Reviews
Is Strike Really Free?
Yes — free online estate agents like Strike genuinely sell your home with no commission fee: listing on the major portals, a "for sale" board and basic support can be free. But you may pay for optional extras (premium listings, professional photography, accompanied viewings) and the company earns referral commission if you use its recommended mortgage broker or conveyancer. So the core sale is free; whether your whole move is depends on the extras you choose.
What is your property worth?
Get genuine offers from checked & vetted buyers.
- Core salecan be free
- Extrasare optional
- Morework yourself
What is genuinely free
The headline is real: a free online agent will list your home on Rightmove, Zoopla and the major portals at no commission, usually with a basic photo upload, a "for sale" board, and online tools to manage enquiries and viewings. For a confident seller with a straightforward, mortgageable home, this core service can take you from listing to a sale without paying the agent a commission — a genuine saving against a traditional agent’s 1-1.5% + VAT.
What you may pay for
| Service | Typically |
|---|---|
| Portal listing & board | Free (core service) |
| Professional photography / floorplan | Paid extra |
| Premium / featured listing | Paid extra |
| Accompanied viewings | Paid extra |
| Mortgage / conveyancing referral | Free to you; agent earns commission |
None of the extras is compulsory, but they are how the "free" model is funded (see how free agents make money).
The trade-offs of free
"Free" comes with a trade-off in effort and service level. You typically do more yourself — your own viewings (unless you pay for accompanied ones), your own chasing, and more of the legwork. The support is more remote than a local high-street agent who walks the street and knows the buyers. For many sellers that is a fine trade for saving thousands; for others — a complex sale, or wanting a hands-on local expert — a traditional or hybrid agent may be worth the fee. Be honest about how much you want to do yourself.
How to keep it genuinely free (or cheap)
To get the most from a free agent without surprises: take good photos yourself (or judge whether the paid photography is worth it for your home), do your own viewings if you are comfortable, and arrange your own mortgage and conveyancing rather than automatically using the referred partners — shopping around is often cheaper. Decide deliberately which (if any) paid extras genuinely add value for your property, and compare the all-in cost against a fixed-fee online agent.
Is a free agent right for you?
A free online agent suits a straightforward, mortgageable home, a confident seller, and a normal (not urgent) timescale. It is the wrong tool if you need speed and certainty — for that, a cash buyer completes in 7-28 days regardless of the open market — or a complex/hard-to-sell property that needs specialist handling. Match the route to your priority: lowest cost (free/online agent), or guaranteed fast completion (cash buyer). See online estate agents.
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Written & reviewed by Lisa Hayes, Founder
Lisa Hayes is the founder of Ready Steady Sell and an independent UK home-selling expert with over a decade helping homeowners weigh cash house buyers, property investors and the wider fast house-sale industry — without pressure or hidden fees. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy under our editorial standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
Is Strike really free to sell with?
The core service — listing on the major portals, a board and basic support — can genuinely be free with no commission. You may pay for optional extras, and the agent earns referral commission from partners.
What do you pay for with a free online agent?
Optional extras such as professional photography, premium listings and accompanied viewings. The core listing is free; the extras and referrals fund the model.
Do I have to use their mortgage broker or conveyancer?
No — referred services are optional. You can use your own, and shopping around is often cheaper than the referred partner.
What is the catch with free estate agents?
No hidden catch, but you typically do more yourself (such as viewings), the service is more remote, and the model relies on optional paid extras and referrals.
Is a free agent good for a quick sale?
It sells on the open market to normal timescales (8-24 weeks). For a guaranteed fast completion, a cash buyer (7-28 days) is the better route.
Is a free agent cheaper than a traditional one?
Usually, yes, if you avoid the paid extras — you save the commission. Compare the all-in cost including any services you need against a traditional or fixed-fee agent.