Thinking of changing your estate agent this autumn?
If your home has been sitting on the market with no progress, you’re not stuck. Switching estate agents is easier than you think if you understand your contract and prepare properly. Here’s the truth, the timelines and the process to relaunch with impact.
You can already feel it. The frustration of watching weeks turn into months, the silence after another viewing, the sense that your sale has drifted off course. You don’t need more platitudes; you need movement, and sometimes movement starts with a simple question: Is it time to switch agents?
Why sellers hesitate
Most sellers assume changing agents is messy, complicated or risky. The truth? It’s usually straightforward, but only if you understand your contract. Most agreements include:
• Tie-in period: typically 4–12 weeks, sometimes longer.
• Notice period: usually 2–4 weeks, even after the tie-in ends.
• Type of contract: “sole agency” is common, but “sole selling rights” can be more restrictive.
That small print catches many sellers out, as you may think your contract is finished, but without serving formal notice, you’re still tied in. Worse, switching without clarity can expose you to dual fees, paying two agents for the same buyer.
Why switching matters
Around half of the properties listed never make it all the way to exchange. That’s not scaremongering; it’s reality once delays and fall-throughs hit. If your property has gone stale, no fresh strategy, sporadic updates, reductions with little to show, the worst option is to keep waiting. Doing nothing isn’t neutral; it’s costly.
There’s also a myth that “most” homes sell with the second agent, and the difference isn’t who the agent is, but how the relaunch is done. A smart reset, sharper marketing, stronger communication,and a demand-led plan can flip a stuck sale into real momentum.
The step-by-step process to change agents
1. Check your contract terms
Find out exactly when your tie-in and notice period end. Clarify whether you’ve got sole agency or sole selling rights.
2. Serve written notice
Email or letter and request written confirmation of your end date. This avoids disputes and dual-fee risks.
3. Use your notice period wisely
While the clock runs down, prepare everything: new photography, film, copy, floor plans, EPC. We’ll also pre-launch your property to our active buyers to build demand.
4. Audit what’s not working
Review feedback, portal performance and market conditions. Is it a price? Presentation? Promotion? This diagnosis shapes your relaunch strategy.
5. Rebuild the story
Fresh visuals, sharper copy, repositioned messaging, all designed to present your home as new to market, not tired stock.
6. Relaunch with intent
On switchover day, the old listing is withdrawn and the new campaign goes live. We lead with our database first, then push to portals. The aim: fresh attention, immediate enquiries, no baggage.
If you’re still mid tie-in
Don’t panic. Push your current agent. Ask for their next 14-day plan, communication schedule, and precise actions. If they can’t give you one, serve notice now to avoid being stuck later. Just don’t double-market under a sole agency contract without written permission, no drama, no surprises.
The real reset
Switching agents isn’t about starting again from scratch. It’s about taking back control with the right prep, the notice period becomes your launchpad, not dead time and with the right strategy, the relaunch creates urgency and fresh demand rather than recycling what hasn’t worked.
Here’s the step that matters most: book a call. We’ll review your contract, map your notice and give you a straight answer on price, presentation and promotion. Together, we’ll build a launch strategy backed by data, not guesswork, one that moves you from stuck to sold with precision and pace.
If you’re serious about changing the story of your sale, this is your moment. Let’s get the clock working for you, not against you, request a meeting with us.
