Selling a home
Getting an estate agent
You can sell your home yourself or use an online, high street or hybrid estate agent.
If you decide to use an estate agent, you must sign a legally binding contract with them.
Fees
Check your contract with the estate agent to find out:
- how much they charge
- what’s included in their fee
If you use more than one estate agent, you may need to pay fees to more than one of them when your home sells (called dual fees). This will depend on the type of contract you sign with the estate agent and whether they have sole selling rights to your home.
You must stick to the terms of the contract or you could be taken to court.
Estate agents are also legally obliged to pass on any other offers for your home right up to when contracts are exchanged.
Recommendations from estate agents or mortgage lenders
Your estate agent and mortgage lenders might recommend legal professionals, mortgage brokers or surveyors to you.
You must be told if the estate agent or mortgage lender gets a payment (a ‘referral fee’) from the company they’re recommending.
You do not have to use the company that’s been recommended to you.