BBC TV Show ‘Axing the Agent’ Helping Online Property Sales

One of the most established UK private sales websites reports 30% increase in sales compared to this time last year. This surprise leap in sales could well be a direct effect from a new desire for home sellers to avoid paying agents commission and the BBC TV show instructing them how to go it alone.

Presenters Gary McCausland and Jonny Benarr present the BBC morning TV show ’Axe the Agent’ where they show two sellers how to sell their homes without an agent. The experts, Gary McCausland and former estate agent Jonny Benarr, put the homeowners through their paces to help them achieve that elusive sale.

This week say one Little House Company seller contact the company with his story of satisfaction -- little wonder considering the service saved him over £5,000 in agent fees.

In the 515 word testimonial Mr Mitchell tells how he was one of the first FSBO sellers in the UK; having advertised his house in the window of the “Property Shop” when moving for work in the late 70’s. The property sold within 24 hours for £11,500, which was a profit of (£3500) around 42% on the £8,000 he had paid for it just 6 months earlier.
Explaining his dissatisfaction with agents since then Mr Mitchell continues:
"Sadly the idea did not blossom, and since then I have used agents over the decades. Our present home has been on and off the market since we bought it 13 years ago. We’ve never really been happy here and have tried various leading agents over that time.
“I always get frustrated with the lack of genuine interest in the vendor, and seemingly amateur advice to broker a deal. At 54 I’m old enough to be the Father of these people who have probably never bought a property.”

Mr Mitchell also explained that his property hadn’t sold on the Little House Company website at £315,000, but had sold within a week when he dropped the price to £265,000. This was just over 15% less than its estimated market value, which is very good going in the current climate. He finished with:
“So thank you, The Little House Company. You saved us a fortune!”
A Little House Company spokesperson said of the testimonial:
“This is exactly why we are advising all house sellers to add a clause to their estate agents contract, confirming that no agency commission is due on a private sale. This allows sellers the choice to try and sell their homes themselves and could also be an added incentive for an agent to work harder for their money.”

About The Little House Company:
The Little House Company was started in 2000, and is for private sellers only; offering them a commission free way to sell their property without using an estate agent. The website also contains a wealth of information to help its customers axe the agent, from information on HIPs to information on home-staging. The company recorded a 30% year on year increase in the use of its services in February 2009.

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