Which is best, online or high street estate agents for selling?
Selling a property needs an estate agent to market it and the difference in getting a good one or not is far greater than many think. Online agents vs high street agents. The three main options for sellers are to go online with a low fee option, use the more traditional way of going direct to an estate agency or using a higher impact service like hybrid.
How you can determine which is “best” for any individual may not exist. Which is the right one for you, depends on your property and your timeline as well as the amount of support you want.
What you normally get with an Online Estate Agent:
Online agents can be attractive as the fees also appear straightforward and cheap.
They might fit for you if:
Have experience conducting viewings and answering buyer questions
Own a basic property in a location of strong demand
Can chase a bit (feedback, follow-ups, admin)
Need a cost effective way to get on the major portals
The trade-off is inconsistent service levels. While that leaves everything bar photography and hosted viewings to you, other packages are available.
What to expect from a high street estate agent:
High street agents generally provide a fuller managed service, which can be very attractive if you are looking for less hassle or your sale needs to be handled with kid gloves. For Gloucester Estate Agents, consider www.tgres.co.uk/
They are usually a better fit if you:
Require support with property pricing and positioning
Prefer the viewings and negotiations are completed through the agent
More complex sale (chain problems, leasehold or unusual property)
Need a home team who offer buyer demand street by street.
Once an offer is accepted, a good agent can also earn their money by adding value in helping push through the sale during sales progression (chasing solicitors etc to keep the chain moving thus minimising fall-through).
The true question: what will get you the best result?
Look beyond the fee when you compare options. Ask:
Who will do the viewings?
How the agent will vet buyers (Mortgage checks, chain position)
Pricing and marketing plan
How will they handle negotiation?
After offer – Sales progression support
A simple rule of thumb:
Online is great for “I am happy to do it myself and the cost is king.”
A strong high street agent is often worth the extra, because stress is kept to an absolute minimum whilst ensuring continuous progress towards completion.
It is better to get two quotes and call it a day for what comes in with each and make sure whichever you go with aligns best with your time, comfortability, and how complicated the sale itself will be.
