The cheapest way to sell a house is to handle the sale privately without an estate agent, which eliminates commission fees entirely, though online estate agents and cash buyers offer compelling alternatives depending on your priorities for speed, convenience, and final sale price.
Selling your home doesn’t have to drain your finances through hefty estate agent commissions. In 2024, the average estate agent fee stands at around 1.42% including VAT, meaning for a £300,000 home, you’re looking at approximately £4,260 in fees. Traditional estate agents charge between 1% and 3.5% of the sale price plus VAT, which on the average sold price of £282,000 in January 2024 translates to anywhere from £2,820 to £9,870 just in fees. With sole agency agreements, expect fees between 1.2% and 1.8% including VAT, whilst multiple agency agreements typically range from 3% to 3.6% including VAT.
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The Cheapest Way to Sell Your House: A Comprehensive Guide
Selling your home yourself represents the most cost-effective method in terms of upfront fees. This approach involves handling every aspect of the sale personally, from photography and property descriptions to viewings and negotiations. You can advertise for free on social media, in shop windows, and on free property listing websites, or pay a modest fee for local newspaper advertisements.
However, this route demands considerable time and effort. You’ll need to be comfortable managing viewings, negotiating with potential buyers, and maintaining communication throughout the sale process. The main risk lies in potentially achieving a lower sale price due to limited reach or inexperience in negotiations.
Online Estate Agents: Budget-Friendly Professional Help
Online estate agents provide a middle ground between DIY selling and traditional high-street agents. Services like Strike offer technically free listings, with optional paid extras for photography, conveyancing, and viewing management. Quicklister provides Rightmove and Zoopla listings for just £99 over six months.
These platforms typically charge fixed fees rather than percentage-based commissions, making them considerably cheaper than traditional agents. However, the level of service varies significantly, and you may still need to handle many aspects of the sale yourself.
Can You Sell a House Without Any Estate Agent Fees?
The comparison above illustrates how different selling methods compare across key factors that matter most to sellers. Each approach offers distinct advantages depending on your specific circumstances and priorities.
| Method | Upfront Costs | Commission Fees | Speed | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Sale | £0-£100 | None | Slow-Medium | Potentially Lower |
| Online Agent | £99-£400 | None | Medium | Market Value |
| Cash House Buyer | None | None | Fast | 75-85% of Market |
| Traditional Auction | £500-£2,000 | 2-5% | Fast | Variable |
| Modern Method Auction | Legal pack costs | None (buyer pays) | Fast | Potentially Lower |
We Buy Any House Services: Speed Over Maximum Price
Cash house buyers, including we buy any house companies, offer perhaps the fastest route to sale with no fees. These firms purchase properties directly, often completing within days or weeks. The trade-off involves accepting offers typically 20-25% below market value.
Reddit users share mixed experiences with these services. One user noted: “Those that offer you 80% or less of market value are most likely legit and you will probably get the amount offered. Those that offer more, you will not see that money”. Another warning emerged: “They will offer you a semi-reasonable price, then when you are deeply invested in the process and about to exchange something ‘will come to their attention’ and they’ll drop the offer £15k”.
For sellers requiring guaranteed certainty and speed, Property Saviour provides a reliable cash house buyer service with transparent pricing from the outset, eliminating the risk of last-minute price reductions that plague some competitors.
How Much Money Can You Actually Save?
The savings potential varies dramatically based on your property value and chosen method. On a £300,000 property:
- Private sale: Save £4,260 (full commission)
- Online agent: Save £3,860-£4,160
- Cash buyer: Lose £45,000-£75,000 in reduced sale price
- Auction: Pay £6,000-£15,000 in fees but potentially achieve market value
What’s the Fastest Way to Sell Without Paying Estate Agent Fees?
Auctions provide the quickest route whilst potentially avoiding estate agent commissions, though you’ll face auction house fees ranging from 2-5%. The Modern Method of Auction transfers fees to buyers through reservation charges, BUT buyers will pay FAR LESS.
Property auctions suit sellers with unique or hard-to-value properties, though success isn’t guaranteed. As one Reddit user advised: “Stick it in an auction. Someone will buy it. There will be fees to pay, of course, but fast, securely, and cheap, do not all work together”.
Which Method Gives You the Highest Net Proceeds?
The method yielding the highest net proceeds depends on your property’s marketability and your selling timeline. Well-presented properties in desirable areas often achieve the best results through traditional or online estate agents, even after fees. Properties requiring quick sales or those with complications may benefit more from alternative routes.
Problem-solving scenario: James from Leicester inherited a property requiring significant repairs whilst managing a job relocation deadline. Traditional estate agents quoted lengthy timescales and substantial fees, whilst cash buyers offered worryingly low figures. Property Saviour’s guaranteed sale programme provided James with a fair offer and completion certainty, allowing him to plan his move with confidence rather than worry about protracted sales processes.
Are There Hidden Costs in Fee-Free House Sales?
“Fee-free” selling methods often involve hidden costs or trade-offs. Private sales require significant time investment, whilst cash buyers reduce your sale price substantially. Even online agents may charge for essential services like professional photography or Energy Performance Certificates.
Legal fees remain constant regardless of selling method, typically ranging from £500-£1,500 for conveyancing. Factor in potential survey costs, searches, and completion delays when calculating true selling costs.
Why Property Saviour Beats Estate Agents & Auctions for Guaranteed Quick Sale?
Estate agents promise the world but deliver uncertainty, charging hefty commission fees of up to 3.5% whilst your property languishes on the market for months with no guarantee of sale. Even when they do find a buyer, chains collapse, surveys reveal problems, and gazumping leaves you back at square one – all whilst you’ve already committed to their expensive fees. Auctions might seem faster, but they come with their own costly gamble: upfront fees of £500-£2,000 with no certainty your property will even sell, and if it doesn’t reach reserve, you’re left with a bill and no sale.
Property Saviour cuts through this frustration with a genuinely different approach. We provide a guaranteed sale with a fixed completion date that you choose, eliminating the stress and uncertainty that plagues traditional selling methods. There are no estate agent commissions to pay, no auction fees to worry about, and no risk of your sale falling through at the last minute. We buy your property directly, meaning you deal with serious buyers who have the funds ready and the commitment to complete.
When you need certainty rather than empty promises, Property Saviour delivers where others fail. Whether you’re facing repossession, need to relocate quickly, or simply want to avoid the costly uncertainty of traditional selling routes, our guaranteed sale service provides the peace of mind you deserve. We’ve helped countless sellers escape the endless cycle of viewings, failed sales, and mounting fees that come with conventional selling methods.
Don’t let estate agents and auction houses gamble with your future whilst charging you for the privilege. Request a callback today to discover how Property Saviour can guarantee your sale with the speed and certainty you need, without the fees that drain your proceeds.
Sell with certainty & speed
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
