Frequently asked questions

A: Our standard service costs £40, our multi-list service costs £95 (whatever the sale value of the property), that's it. You simply pay a one-off fee, unless you decide to upgrade your present ad. to another service. There are no other charges whatsoever now or when the property is sold.

A: Don't worry - this is not a problem.

The use of Period Property UK does not affect the most common form of estate agents contract (Sole Agency). Under a standard sole agency agreement, you would not have to pay commission to a sole agent if you find your own buyer privately through advertising your property through us. By using us you could save money and multiply your chances of selling your home quickly.

Please note, please check your agent's contract carefully. A 'sole agency' agreement refers to other estate agents, rather than publishers like us. A "Sole Selling Rights" contract would allow the agent to charge you commission whoever you sell to, even if they don't introduce the buyer.

A: Most period property owners do not realise that a standard Sole Agency agreement does not affect their right to sell the property privately. Your Estate agent is entitled to commission only if it sells your property, or if a buyer is introduced by another estate agent during the period of the sole agency. However, if you find a buyer using private advertising through one of Period Property UK's self-advertising packages then you won't be liable to pay any agent's commission.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) website has further information on "Using an estate agent - selling a property", or you can order their Consumer Advice Leaflet OFT157 by calling 0870 6060321

A: In our opinion it is only common courtesy to inform your estate agent that you intend to advertise privately as well as use them. Good communication helps to avoid misunderstanding over commission at a later date and has the added advantage of helping to incentivise your agent to marketing your property more effectively because they know they will not get paid if they don't introduce your final buyer.

A: Yes, of course you can.

Estate agents can take on many of the administrative and mundane jobs off your hands, as well as offering advice, acting as a go-between for you and your potential buyer(s). They may offer a number of benefits to the selling process such as:

But, when you think about it, the reality of selling and buying a property is that you are gradually drawn into and undertaking many of these tasks. Indeed, some people argue that by cutting the number of people involved in the line of communication you help to provide clearer, more direct and faster communication. Remember, the law does not require any of the items listed above to be carried out by an estate agent or indeed any other professional.

When you accept a buyer's offer, you just pass the details straight to your solicitor, who will do the necessary legal work.

A: Yes.

We have a simple to use online editing facility providing you with instant access to your own property details so that you can amend the published details directly, any time, 24 hrs a day. You have direct control to change the asking price of your property, update your description, select different contact details e.g. change email address of telephone number, but if you need help simply email us with the changes and we will amend your details quickly and efficiently.

A: All advertisers' ads appear on Period Property UK once the online payment has been made. For those advertisers who choose our premium service, which attracts half a million house hunters each month, your ad. is posted on Period Property UK immediately, followed by around 2-3 working days for it to become available on our partner network.

A: There is no time limit on the period of advertising. But, you will receive an email from us periodically asking you to review or modify your ad in some small way to ensure that it continues to appear on Period Property UK and our partner network. Those ads which are not renewed or modified are then deleted. This helps to remove properties from the site which have been sold.

A: Period Property UK advertises in a variety of publications such as Period House magazine and appears regularly in the press in articles concerning the buying and selling of period properties. In addition, we have links with many of the UK's leading websites which deal with period properties, as well as leading search engines such a Google where we appear as number one for the search criteria 'period property'. Finally, through our link with Fish4Homes, properties advertised with us are promoted with numerous affiliate sites e.g. channel4/4 homes which has extensively advertised on TV in conjunction with programmes such Location, Location, Location.

A: Yes.

Buyers can use our auto-notifier to receive emails alerting them to new properties appearing on the site or individual homes which meet their search criteria. By posting your property for sale on Period Property UK your home could be emailed to hundreds of potential buyers as soon as it goes live.

A: If a service or product was of true value would the provider be providing it free of charge? No, of course not. Many individuals use the 'free listing' carrot as a way of building a portfolio of homes on the web. Then when commercial reality 'bites' they gradually become defunct as they realise that like any successful business they require income to provide a quality service and deliver genuine enquires.

A: If at any time Period Property UK's agreement to place properties for sale on an affiliated website is terminated an individual advertiser's ad will cease to be displayed on the affiliated site. If Period Property UK establishes a new or alternative agreement with another affiliated website, then new and existing Multi-Listed ads will be placed with that website.