the costs, speed, and advantages of each method.

What is the best way to sell your house?

The best way to sell your home depends on your situation and priorities, including:

Your ideal timeframe
Your target selling price
The time of year are you selling
Your budget
How involved you want to be.

Cheapest way to sell your house

Sometimes, the cheapest way to sell your home is the best way to sell it.

The costs of selling your property can vary between the options. For direct costs, the following options are listed in order:

Selling privately or via a cash buyer results in no estate agent fees
Online estate agents have flat fees of around £300-£1500
Property auctions often have fees of around 2.5% of the sale price (plus advertising costs)
Assisted house sales often charge 1 – 3% of the property’s value and give a reduced purchase price
High street estate agents charge 1-3% of the sale price plus VAT.

So, for direct fees, the cheapest options are selling privately and using a cash buyer.

However, it’s finding private buyers is difficult. And cash buyers offer below market value.

Fastest way to sell your house

Selling your house takes time. On the

Cash house buyers can complete within as little as seven days
Auction houses can take 8 – 12 weeks
Traditional estate agents take about 25 weeks
Online agents and private sales fall somewhere in the middle. They have the flexibility to find buyers and agree sales faster than high street agents. But they still need 1-2 months to exchange contracts.

Most certain way to sell your house

For some sellers, certainty is the key consideration for selling a home.

This could be for many reasons. For example, because they have found their dream house. Or they urgently need their sale proceeds for something else.

Either way, this can trump the importance of sales price (which is most sellers priority).

No matter what channel you use, certainty can be raised by lowering asking price.

However, the highest certainty is achieved by cash buyers. This is because, unlike other channels, they don’t rely on lenders or property chains.

The traditional way to sell your house: Estate agents

The most well-known way to sell a house in the UK is to use a traditional high street estate agent.

The agent will visit your property. They then provide a market appraisal and discuss your selling requirements.

They will market your home on their website and platforms like Rightmove if you proceed.

They may also put a ‘for sale’ sign outside and conduct viewings. And negotiate with potential buyers on your behalf.

Estate agents have experience and local knowledge. They will handle all the time-consuming elements of the sales process. Common examples include:

Conducting viewings
Checking legal paperwork
Liaising with solicitors until completion

But employing a traditional estate agent comes at a cost. Their fees could be between £5,000+ on a £200,000 home.

Alternative ways to sell your house

1. Cash house buyers

Cash buyers are property investors or developers who buy properties.

They will value your property and make an unconditional cash offer. This avoids the need for:

Marketing
Viewings
Mortgages
Property chains.

Reputable cash buyers can buy your property in around 7-14 days. This is compared to the UK average of 65 days via an estate agent.

(‘Reputable’ is the key word here. There are bad actors in the property industry who falsely claim to be cash buying. They then stall sellers until they have the funds to buy.)

The cash buying process ultimately enables you to move fast. It also eliminates the uncertainty of a buyer pulling out or a mortgage falling through.

Plus, cash buyers buy the property as-is. You don’t need to renovate or clean your home before selling.

This can be invaluable in some circumstances, such as if you have sitting tenants. Or if you don’t want to extend the leasehold length.

The main downside is that cash offers are usually 5-15% under the total market value. But for many, this reduced price is worthwhile.

2. Selling privately

Some people choose to sell their home privately, without estate agents’ help.

This may suit you if you’re on a tight budget or are confident handling viewings and paperwork.

Going private means avoiding all estate agent fees. So, more of the selling price goes to you.

To succeed, research property prices in your area to set a price. Take high-quality photos and create detailed property listings on major portals.

(You can, for example, use Rightmove to sell privately).

You should always aim to be available to conduct viewings at short notice. This means that a private sale will take up more of your time.

When you find a suitable buyer, hire a conveyancer or solicitor. They check the contacts and forms associated with the sale.

You must promote your property to generate interest. Negotiating with buyers can also be challenging without agent experience. The legal process takes longer with no agency involved.

Private selling suits motivated and organised sellers. Especially if you already have a potential buyer lined up.

3. Online estate agents

In recent years, online estate agents have grown in popularity in the UK.

They combine elements of traditional agents with lower fees enabled by technology. Some of the options include:

Rightmove listings
Professional photos
Sales progression support
Conveyancing recommendations

Viewing coordination and negotiations are your responsibility.

Their model means you take on more of the sales process but pay a lower price. So, more of the sale value goes into your pocket.

Standard online agent fees are often cheaper than high street agents. You also get their resources and support when needed. This helps boost interest and serious buyers for your property.

Ensure that you are comfortable showing people around your home and negotiating offers. This skill is not easy for everyone.

4. Auction house

Auction houses involve selling your home to the highest bidder.

Live property auctions occur across the UK. They attract crowds of investors, house flippers. developers, and buyers. The auction house markets your property through listings and brochures.

Potential bidders can then arrange to visit your house in person and complete a survey if they wish. This enables them to understand its condition. And prepare for an appropriate bidding figure.

On the day, attendees bid against each other until the gavel falls with the winning bid. After a sale, the auction house often takes between 2 – 3.5% of the commission on the sale.

Some sellers prefer the speed and transparency of auctions. For example, most properties sell within 4-6 weeks of the auction date.

Auctions do come with some risks. There is no guarantee that your home will meet the reserve price you set.

Plus, auctioneers tend to be less selective about who they market to.

Buyers purchases are not subject to mortgage surveys or financing, either. This means that sales can fall through.

Summary: What is the best way for you to sell your house?

Now that you know the different ways available, it’s worth reviewing each option.

High-street estate agents provide an experienced professional to manage the sale.

Cash home buyers offer an uncomplicated solution if you want a quick, certain sale.

Motivated sellers could consider private sales to maximise their home’s price. At the same time, auctions create urgency and competition between bidders.

Online estate agents balance professional support with lower costs. This is useful if you are confident taking on many sales, marketing, and admin tasks on yourself.