Selling your home without an estate agent is legal, common and can save you a lot. On a £200,000 home, a high street agent charging 1.2% to 1.8% including VAT would cost £2,400 to £3,600. Selling privately means you keep that money, in exchange for doing some of the work yourself.
Here's how to do it, step by step.
1. Get your EPC sorted first
You need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before you put your home on the market. An EPC lasts 10 years, so check whether you already have one on the GOV.UK EPC register. If not, a local assessor can usually visit within a few days. HownIt asks for your EPC when you list, so having it ready saves time.
2. Work out a realistic price
Price is the biggest factor in how quickly you sell. Look at what similar homes on your street and nearby have actually sold for, not what they were advertised at. HM Land Registry sold prices are free to search, and you can book a valuation from a local agent or a surveyor if you want a second opinion. Pricing slightly too high is the most common reason private sales stall.
3. Choose a conveyancer early
You'll need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle the legal side, whether you use an agent or not. Get quotes from two or three local firms and instruct one before you accept an offer. They'll send you the property information forms to fill in, which saves weeks later.
4. Make your listing stand out
- Take photos in daylight, with lights on, after a tidy up. Shoot from doorways to show the size of each room.
- Write a description that says what buyers want to know: bedrooms, parking, garden, schools, transport links and anything recently updated.
- Be honest. Leaving out a known problem can cause trouble later in the sale.
On HownIt, listing is free and every listing is checked by our team before it goes live.
5. Handle enquiries and viewings safely
Keep early conversations in HownIt's secure messages, so you don't need to share your phone number until you're ready. For viewings, have someone else at home with you, keep valuables out of sight, and confirm each appointment the day before.
6. Check offers properly
Before you accept an offer, ask the buyer:
- Are they a cash buyer, or do they have a mortgage agreement in principle?
- Do they have a home to sell first? If so, is it already under offer?
- Who is their solicitor?
A slightly lower offer from a buyer who is ready to go can be worth more than a higher one with a long chain behind it.
7. Agree the sale and let the solicitors take over
Once you accept, mark your listing as Sold STC (subject to contract) and pass both sides' solicitor details to each other. From here, the conveyancers handle searches, contracts and the exchange date. Stay in touch with your buyer and reply quickly to your solicitor's questions: it's the best way to keep things moving.
Is selling privately right for you?
It suits people who are happy to show buyers round and talk to them directly. If you'd rather hand that over, an agent may suit you better. Our estate agent or private sale guide sets out the costs and trade-offs side by side.
Ready to try it? List your home free on HownIt.
