Frequently Asked Questions

Using Our Website

1. What are the costs to join?
   Joining is completely FREE with no contracts or hidden fees whatsoever! By joining us, this enables you to sell as many properties as you like under one single, easy-to-use account or if you are buying, tailor your search results of properties for sale as well as create a public profile to help sellers find you. In short, if you are buying or selling, we'll get you talking to other members who may have exactly what you are looking for!
   
   
2. What are the costs to advertise?
   Our advertising services cost nothing at all and listing your property is absolutely FREE! There is no commission and nothing to pay when the property is sold. There are no time limits on standard adverts, no surcharges or supplements (ever) and no hidden costs.
   
   
3. Which geographical areas do you cover?
   We presently cover the entire United Kingdom only. However, plans are in place to increase our database to cover the entire globe so if you have a property to sell that is based overseas, please register with us now and we'll let you know when our website has been updated to allow you to advertise your overseas property for sale.
   
   
4. Can I update or amend the details of my advert after they have been published on the website?
   Yes you most certainly can. Simply log into your members account area and click on the advert you wish to amend. Then simply follow the on-screen options which will allow you to make changes to the title, description, pricing - you can even upload new photos and replace old ones!
   
   
5. Can I remove my advert?
   Yes, if you wish to remove your advert from our database, simply log into your account, click on the corresponding advert in your portfolio and follow the on-screen instructions. Adverts can be made invisible or completely deleted, depending on your needs.
   
   
6. How long will my advert appear on the website for?
   Your advert will be live on our website until it is sold. When your house has had an offer, simply log into your account, ensure you change the status of the property to "Under Offer" and it will marked accordingly on the website. If for any reason the deal falls through, do not worry. You can change the status of the advert whenever you like.
   
   
7. How many properties can I advertise?
   You can advertise an many properties as you like! There's no need to register multiple accounts - one account will allow you to advertise and promote an unlimited number of properties in one easy, convenient place. Our website is the only FREE property for sale by owner directory that allows you to do this so get selling with us now!

Selling Privately

1. I'm already with an estate agent, what can I do?
   Before advertising your home as a private sale, we strongly advise that you consult the terms of your agreement with your estate agent.
   
   Your position depends on the precise terms of your agent's contract which you should check carefully. A "Sole Selling Rights" contract would allow the agent to charge you commission whoever you sell to, even if they don't introduce the buyer.
   
   Online home advertising or private newspaper advertising does not automatically affect the most common form of agents contract (Sole Agency).You could still save a great deal and multiply your chances of selling your home quickly by advertising privately.
   
   
2. Should I tell my estate agent?
   It is advisable that you tell your agent of your intensions. We recommend that you agree with an estate agent in advance that they can't charge commission if you sell privately and have this written into the terms of your agency contract. This avoids any misunderstandings or disputes over commission at a later date and it will also serve to focus your agents mind on marketing your property more aggressively.
   
   
3. Can I sell my house without an Estate Agent?
   Estate agents can take some of the running around off your hands, offering advice, acting as a go-between for you and your potential buyer(s). They may offer a number of benefits to the selling process such as:
   
   • advertising the property for sale
   • arranging appointments for visits
   • following up buyers to obtain 'feedback'
   • advice on valuation
   • creation of the property descriptive details
   • collation (from you) of relevant documentation
   • receiving and forwarding offers
   • selling mortgages, insurance, legal or other services
   • holding pre-contract deposits (sometimes paid by the buyer)
   • communicating with your solicitors/conveyancers
   • keeping tabs on the progress of exchange of contracts
   • advising on the status of 'chains'
   • holding the house keys on completion date.
   
   But do you really need someone else to provide these services? Remember, the law does not require any of these functions to be carried out by an estate agent or indeed any other professional. When you accept a buyer's offer, you just pass the details straight to your solicitor, who will do the necessary legal work.
   
   You only need to consider whether the amount you will have to pay an estate agent is worthwhile in relation to what they may save you in time, convenience and personal effort.
   
   
4. Do I require a Home Information Pack (HIP)?
   Requirement for the Home Information Pack for property sales was suspended with effect from 21 May 2010 by the incoming U.K government. An exception is that the Energy Performance Certificate is still required. The new government will shortly be changing legislation and the Home Information Pack will be abolished.
   
   
5. How do I value my property?
   Most vendors start by inviting a number of local estate agents (or realtors) to visit their house and provide a 'free' valuation, without appreciating that the estimates provided can be highly biased. Homeowners setting their own price naturally tend towards the highest possible value based on emotional ties to the house and a desire to maximise profit from the sale of the home.
   
   Essentially a house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and you can help yourself to gain the best possible offers by being smart and preparing your house for sale by ensuring it is clean, tidy, tastefully decorated with a minimalist appeal and essentially looking "ready to move into". Potential buyers don't want to see your personality imposed onto a potential lifes investment so think twice before you spend money on unecessary additions that will add no value and simply detract from what the buyer is looking for.
   
   There are a number of extremely useful websites out there that will help you get a good benchmark on how much your property could be worth, how to prepare your home for sale and how to get appointments to view your home. For more information, please see our "Resources & Links" section.
   
   
6. How do I prepare my house for sale?
   There are a number of simple steps every homeowner needs to take in order to make the best impression when buyers come to view. Once you have attracted interest in your home from advertising, the viewing becomes one of the most critical points at which a sale can stand or fall.

Buying Privately

1. Do you check the details of property submitted?
   All adverts submitted on our website are published by the property owner or vendor in question and all information submitted was sourced and written by the seller in question. Managing and overseeing every advert submitted simply isn't practical or possible given the sheer number of adverts we receive. However we will remove or amend any advert that we feel contravenes our acceptable user policy or any advert that is clearly fraudulent, grossly inaccurate or misleading.
   
   It is in our best interests to ensure all adverts submitted reflect a sound and honest sale and therefore we are confident that the majority of properties displayed on our website are being advertised by genuine, trustworthy vendors. However we do not accept any liability under any circumstances if an advert is deemed to be inaccurate or grossly misleading. Therefore, we advise all buyers and sellers to act diligently and within the laws of the United KIngdom when buying or selling a home privately.
   
   
2. Do you visit properties to review or survey prior to publishing adverts?
   No. All advert details, descriptions, pricing and photographs are submitted and authored by the vendor. We do not review, survey or value any property for sale on our website under any circumstances. Our website is simply an online resource for vendors to advertise their properties for private sale at their own discretion. We are not agents and are simply a FREE "shop window" for sellers to advertise their properties.
   
   
3. Can I complain about an advert?
   If you have serious and genuine reasons to believe that an advert placed on our website is grossly inaccurate, misleading or fraudulent please contact us and include the property reference number and details of the reasons that you feel the advert is not fit for public viewing on our website.
   
   
4. Do you take commissions from the sale of a property?
   No. The only fees we take from an advertiser are simply costs to display the property on our website (if appropriate). We do not get involved with the transfer of ownership of the property at any stage and you are advised to seek the services of a solicitor if you have agreed a fee for a property advertised on our website.
   
   
5. Contacting the vendor
   The display of any telephone number or email link on this website does not imply any consent for third parties to contact vendor-advertisers with commercial offers.
   
   Consent to use contact information displayed is given ONLY for personal use in respect of interest in the potential purchase (as a buyer) of the property advertised for sale.
   
   Unsolicited emails (commercial offers sent without consent) are illegal within the EU under the Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.
   
   Complaints to the Office of the Information Commissioner: http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk Unsolicited telephone calls are actionable where the vendor's telephone number is registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS): http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps