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Online Agent v Traditional Estate Agent

Tue 18 Dec 2018

Online Agent v Traditional Estate Agent

What ‘No Sale, No Fee’ Really Means

Traditional estate agents like ourselves seem to have stopped using the phrase "no sale, no fee", and this has allowed online only agents to gain a piece of the market.

So here is a little reminder of what "no sale, no fee" means as far as we are concerned.

At David Bailes, we are only paid by results. Irrespective of the time and money we have spent on professional photography, drawing floor plans, producing marketing materials, advertising, and all other expenses.

We only get paid if a sale is completed at a price that is acceptable to you. If you use our services, potentially the only upfront cost is for an energy performance certificate (which is valid for ten years), which may be paid direct to the assessor.

If for any reason you are not able to proceed with the sale or you simply change your mind, (provided you have not exchanged contracts), you will owe us exactly, nothing.

We’d encourage everyone to check the small print of the online only agents. Usually they want paying upfront, and will tie you in for a long period.

And here comes the biggest point.

As they have already been paid, there is little to no incentive for them to try very hard, or even agree a sale.

We see them simply as listing agents, rather than acting on your behalf to get the best price in the shortest possible time with the minimum of fuss.

Many predictions have been made about the demise of estate agents over the years, but we think we provide a valuable service as an "honest intermediary" between buyer and seller.

We've been trading here since 1980 and look forward to serving Derwentside and the surrounding areas for many years to come.

Thanks for reading,

PS: Whether you are selling, buying, letting or renting, we’re here to help. Call Richard and our team on 01207 231111 or email: info@davidbailes.co.uk for expert advice which is honest, accurate and informative.