Selling your house through a ‘traditional’ method is becoming increasingly expensive.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that sellers are turning away from traditional methods of selling a house and looking for new and innovative ways to complete the deal.
So, does eBay represent a viable way to sell your house? Can you open your property up to bidding on the platform? And once there is a winner, does this represent a binding legal contract?
Keep reading our article for the answer to these questions, and more.
Is it legal to sell your house on eBay?
The eBay platform is legally known as a ‘non-binding auction’.
This means you cannot sell your house directly through the eBay platform.
However, you can advertise your property on the platform, raise awareness, and gain introductions to potential buyers.
You can list your asking price, so there is no bidding. Any interested buyers then fill out a contact form, and their information is sent to you so you can contact them.
If someone bids on your property via eBay, you should contact the winning bidder at the close of the auction to discuss entering into a contract for the real property.
Only once this is done will the deal become ‘official’, and the house sale can proceed.
Does eBay charge you to sell your house on the platform?
eBay charges a listing fee when you put something on their platform. However, since the sale of a property on eBay is not a binding contract, they cannot charge a fee for that sale.
Can you list a house on eBay on behalf of someone else?
No. Unless you are a licensed professional, you are not permitted to list a house on behalf of someone else. This is made very clear in eBay’s policies.
Do I need an estate agent to sell a house on eBay?
Even if someone bids on your property via eBay, this is not legally binding, and therefore, the transaction cannot go through solely on that basis.
Instead, you would have to contact the buyer outside of the platform, discuss putting the offer in writing, and proceed with contracts from there.
No part of this process legally requires you to have an estate agent.
However, many advise that you bring in an expert. They can answer any questions you may have, especially if you have never done this before.
Can you sell your house on Gumtree or Amazon?
You can list your house as being ‘For Sale’ on Gumtree.
When you then click on the listing, it will give you contact details (often an email address) whereby you can contact the seller directly.
Only from there would you be able to make an offer ‘official’ and get the paperwork completed.
At the time of writing, there is no evidence of creating a ‘For Sale’ listing for your property on Amazon.
Can I sell my house on Facebook Marketplace?
You can advertise a house as ‘For Sale’ on Facebook Marketplace. Potential buyers can then contact you directly.
To make the transaction a binding legal agreement, you must move it away from the platform and then sign the necessary paperwork.
What are the leading online house-selling sites?
The leading online house-selling websites in the United Kingdom are Zoopla and Rightmove.
Although these are undoubtedly the most popular, they are not the only ones. Some other websites include Prime Location and OnTheMarket.
Some estate agents have a ‘house selling’ function on their website, too, where visitors can view all the properties listed for sale with that company.
Sold.co.uk also has a significant online property directory for you to browse.
Some websites, such as Zoopla, provide estimates of a house’s worth (either for a specific property or for a street’s average).
However, this should be taken with a pinch of salt, as sometimes the site’s data is inaccurate.
You can only take the number seriously once you get a qualified valuer to visit the property.
What is an online estate agent?
Online estate agencies differ from traditional agencies because they mainly operate online.
These companies are generally less expensive than the average high street agency, which is possible because they have lower overheads.
You can often customise the level of service you receive when using an online estate agent in the UK.
For example, if you want to take photos of your property yourself or avoid the hassle of working with an external solicitor, then the online estate agency can make this happen.
This can enable you to sidestep parts of the process that would otherwise be quite stressful.
An online estate agency will mainly advertise your property on major online platforms, such as Rightmove or Zoopla.
The company will have experts who know how to maximise enquiries and viewings using these platforms – which guarantees that you are in safe hands.
Sold.co.uk charges a flat fee for our services, no matter the value of your property, which is only due once your house sale goes through.
Are online estate agents reliable?
Yes, when you select the right company, they are just as reliable as any ‘traditional’ estate agent.
If you have any concerns or questions, ask the company directly, and they will hopefully provide clear answers.
Can I sell my house without an estate agent?
Yes, it is completely possible to sell your house without an estate agent, although some experts advise against it if you don’t have prior experience doing so.
Your estate agent is responsible for marketing the property, carrying out viewings, communicating with the solicitor(s) and anyone else in the chain, and moving the transaction along reasonably.
However, these are all things that you could technically do yourself.
Although selling without an estate agent may save you on fees, it may cost you money elsewhere if you make a mistake and need to re-do documentation – or perhaps even get sued for damages further down the line.
Secondly, you won’t have a database of buyers to advertise your home to immediately from day one.
This could mean it will take a long time to find a buyer if you can find one at all. You will also need to research how to create the best descriptions, photos, and accurate floorplans for your property.
So, while it is possible to sell your house without an estate agent, you should give this option careful thought before you commit.
What is the cheapest way to sell my house?
The method of selling your house with the least fees is going straight to a cash house buyer.
If it is a legitimate, reliable company, they can buy your property within 7 days, without you paying a penny in fees.
The offer you receive may be slightly below the typical market rate, though, to compensate for this.
