There is no legal reason why you have to go through an Estate Agent. Once you've put in an offer and the seller has accepted, the rest of the process will be handled by your solicitor. Private sales now account for a sizable amount of the total sales in the UK, and this is increasing every year.

Buying a property directly from the seller has many benefits:

Savings

In some cases you can save money by buying directly from the owner. The owner may be more flexible on price because they are the saving on the commission. They may pass on part of that saving to you.

More information

The owner is better equipped than an Estate Agent to talk about their home. They may have lived there for many years and will know the neighbourhood, shops, restaurants, schools and transport links.

No middleman

The sale may be quicker without Estate Agents. You have direct contact with the owner. The negotiations are more transparent. No Chinese whispers between owner, agent and buyer. You will know the price the owner is willing to except and negotiate face to face. You can also tell the owner what you like and dislike about the property.

Less stress and pain

Moving home can be a very stressful event. Buying a home privately from the owner reduces some of that stress and you can organise viewings with the seller that are more convenient to you. Private sellers will often give you private viewings with no other buyers and you will get more time and space to view the property. You can also ask questions directly.

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