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FAQ
GENERAL
1. What makes you different to estate agents?
We do not charge commission based on a percentage of the price of the property, you simply pay a one off fee to advertise your property, potentially saving thousands of pounds in agents' fees. You arrange viewings of the property to suit you, and negotiate directly with a potential buyer/tenant.
Estate Agents are appointed to represent the interests of one particular party (the vendor) against the interests of the other party (the buyer) and to negotiate the sale on behalf of the vendor. We are not estate agents, we merely facilitate the private advertising of property and therefore act for neither the seller or buyer. We do not take part in negotiations or act on anyones behalf.
SELLERS
1. I have already signed an agreement with an estate agent!
This should not matter, as advertising with a private sales service such as ours does not contravene the most common form of Estate Agents contract. If you have signed a multi-agency agreement you are entitled to sell your house with any other agent or private sales service. If you have signed a sole agency agreement you will still have to pay full commission if you sell your house through another estate agent but you should NOT pay a commission if you sell through this site because we are not agents. However, we strongly recommend that you consult with the estate agent (preferably before signing their agreement) before making a decision whether or not to advertise using this site.
We are not aware of any estate agents in Guernsey that use any other type of agreement but you must check your contract thoroughly. If the contract is for sole agency or multi agency you may advertise with us without affecting these agreements. If your contract is for 'sole selling rights' it means that your estate agents can charge you full commission even if they have no part in the selling of your property.
Estate Agents offer a valuable service and have every right to charge for that service. However, a 'sole seller' agreement is - in our opinion – an unfair way of charging. After all, what incentive does an estate agent have knowing that they will receive their commission no matter who sells the house?
2. Should I tell my Estate Agent?
We suggest that you should tell your estate agent if you are advertising your property on a private sales website. This may avoid any misunderstanding regarding commission when the property sells. It may also incentivise them to advertise your property more aggressively if they know that they will lose commission if they are not the ones to introduce the buyer.
3. Is it OK to also register my house with an estate agent?
Yes. Estate Agents offer a valuable service. They often handle:
- measuring and describing your house
- valuation
- advertising
- viewings
- collecting documents (from you)
- collecting feedback from viewings
- passing offers backwards and forwards
- holding deposits
- selling mortgages
- passing messages between you, the buyer and the appointed advocates
- documenting progress
You don't have to use an estate agent - anyone may sell their property privately. There is no legal requirement to prevent you from providing any of the above services yourself. You simply have to consider whether the commission the estate agent charges is worthwhile in relation to the services they will provide. But please check their contract first!
4. How long is my advert valid for?
We keep the advert on the site until the property is sold (or rented). We reserve the right to remove any advertised property at any time by returning any payment made.
5. Am I allowed to make changes to my property's details?
Of course. All you need to do is contact us with the details and we'll do the rest
6. Should I appoint an advocate to sell my property?
You do need conditions of sale to be drafted by an advocate but it is not necessary to appoint a legal adviser to conduct the actual transaction, although some vendors do opt for this service. It makes sense to appoint an advocate early on in the process and make sure they are happy to be involved in a private sale. It is also worth clarifying their involvement - for example, in the absence of an estate agent are you comfortable negotiating a price with a prospective buyer? If not and you do not want to impose on your friends, you may wish your advocate to assume that role.
7. I don't want my telephone number or email advertised on the site
OK. You can either set up a new email account solely for selling your house which you can then ignore once your property has sold or you may request that only the guernseypropertyhub email is displayed and we will liaise with you. If you do not want your telephone number displayed please inform Guernsey Property Hub, but please still supply your phone number in case we need to contact you. If a buyer contacts you by email you may want to ask them to supply their phone number before contacting them.
8. How do I value my property?
We advise getting a valuation from a suitably qualified person. Many estate agents offer free no obligation valuations. We also recommend that you seek several different valuations before deciding on a sale price.
9. I'm not confident negotiating a price with a buyer, what can I do?
Ask a friend or family member to act as go between, they can then liaise between you and the buyer avoiding any uncomfortable situations. Alternatively insist it is done by email or perhaps even ask your advocate if he will act as go between.
10. I have accepted an offer on my property what do I do now?
You should advise your legal adviser so that they can draft conditions of sale for you and act for you if you choose.
BUYERS
1. My offer has been accepted on a property, what do I do now?
We advise you to appoint an advocate to liaise with the vendor/vendor's advocate.
2. I need a mortgage, which one is best for me?
Most banks offer mortgages but it is best to visit an independent broker who will be able to shop around for you and advise you of the mortgage best suited to you.
3. Do I need a survey?
We recommend that you get one carried out on the property before you sign conditions of sale. There are 3 different types: a valuation, a HomeBuyer's and a full structural survey. Most people opt for a HomeBuyer's survey but it is best to speak to a surveyor about the various options.
4. When do I get the keys to the house?
Once you are happy with the survey and your finances are in place, the advocate will normally recommend you sign the conditions of sale. This is a binding contract and a deposit is payable (between 5-10% of the purchase price) at the time. A completion date will be set for when both you and the vendor go to court, normally a few weeks after the signing of the conditions, at which point you will receive the keys to your new home. Once the deposit has been paid, you can start packing!
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