How it works
Instead of paying anywhere between 1-2% of the value of your property in estate agent fees, for absolutely nothing, you can advertise your property with us for 3 months and sell it yourself.
It's so easy to set up and manage online, you are in complete control of your most valuable asset, you're not held to ranson on time restrictions but most importantly, there are no fees.
What you get
You can advertise your property and sell it yourself for nothing instead of paying anywhere between 1-2% of the value of your property to an estate agent.
The right audience. Between 80-90% of buyers use the internet to search for houses. Our website is designed for Londoners and marketed to Londoners. We have a dedicated PR team and use a number of other marketing channels to promote the site and your home.
A professional advert. You get a full page listing with a link to an online map.
24/7 online account management. 'My pHQ' is a secure area of the site where you have complete control over your account and can post, edit or delete an ad.
Access to our 'floorplan wizard'. A nifty piece of software so that you can create a floorplan of your home.
Anti-spam email protection.
Free online selling guide. We've provided you with a basic guide to help you through the selling process.
Discounts & offers. As an advertiser on privateHQ, you are eligible for disounts & offers on selected products and services.
The feel good factor. And to top it all off, by helping yourself you're helping others as 5% of our advertising fee goes to our chosen charity, Alone in London.
The difference between us and estate agents
We are a for sale by owner website and are therefore not controlled by the Estate Agents Act 1979 as "the service we provide is purely the publication of advertisements and the dissemination of information"
Private sales and estate agents
If you would like to do both and haven't signed an agreement with your estate agent yet, you are perfectly within your rights to negotiate the terms of contract before you sign to avoid paying some or any of the agency commission if you sell it privately.
'But I'm already with an estate agent...'
It may be possible to sell privately without paying some or all of the commission if you are careful what kind of agreement you signed with your estate agent. It is your reponsibility to question and to check the agency agreement you have entered into with your estate agent/s first.
The OFT website (http://www.oft.gov.uk/) provides some helpful guidance in this area. The key terms to looks out for are "sole agency", "sole selling rights" and "ready, willing and able purchaser". If any of these terms are used in your contract they must be explained in writing, using the wording required by the law. The OFT website explains the meaning and consequences of each of these terms if they appear in your contract:
"Sole Agency": the term refers to your appointed estate agent - the only agent with the right to sell your property. You should be able to sell the property yourself without paying the agent a fee, provided that the buyer was not introduced to you by an agent during the contract period.
"Sole Selling Rights": the estate agent that you have appointed is hte only person with the right to sell your property. The estate agent is entitled to his fee even if you sell your property yourself.
"Ready, Willing and Able Purchaser": under this type of contract, if the estate agent finds you a buyer who is prepared and able to buy your property and to exchange unconditional contracts, you must pay the commision, even if you decide not to sell.
It is, of course, also possible for your to have a number of estate agents working for you. In these cases, each agency will issue you a "multiple agency" agreement. The OFT guidelines stipulate that only the agent that sell the property is entitled to a commission. Commission can be higher if you opt for a multiple agency deal. You will still need to check whether any multiple agency contract contains a "ready, willing and able purchaser" term which could still leave you obliged to pay commission even if you decide not to sell to the buyer that the agency has found.
What area does privateHQ cover?
privateHQ has based the ‘London area’ as all of those living within the M25 and easy distance of a London tube station or a London mainline station. Please see our “List of acceptable Postcodes”. If your postcode is not listed and you feel it should be, then please contact us directly.
Still need answers to your questions?
If you're still confused or have a question, then drop us a line and we'll try our best to help you. Please note, privateHQ can not relay offers or help in any part of the negotiation on your behalf.
