What to look for when choosing a Hove estate agent, how to think about pricing, and the typical timeline from listing to completion.
Selling a property in Hove is straightforward in a strong market and harder in a quiet one, but the fundamentals of choosing well and pricing accurately apply in either. Most sellers underestimate how much the agent and the asking price matter relative to the property itself.
Most Hove properties sell through a sole agent — one agent with exclusive rights to market the property, typically for a fixed initial period of 6–12 weeks. Sole agency fees are lower (usually 1–1.5% + VAT) and the agent has full commitment to your property. Multi-agency means instructing two or more agents simultaneously; only the selling agent earns a fee, but combined fees are higher (typically 2–3.5% + VAT) and agents have less incentive to invest time when their competitors might close the deal.
Multi-agency is usually only worth considering if a sole agent has had the property for several weeks without acceptable offers, or if the property is unusual enough to benefit from multiple networks.
Don't just pick the agent who quotes the highest valuation or the lowest fee. High valuations are sometimes used to win instructions and then managed down with suggested price reductions a few weeks in. Ask each agent to show you comparable sales they've achieved recently, not just properties they've marketed.
What to ask:
The first two weeks of a property's marketing life generate more interest than any other period. Coming in at the right price matters more than adjusting it downward later. A property that sits on the market for 6–8 weeks attracts scrutiny — buyers wonder what's wrong with it, even if the only issue was the price.
Research sold prices on Rightmove and Land Registry for genuine comparable properties — same street or nearby streets, same property type, similar size and condition, sold in the last 6–12 months. Adjust for any material differences and cross-check against what's currently available to buy. If three similar properties are for sale at £475,000, pricing yours at £490,000 means it needs to be meaningfully better to attract viewings over the others.
Professional photography is standard; some agents include it in their fee, others charge extra. It's worth having regardless. Declutter before photos and viewings — buyers struggle to see past furniture and personal items, and the investment of a few hours tidying before launch makes a real difference. Consider whether any cosmetic work (fresh paint in neutral colours, professional clean, garden tidy) is worth doing before listing.
Instruct a conveyancing solicitor as soon as you decide to sell, not after you accept an offer. Your solicitor will need to prepare the title deeds, get copies from the Land Registry, and prepare the seller's property information forms — starting this early compresses the time between offer and exchange. Delays in providing information are one of the most common reasons sales take longer than necessary or fall through.
A typical Hove sale from listing to completion takes 12–20 weeks, of which the listing-to-offer period varies enormously and the offer-to-exchange period is usually 8–12 weeks for a straightforward chain. Leasehold properties typically take longer due to the additional legal work involved in obtaining management information.
Chains are the main variable. A sale to a first-time buyer with a mortgage agreed in principle is faster and more certain than a sale to someone who hasn't yet found their onward purchase. When comparing offers, factor in the buyer's position, not just the number.
Use our free valuation tool for an initial sense of what your property type is currently worth in Hove before you start approaching agents.
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