Online agency HouseSimple is introducing a High Street agency style No Sale-No Fee option for vendors, with a reduced fee if they choose to use the firm’s recommended conveyancer and mortgage providers. Online agents have long been criticised for in theory saving money for sellers but in practice taking up-front and/or fixed fees which the vendor had to pay, even if a property did not sell. Some onliners have changed their model to include No Sale-No Fee options and now HouseSimple has followed suit with a charge of £795 including VAT. This will run alongside its existing £395 including VAT fixed fee option, where the fee is payable on completion of the sale or after 12 months. It replaces the Pay-as-you-Go fee option, which HouseSimple trialled last year. However, to qualify for the £795 fee option a vendor would need to use both a conveyancer and a mortgage provider recommended by HouseSimple. If the vendor uses one or the other - but not both - the fee is £895, and £995 if they use their own conveyancer and mortgage broker. All fees are including VAT. “We have introduced the No Sale No Fee model because we recognize this is a structure that the British public are familiar and comfortable with. For people who have never sold a property online before, there is always likely to be a degree of uncertainty about paying up front. It’s understandable for them to think, if I pay my money upfront, how committed will they be to selling my house?” admits the agent’s chief executive, Alex Gosling.
Online estate agency HouseSimple is launching a new “ No Sale - No Fee ” option for vendors . In a move towards aligning their online business model with more traditional high street practices , HouseSimple will replace their Pay - as - you - Go pricing option with a new fee of £ 795 + VAT , which will be offered alongside their existing £ 395 + VAT fixed fee option payable on completion of the sale or after twelve months . However , there are strings attached : the £ 795 + VAT fee jumps to £ 895 + € if vendors decline to use one or the other of the firm ’s recommended mortgage provider and conveyancer , and £ 995 + VAT is payable if vendors choose not to use either of the pricing options .