Once you've found the estate agent(s) you want to use, you'll need to sign up to a contract. Make sure you read the agreement terms and the small print in detail and question anything you're unsure about. We explain the different types of contracts available and what they mean.

Sole agency
Under a 'sole agency' contract, the estate agent you've appointed is the only agent with the right to sell your property. However, in general you can still sell your property yourself under this type of contract. The agent can only charge commission if they are responsible for selling your property, which means they have to have introduced the buyer to you.

It's still important to read the contract wording to make sure - and ask your agent to amend it if need be. If using an Internet Property Retailer (IPR) to sell your house, be particularly careful to check that your contract does not contain a clause which prevents you from using IPRs at the same time as using the services of the estate agent.

Multiple Agency
This type of agreement allows you to instruct more than one agent so you can reach a broader market - a good option if you're in a hurry to sell. You pay a higher commission rate than you would pay for a sole agency agreement but you only pay one fee and that's to the agent that sells your property.