Can I sell my Property without using an Estate Agent?

for sale sign london

There is no law saying that you need to use an estate agent when selling your home / property. The bigger question is not so much can you sell in regards to legally, but can you sell in regards to finding a buyer and completing the transaction!

So if you came to this blog post in order to know if you have to use and estate agency or not when selling you home then you will be pleased to know that you do not have to. Though nearly all property sales in the UK happen by an agency of some kind or another, there as still plenty of services out there supporting those who look to sell by their own means.

Today, you are likely to sell a property by an estate agency, online / hybrid agency, auction, solicitors. Most of us start with the traditional estate agent when it comes to selling our homes, the local agency who are able to value, list, undertake viewings, negotiate offers, handle the sales process and will likely be the one to hand over the keys upon full completion. Estate agents will also provide help with financing advice and recommendations such as for removal services, renovation works etc.

So already we see that an estate agent handles quite a bit of work when it comes to selling property and they will of course endure all the costs of photography, property details, listings on Rightmove / Zoopla, local newspaper adverts and more. It’s only when you complete your sale that you will see the charges for their services come in to play – It is still very works by no sale no fee.

So, can you sell your property on your own successfully?

Well once again we say yes, depending on how you intend getting the message out about your property will ultimately decide how successful you will be. You will need an EPC in order to put your property on the market, though much of the other estate agency actions you can undertake yourself:

  • Valuation: This can simply be you stating the price you want or with a bit of research pricing accordingly to the local market and similar property. A check on Rightmove will give you plenty of ideas on where your price point should be (check recent sold prices too) – You can also use free valuation tools online though these are less than accurate.
  • Photography: Easy! Mobile phones can capture great images.
  • Listing: Not so easy and possibly costly unless you have a big audience already. Think about social media, websites / pages initially though extend out to private listing websites online that allow sell it yourself options. You can easily make a for sale sign or order one online. You can easily include your property in the local paper or place card adverts in local shop windows or on to message boards at supermarkets.
  • Viewings: Easy. Take viewings yourself and just make sure that you get as much details from people as possible and take caution when inviting third party people to your property.
  • Accepting offer: Once again, easily done and from there you simply instruct your solicitor to get the paperwork underway with your buyer.

For some strange reason the option of selling your property on your own isn’t that popular in the UK. Though many have tried to build online websites dedicated purely to private sales, none have really taken off. People still prefer to use an estate agent to sell their property and even buyers prefer to handle purchases this way – There seems to be a note of caution when people see property being sold privately. You can also today use the likes of hybrid agencies (Yopa / PurpleBricks) which act slightly different to traditional estate agency in that a charge upfront is required and you can simply pick and choose from added extras such as photography or accompanied viewings etc.

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

small house bird box
Breaking News

UK First Time Buyers better off than many other global nations

Is it really that bad being a first-time buyer? UK better off than many other global nations when it comes to affordability The latest market analysis from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, reveals that first-time buyers (FTBs) in the UK may be paying 63% more to get a foot on the property ladder than they…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

Building Safety Regulator Reform

The Government has announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator, including leadership, process and investment. The changes are hoped to deliver 1.5 million homes. The reforms pave the way for creation of a single construction safety regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower enquiry. David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant…
Read More
Breaking News

New anti-money laundering rules now in effect: what landlords need to know

New anti-money laundering (AML) rules came into effect this month, marking a significant change for landlords and the lettings industry as a whole. The new rules mean financial sanctions checks are now required for all lettings, regardless of how much rent is charged. Here, Steve Bond, managing director of residential lettings for Beresfords, explains what…
Read More
Breaking News

What landlords need to know about the upcoming Renters Rights Bill

The government’s long-awaited Renters Rights Bill is one of the most significant overhauls of the private rental sector in decades. While it has not yet received royal assent, the legislation is expected to come into effect late this year, or early in 2026. With the bill moving closer to becoming law, Steven Bond, managing director…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage approvals bounce back in May

The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for May sat at 63,032 up 3.9% from 60,656 in April. The monthly increase seen in May marks the end of four months of previous decline, with approval levels having fallen each month since January of this year. Approvals are also 2.5% higher than…
Read More
Breaking News

Money and Credit – May 2025

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased by £2.8 billion to £2.1 billion in May, following a large decrease in net borrowing of £13.8 billion to -£0.8 billion in April. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases increased by 2,400 to 63,000 in May. Approvals for remortgaging also increased by 6,200 to 41,500…
Read More