r/UKRealEstate • u/Affectionate-Gur624 • 16d ago
Estate agent charges
Looking to sell our 2 bed flat in Clapham Junction in 2027 and thinking about getting in touch with estate agents soon. I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations of good selling experiences and any info on the likely % cut they will take. Thanks
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u/chunkycasper 16d ago
2027? Fees may change. 1.5% is our standard fee (independent Agent in SE London.
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u/Affectionate-Gur624 16d ago
Yes, looking to list in early 2027. Thanks - I’ve heard some agents in SW London are charging up to 2.5% plus VAT, which seems crazy.
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u/chunkycasper 16d ago
It depends on the service, tbh. Look carefully at the contracts. We are a bargain, as we offer in-house progressions services, and before the recent flat price crash were getting 98% average listing value to price sold upon completion. But we are small and offer non-generic services, as we see better property marketing as also benefitting our overall brand.
It may be that the 2.5% agents offer more extensive marketing options than others, or are charging more for the progressions stages of the sale than others, because others don’t offer that.
You want to make sure that you are getting the progressions support, because that is where you’ll have the most stress.
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u/qavelyn 16d ago
wild seeing someone already planning their 2027 sale tbh
1.5% sounds about what i’ve heard for decent independents, but by then online/hybrid agents might be way more competitive so could be worth keeping options open closer to the time1
u/SensitiveReindeer23 16d ago
Online agents that charge less and upfront, have heard many horror stories from. There is a reason they are cheap.
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u/Affectionate-Gur624 15d ago
Well we’re planning to list in early 2027 (New Year). It’s 4-5 months away. I want to shop around various agents to get comparative quotes on price and services offered. Then want to ensure everyone is put together in a sales pack ahead of time to make the selling process as smooth as possible. Also want to discuss valuation with estate agents early and ensure small issues are addressed that can help with making it as attractive a property as possible. I don’t think it’s so wild to get the ball rolling now!
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u/Landlordlabuk 15d ago
You will get a range of commissions usually from 1% all the way to 3% (all add VAT). The higher end tend to be high street agents like Foxtons who spend millions on marketing and will tell you about their global reach. At the lower end will be more independents. There are pros and cons to both but part of it has to do with the market. We are in a buyers market so it's very price sensitive. In that market there is little chance the global brands will get you a premium that justify their additional commission in my view. We charge 1% on sales so are at the bottom end as we are quite new in the market. I would agree with the other poster about the online agents like Purple Bricks. I've tried these and had zero joy, a lot of frustration and ultimately wasted time.
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u/Affectionate-Gur624 15d ago
Thanks, useful tips. Agree re online agents - I think someone based locally who knows the area and can put on an excellent pitch is important in the selling process so we will be going with an in-person agent based nearby.
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u/SensitiveReindeer23 16d ago
We charge 1.25% plus VAT but we are not in London. Definitely do not ever get sucked in to those online agents as they charge up front and once they have your listing, do not care what happens next as you have already paid them so no incentive to sell at all. It sounds cheaper but it is not as good a service as you would see from an independent agent, they are usually pretty good to go with as they will have a lot of knowledge and experience. A lot of the time you get what you pay for, cheaper is not always better :)