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Eight or Nine Estate Agents, but Still No Offers? A Guide for Overseas Owners Selling in London

Oct 16
3 min read

By Kenneth, Sales Manager at SJW UK Properties

If your property is already listed with eight or nine estate agents, why is there still so little interest? For overseas owners selling a home in the UK, it is a question worth examining.


London residential street. Illustrative photograph. Bruce Mars / Freerange Stock. CC0 public domain.

Does using more agents mean reaching more buyers?

Some overseas owners selling a UK property follow an approach familiar from Hong Kong: instruct several estate agents, on the assumption that each additional agent brings a separate pool of buyers and a better chance of a sale.

But the two resale markets work differently. UK buyers can search for properties through portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla. Having the same home listed by several agents does not necessarily multiply the number of buyers who see it.

Zoopla’s selling guide also notes that, as agents increasingly advertise on property portals, appointing multiple agents simply to gain exposure has become less necessary.


Why might more agents not mean more marketing?

The other question is how much resource each agent is willing to commit.

Imagine a property instructed to ten agents. Each may spend time and money on marketing, viewings and buyer follow-up. Under a typical multi-agency arrangement, only the agent who secures the sale earns the commission, subject to the terms of the agreement.

Agents have finite time and staff, and must decide which properties to prioritise. Professional photography, video production, paid advertising, introductions to existing buyers and ongoing follow-up all require investment.

If another agent ultimately makes the sale, that investment may not be recovered. This uncertainty can affect how some agents allocate their resources.

More agents therefore do not necessarily mean a stronger marketing effort. A property can be listed in several places while receiving little sustained attention.



What should you check if a property has been on the market for months?

This is not to say that multi-agency is always a poor choice. In some circumstances, different agents can bring additional buyers.

But if a property has attracted few enquiries or viewings after several months, the problem may not be the number of agents.

Is the asking price out of step with the market? Is the marketing effective? Is something about the property making buyers hesitate? Or is demand for this type of home currently limited?

There can be many reasons for a slow sale. The priority is to identify the underlying problem, rather than simply appointing more agents or repeatedly cutting the price.


What should an experienced estate agent contribute?

An experienced estate agent should offer more than an upload to Rightmove.

Their value lies in bringing together market evidence, viewing feedback, buyer comments and comparable transactions to understand where the sale is getting stuck, then proposing a targeted response.

Does the pricing need reviewing? Could the photography and video present the home more effectively? Should the target audience or marketing approach change? Those decisions should be informed by actual feedback.

Identifying the problem is the first step towards resolving it.


Selling a London property from overseas: how can SJW help?

SJW UK Properties provides UK residential buying and resale services for overseas owners, including the sale of London resale apartments, owner-occupied homes and investment properties. If you are preparing to sell, or your listing has attracted limited interest, contact us to discuss pricing, marketing, viewings and buyer feedback for your property.


Can I instruct SJW to sell my London property while I am overseas?

Yes. Contact us to discuss an instruction and viewing arrangements. The scope of services, fees and transaction arrangements will be subject to the agreed agency contract.


Should I appoint more agents if my UK property is not selling?

First review the asking price, exposure, viewing numbers and buyer feedback. Then consider whether the marketing or agency arrangements need changing, while checking your existing agency agreement.


For enquiries about selling your London property, please contact SJW UK Properties.

WhatsApp: +44 7707 807296


SJW UK Properties is the trading brand of SJW UK Property Investment Ltd. Based in the City of London, the company specialises in UK residential property, with core service areas covering London and Cambridge.


For general information only, not legal or financial advice. Agency terms and commission liabilities depend on your agreement.


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