Below are some of the most common questions asked. Either select a link from the list below, or scroll further down and read the entire document. If anything doesn’t make sense then don’t hesitate to get in touch via our email form.
Estate Agents and selling privately
1. Can I sell privately as well as through an estate agent?
2. Should I tell my Estate Agent?
3. Where can I get more information on the legal aspect of selling through agents and privately?
Your property information
1. How much information can I add?
2. How do I add photos?
3. How many photos can I add?
4. Is my information secure?
5. I’ve SOLD - how do I delete my property?
6. Why is www.buyitprivately.com so cheap?
7. What are credits?
Portal Pack
1. What is a portal?
2. What is the Portal Pack?
3. What portals are used?
4. What level of enquiries can I expect from the Portal Pack?
5. How long does it last?
6. What does it cost?
Managing enquiries
1. How do I receive enquiries?
2. How do I vet potential purchasers?
The site and its management
1. Who runs www.buyitprivately.com?
2. How often is it updated?
3. I am waiting for my record to be added. How long will it take?
Buying a property
1. I am trying to make contact with a seller but they are not responding. What do I do?
2. Can I negotiate with the vendor?
3. How does dealing with a private seller differ from dealing with someone selling through an estate agent?
Estate Agents and selling privately
1. Can I sell privately as well as through an estate agent?
Yes, you can. Most people sign what is called a ‘Sole Agency’ or ‘Multiple Agency’ agreement - check your documents. This (according to the Office of Fair Trading) permits you to seek a buyer privately - and if you sell privately then you shouldn’t have to pay any agency commission. (Some agents may try and charge you what they’ve spent on advertising, but this is not common.)
However in the unlikely event you have signed a ‘Sole Selling’ agreement (don’t confuse this with Sole Agency) then you won’t. Check the agreement.
Some people choose to sell both privately AND through an Estate Agent to ensure that they have the whole market covered. If you are selling privately (and not through an Estate Agent) we strongly advise you to purchase our Portal Pack (more on this later) to ensure maximum exposure. The Portal Pack gives you some of the marketing power of the Estate Agent.
Important note:Buyitprivately.com is a classified advertising site - it is not an estate agent. Buyers and sellers liase directly, we do not intervene. We offer no estate agency services.
2. Should I tell my Estate Agent?
You can sell privately as well as use an estate agent. That said, we recommend that you inform your estate agent that you wish to sell privately through the internet. Gain their agreement and try and get that in writing. This will prevent any future disagreements. Be sure to point out that Buyitprivately.com is a classified advertising site.
3. Where can I get more information on the legal aspect of selling through agents and privately?
The Office of Fair Trading has produced this useful webpage: which clearly lays out the legal aspects of selling your property. If you are still concerned then check the small print of your agreement.
Your property information
1. How much information can I add?
We advise advertisers to keep their copy as succinct and punchy as possible. You do not need to enter a vast amount of information to get enquiries. In fact, less is often more - you will find that interested parties will email their questions to you and the lines of communication will open. On the other hand, make sure that all the relevant information is in place.
You can add photos when you register your property. You an upload them yourself using our easy to use tools.
Free listings - one main photo and thumbnail.
Standard listings and Portals and More: ip to five: one thumbnail, and five main photos.
Your email address is kept hidden from purchasers, so that you can decide whether to make contact or not. At no point is your email address disclosed to others, unless you want to.
We only reveal decriptive information relating to your property. Your personal details are not revealed.
5. I’ve SOLD - how do I delete my property?
Simply log into the system, and mark your propery as SOLD. Do let us know when you sell through the site. We like to get feedback - with your help we can enhance the site for others.
6. Why is www.buyitprivately.com so inexpensive?
We aim to offer an excellent service for a reasonable price. We keep our overheads low, and we keep our prices low. The result: more properties, more choice and a more responsive and effective site.
We used to offer a credits system on www.buyitprivately.com - and those with older listings are still managed in this fashion. 1 credit = 1 enquiry. We now give unlimited credits with all new registrations. (Dated: Fri 26th Aug, 2005 13:24)
Portal Pack
By the term ‘Portal’ we are referring to the various general property websites on the internet. Sites such as Fish 4 Homes, Hot Property etc - sites that have the lion’s share of active property seekers. These portals feature Estate Agent properties as well as properties for sale. Between them, the portals handle several million visitors - a huge amount of exposure for the property seller.
Portal Pack is a term we have coined for the process of adding your property to all the afore mentioned Portals. When you purchase the Portal Pack your property is placed up onto the portals. Enquiries are directed back through www.buyitprivately.com and onto you. Click here for more information on the Portal Pack.
We use Fish4Homes, Hot Property, Top Of The Shops, Property Privately, Property Panther and more. These two portals supply property feeds to many other major sites like Channel 4. Please note that the list of portals supported is subject to change. Click here for a list of the properties used in the Portal Pack.
4. What level of enquiries can I expect from the Portal Pack?
With the level of exposure your property will be getting the response from the Portal Pack can often be surprising. If your property is priced effectively and pitched properly you can expect a good response.
We now list new registrants until they sell on the Portals.
Take a look at the home page. It is FREE to advertise on the site, and we make a small charge for listings that avail of our Portal Pack.
Managing enquiries
1. How do I receive enquiries?
You will be notified by email when a potential purchaser has enquired about your property. The email will prompt you to log into the site to retrieve the contact information. You decide whether you want to make contact. You have no obligation to make contact.
2. How do I vet potential purchasers?
Always tread carefully when dealing with strangers. A little email communication to start with. When you are convinced they are serious then perhaps communication over the telephone. Take their details and call them as opposed to the other way around.
The site and its management
1. Who runs Buyitprivately.com?
The site is run by internetics, a long established firm of internet professionals. With numerous property related products to their name, and several hundred clients, they have the experience and know-how to deliver a first class internet based service.
The site is updated daily, 24 hours a day.
3. I am waiting for my record to be added. How long will it take?
We process new registrations very quickly. You should appear on our site almost instantly. And on the Portals (usually) within one working day.
Buying a property
1. I am trying to make contact with a seller but they are not responding. What do I do?
There can be a number of reasons why someone doesn’t respond. It could be that they simply do not want to! It may be that the property has recently sold, but they haven’t taken it off the market. Perhaps they are on holiday? Most sellers will respond to buyers requests.
2. Can I negotiate with the vendor?
Theoretically you know that the seller is saving their Estate Agency fee in selling directly. However - this may be reflected in the pricing of the property. One of the reasons that people like to deal privately is that they feel they are getting more for their money - and this is often the case.
3. How does dealing with a private seller differ from dealing with someone selling through an estate agent?
You are dealing directly with the seller. So usually you won’t be faced with the usual Estate Agency hard sell. You can ask questions directly of the seller, put your offers directly to them. It is faster, more efficient and altogether a much more civilised way to purchase a house.
For our terms and conditions click here.
