Compare estate agents UK. Fees, valuations and track record, side by side.
How to compare estate agents in the UK in 2026: the six things that matter, how the comparison websites differ, and how to get competing valuations and fees from local agents on one screen. Anonymous until you choose. Free for sellers, with no cold calls.
What to compare when choosing an estate agent
Not all estate agents are equal. Here are the six things that actually matter. And what to watch out for.
Valuation accuracy
Does the agent's figure stack up against comparable sales in your area? Ask them to show you the evidence.
Tip: Beware of agents who give unusually high valuations to win your business. This often leads to price reductions later.
Marketing quality
Professional photography, detailed floor plans, and compelling property descriptions make a real difference to buyer enquiries.
Tip: Ask to see examples of their recent listings on Rightmove and Zoopla.
Local knowledge
An agent who is actively selling in your street or postcode will know the buyers, the price points, and the competition.
Tip: Check how many properties they've sold nearby in the last 6 months on platforms like Rightmove.
Communication
How quickly do they respond? Do they proactively update you? Poor communication is the number one complaint sellers have.
Tip: Test their response time before you sign. See how quickly they respond to your initial enquiry.
Fees and contract terms
Compare the full fee including VAT, tie-in periods, notice periods, and what is included (accompanied viewings, sale progression, etc.).
Tip: Ask about sole agency vs. multi-agency contracts and what happens if you want to switch.
Average time to sell
How long do their properties typically stay on the market before going under offer?
Tip: A quick average time to sell can indicate good pricing advice and strong buyer relationships.
How the estate agent comparison websites differ
Most comparison sites rank agents on what they did for other people's homes. ValuQ asks them what they would do for yours. Both are useful; they answer different questions.
| Site | What it compares | Based on | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| GetAgent | High-street agents' past performance in your postcode | Portal listings and Land Registry sales data | A shortlist of agents ranked on time to sell and asking price achieved |
| Which? Compare Estate Agents | The same performance shortlist, under the Which? brand | GetAgent's data | A shortlist of high-street agents |
| HomeOwners Alliance Agent Finder | Branch performance on homes like yours | Performance data across 18,000+ branches | Local branches compared on similar sales |
| easyProperty | High-street and online agents together | Fees, reviews and sold data | Proposals and fees to compare |
| ValuQ | Local agents' written valuations, fees and marketing plans for your home | Each agent's own response to your anonymous brief, within 48 working hours | Competing valuations and fees on one screen; you choose who to contact |
All five are free for sellers. Descriptions are taken from each site's own pages.
The four fee structures at a glance
Most sellers compare the headline percentage and stop there. The fee structure matters more than the rate. These are the four main fee models, what each one really costs, and when each one makes sense.
Sole agency
Most commonTie-in periods. Some are eight weeks, some sixteen. Ask what the contract says before you sign, and what the notice period is if you want to switch.
Multi-agency
Wider exposureThe higher rate is the trade-off for the wider reach. Worth it on a stuck property. Expensive on one that would have sold quickly anyway.
Online / hybrid flat-fee
Fixed priceThe fee is yours whether the property sells or not. Read the small print on accompanied viewings, floor plans, sale progression, and any 'extras' that lift the headline price.
No-sale-no-fee
Risk shifts to agentThe percentage tends to sit at the upper end of sole-agency rates. It is sole agency with a different risk shape, not a free lunch.
Before you sign, ask these four questions
- 1Is VAT included in the fee you just quoted me, or added on top?
- 2What is the tie-in period, and what happens if I want to switch agents?
- 3Are accompanied viewings, the floor plan, and sale progression included, or extra?
- 4If I withdraw the property before any offer is accepted, do I owe anything?
For a deeper read on how fees work and how to negotiate them, see our full guide to estate agent fees in the UK.
4 mistakes sellers make when choosing an agent
These cost UK sellers thousands of pounds every year. And some of them break the Estate Agents Act 1979.
Choosing the agent with the highest valuation
High valuations win instructions. It is a well-known tactic. If a property is overpriced it sits, goes stale, and sells for less.
Not comparing fees properly
A 0.5% difference in fee on a £400,000 home is £2,000. Always compare what is included, not just the headline rate.
Signing a long tie-in period without a review clause
Some agents lock you in for 12+ weeks. If things aren't going well, you need a way out. Read the contract carefully.
Only speaking to one agent
One agent's view is just one opinion. Getting multiple valuations gives you a real picture of your home's worth.
ValuQ addresses all four. Agents compete, you stay anonymous, and you only connect with the one you choose.
Get competing agent valuationsEstate agent comparison. Your questions answered
How do I compare estate agents in the UK?
To compare estate agents in the UK, you should: get valuations from at least 3 local agents, compare their fees (typically 1–1.5% plus VAT for sole agency), ask about their marketing approach and which portals they use, check their sold history and average time to sell, and look at their local market knowledge. ValuQ makes this easy. Local agents compete for your instruction and submit their valuations and approach without you having to contact each one individually.
What should I look for when choosing an estate agent?
When choosing an estate agent to sell your property, look for: local market knowledge and recent sold properties nearby, realistic and well-reasoned valuations (not just the highest figure), clear fee structure with no hidden charges, strong photography and marketing approach, responsiveness and communication style, and evidence they are actively selling in your area.
Which websites let you compare estate agents in the UK?
GetAgent, the Which? estate agent comparison tool (powered by GetAgent data), the HomeOwners Alliance agent finder and easyProperty compare agents on past performance: average time to sell, the share of the asking price achieved and recent local sales. ValuQ works the other way round: local agents send you a written valuation, their fee and their marketing plan for your specific home, and you compare those side by side on one screen while staying anonymous. All of these are free for sellers.
Should I pick the agent with the lowest fee?
The lowest fee is rarely the lowest total cost. A cheaper agent who undersells your home by 2% costs you more than an agent on a higher fee who gets the price right and runs a sharper sale. Compare what each agent will actually do to find a buyer (photography, portals, accompanied viewings, sale progression, communication) before you compare the percentage. Then decide whether the difference in fee is worth the difference in service.
Is no-sale-no-fee always better?
Not automatically. No-sale-no-fee shifts the risk to the agent, but agents price that risk into the percentage. The headline rate tends to sit at the upper end of the sole-agency range. If your home would have sold quickly anyway, a standard sole-agency contract is often cheaper. The model makes more sense on a property that has already stalled, or in a slower-moving local market.
Should I go with the agent who gives the highest valuation?
Not necessarily. Some agents deliberately give high valuations to win your instruction, then advise price reductions after a few weeks on the market. This is called "overvaluing" and it is one of the most common mistakes sellers make. Always ask agents to justify their valuation with comparable sold properties in your area. The most important factor is choosing the agent with the best local knowledge, marketing approach, and communication. Not just the highest number.
How many estate agents should I get quotes from?
You should get valuations from at least 3 estate agents before choosing who to list with. This gives you a realistic picture of what your home is worth and lets you compare approaches and fees. ValuQ sends your property brief to multiple local agents simultaneously, so you can compare valuations from several agents without having to arrange separate appointments with each one.
Compare estate agents in your city
Side-by-side comparisons for cities across the UK. See fees, valuations and contract terms from real local agents.
Insights
Latest from ValuQ Insights
Plain-English answers on UK property selling, buying, and what just changed in the market.
Mortgage rates just hit 6%. Should I still sell this autumn?
Yes, if you have a real reason to move, because a 6% mortgage market does not stop homes selling; it changes what buyers can pay and how carefully you need to price. On 5 October 2026 Moneyfacts put the average five-year fix at 6.00%, and on our working the same monthly budget now borrows about 10% less than it did in February, so the sellers who do well this autumn are the ones who price to today's buyer rather than last spring's.
What should I do before an estate agent values my house?
Gather a short pack of facts about your home, tidy the rooms an agent will measure and photograph in their head, and decide what you want to ask before anyone arrives. A valuation is only as good as the information behind it, so an hour of preparation helps every agent give you a figure built on your home rather than a guess.
How far ahead should I get my house valued before selling?
Get your first valuations six to nine months before the date you want to move, then a fresh view in the month you list. Rightmove's September 2026 figures show an average of 64 days to find a buyer and a further 150 days to complete, about seven months in all, so a valuation taken late leaves you no time to plan around the number.