Selling your house privately with video

Selling your house privately appeals to more and more owners. The idea is simple: stay in control of your sale, set your own terms, and avoid agency fees. But selling alone takes time, rigour, and above all a presentation that stands out among hundreds of private listings. Here is how to go about it, and how video and social media can help you find a serious buyer.

Advantages and limits

Selling without an agent has real advantages:

• No agency fees, which can make your price more attractive or increase what you take home.
• Direct contact with buyers.
• Control over the timetable and the viewings.

But there are also limits not to underestimate:

• Everything rests on you: valuation, listing, distribution, viewings, negotiation.
• Less visibility: an agency has a buyer list and a shop window.
• Legal questions: surveys, preliminary contract, deadlines. The notary remains your best ally.

The key to a successful private sale is making up for the absence of an agency with a flawless presentation and distribution.

Setting the right price

It is the trickiest point when you sell alone. Without a professional's opinion, you tend to overvalue your house. A few reflexes:

1. Look at actual sales, not just online listings.
2. Ask for one or more valuations, even if you are selling without an agency.
3. Take your house's flaws into account with a clear eye.
4. Remember there are no agency fees: it is an argument for buyers, and a margin for you.

Creating a listing that stands out

On private sale websites, competition is fierce, and phone photos all look alike. To sell your house privately, you need to stand out.

• A clear title: type of property, town, highlight.
• A lively description that tells what life in the house is like, not just a list of rooms.
• Bright photos taken at the right time of day.
• A video, which immediately makes the difference against the neighbouring listings.

Sharing your video

A private seller does not have an agency's network. But they have access to the same social networks as everyone else. A well-built video, posted on Instagram and TikTok, can reach buyers far beyond your own circle.

To go further, you can entrust the distribution to accounts people already follow. The places filmed by AchMedia Real Estate have been seen by more than 100 million people, without paid advertising. It is a way to give your house visibility that no private listing can reach alone.

Our guide on selling your house on social media explains the method.

Handling viewings

Viewings are where everything is decided. A few tips:

• Qualify before the viewing: a quick call to check the buyer's project and budget.
• Group viewings into set time slots.
• Prepare a complete file: surveys, invoices for works, property tax, running costs.
• Let the buyer discover the house at their own pace, without commenting on every room.
• Don't negotiate during the viewing. Ask for a written offer.

A video beforehand saves precious time: those who come to view have already seen the house and are genuinely interested.

The documents to prepare

Selling privately means gathering the necessary documents yourself:

• The mandatory surveys, carried out by a certified surveyor.
• The title deed.
• The latest property tax notices.
• Invoices for major works.
• For a property in a co-ownership, the managing agent's documents: rules, service charges, minutes of general meetings.

The notary will tell you the exact list for your situation. It is best to gather everything before putting the house on the market: a reassured buyer moves faster.

Protecting yourself from scams

Selling alone sometimes exposes you to dubious approaches. A few reflexes:

1. Never give your bank details to a stranger.
2. Be wary of buyers who offer to buy without viewing, or who insist on paying by unusual means.
3. Check visitors' identity and avoid showing the house alone if possible.
4. Always go through a notary for the signing and the payment.

A genuine sale always follows the same path: viewing, written offer, preliminary contract at the notary's, final deed.

Negotiating without an agent

Negotiation is often the trickiest part when you sell alone. Set your floor price in advance, ask for offers in writing, take time to think before replying, and lean on your file to justify your price. Read our article on selling without lowering the price.

Replying to buyers like a professional

Selling without an agency does not exempt you from rigour. Buyers compare your house with those presented by professionals, and your responsiveness counts as much as your listing:

1. Reply the same day, even briefly, to keep the contact.
2. Prepare a digital file: film, photos, plans, surveys, running costs and taxes.
3. Ask two or three questions before the viewing: project, timing, financing.
4. Group viewings into the same slot, to save time and create momentum.
5. Send a message after each viewing, to get the buyer's feedback.

This organisation reassures serious buyers, who see they are dealing with a prepared seller. It also protects you from curiosity viewings, which tire you out without moving the sale forward. Read our article on replying to messages from prospects.

Knowing when to get help

Selling privately is entirely possible, but some situations justify support: an inheritance, a high-value property, foreign buyers, a difficult local market. You can also choose partial support: a notary to secure the sale, a professional for the video presentation, a surveyor for the documents. What matters is not facing alone the steps you are less comfortable with.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to sell your house privately?

Yes, absolutely. The sale is then formalised with a notary, who in particular handles the final deed. The mandatory surveys remain your responsibility.

Do you need a preliminary contract?

The preliminary contract or promise of sale is a common step before the final deed. It is advisable to have it drawn up by a notary to avoid mistakes.

Is video useful for a simple house?

Yes. It helps you stand out from other private listings, often illustrated with phone photos.

Can you combine a private sale with an agency?

Yes, some owners start alone and then give a listing to an agency if the sale drags on. Either way, a film remains useful.

Can you hire a professional just for the video?

Yes. Many private sellers entrust only the film and its distribution to professionals, while handling the viewings and the negotiation themselves.

How long does a private sale take?

It depends on the price, the property and the presentation. A video and wide distribution help shorten it.

And your sale?

Selling alone and want to stand out? Discover how we can help on our Sell your property page, read our guide on how to sell your house faster, and let's talk about it in 20 minutes.