Can I Use More Than One Estate Agent to Sell My House in Central London
By Maurice Shasha | Created on 16th March 2026
When it comes to selling your central London home, whether in Hyde Park, Marble Arch, Knightsbridge or elsewhere, your aim is likely to be finding the right buyer for a smooth sale, in as short a time as possible while achieving your optimum selling price.
The way you use estate agents can affect this. If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to use more than one estate agent, the short answer is yes. However, there are pros and cons of using multiple agents. For anyone thinking of using more than one estate agent, we look at the different types of agency agreement to help you sell your central London property in the best way.
What do sole, joint and multiple estate agent agreements mean?
When you appoint an estate agent to sell your house you will need to sign an agency agreement. This essentially outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the seller and the agent. You pay the agent a fee – usually a percentage commission – and in return they handle the selling of your home. Agency agreements come in three main types; sole agency, joint agency, and multiple agency.
A sole agency agreement is where only one agent works to sell the house and, in return, receives all the commission. This is an exclusive contract that typically lasts for two to five months. If, by the end of the contract, your house hasn’t sold you have the option to either continue the agreement, take on an additional agent, or change agency altogether.
A joint agency agreement is where you use two different agencies to sell your home. You might choose a joint sole agency agreement if you are looking for agents with different expertise in order to reach a larger market. For example, with a joint sole agency agreement you may use a local agency with knowledge about your area alongside a national agency that focuses on luxury properties. Before deciding on a joint agreement, it’s important to know exactly what benefits each agency will bring to selling your home. Joint sole agency agreements typically come with higher fees, so you need to be sure the extra investment is worth it.
A multiple agency agreement is generally used to sell a house very quickly. You can use as many agencies as you want and can make new contracts at any stage. Only the agency that sells the house gets the commission. This makes it a competitive way of selling your house as each agency is working against the others to seal the deal. However, multiple agency agreements also attract the highest estate agency fees.
It’s important to check your contract carefully for ‘sole selling rights’ agreements, as can leave you paying commission even if you find the buyer yourself. Generally speaking, standard ‘sole agency’ or ‘no sale, no fee’ contracts are safer. Before signing, always check the contract length (typically 8-16 weeks in London), and the notice periods too.
Fee Comparison Table
You may spend more on estate agent fees depending on the agreement type you opt for, with sole agency vs multiple agency making a substantial difference. With a sole agency agreement, you’re likely to pay around 1.5% of your central London property’s selling price, including VAT. However, the differences in estate agency fees can be significant. The average could double when you sign up to a multiple agency agreement.
Property portals also put one agent’s listing in front of a wide audience. Today’s property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla reach a majority of buyers, meaning that one agent essentially reaches the same agency as five.
What are the pros and cons of using more than one agent to sell your house?
Pros of sole agency agreements
Sole agency agreements have the lowest estate agent fees out of all the options at around 1.5% + VAT on average in London.
For a sought-after property in a desirable area, using a sole agency is beneficial as the house is likely to attract buyers regardless.
They are easier for you to organise and manage as you only need to deal with one company when it comes to viewings, photographs etc.
Property portals already share your home with a wider range of potential buyers – about 130 million monthly visits to Rightmove and 50 million users on Zoopla.
Before around 2010, multiple agents could increase your listing’s reach. Nowadays, a sole agent listing on both property portals could reach 95% of active buyers, so additional agents may not bring extra exposure.
Cons of sole agency agreements
Even with access to the online portals, you will still be exposed to a smaller market than if you use multiple agencies.
If you change your mind about your estate agent, you may be stuck with them for a minimum period, so it’s important to think about the length of your contract carefully before you sign up.
You may end up with lower offers.
Pros of multiple agency agreements
They widen the market of potential buyers – particularly when it comes to agents’ buyer lists in the luxury central London market.
You can access a range of skills from each agency, for example one may have a high-profile clientele, one may be better at marketing.
They often result in quicker sales.
The competitive nature of these arrangements often means agencies work harder to secure a deal.
They can sometimes result in higher offers.
Cons of using multiple agency agreements
They come with the highest estate agent fees at around 2 to 3% + VAT.
The agents are keen to make a deal and can push you to agree to offers you aren’t happy with.
Having multiple listings of a property can come across as desperate and put off potential buyers
Which option is best for me?
Before you decide whether to use more than one agent to sell your home, think about your priorities for the sale. For example, if it’s necessary that your property is sold fast, then using multiple agencies might be the solution. However, if you are selling in a desirable area, it can be better to use one agency and wait for the best offer to come through.
A good option, if you are unsure which agreement is best for you, is to make a sole agency agreement but only for a short period of time. This means you can gauge the popularity of your house and familiarise yourself with the current market, while having the opportunity to change agreements by the end of the contract. If your property could benefit from two fields of expertise, then a joint sole agency agreement may offer an alternative solution.
Central London High-End Exception
For most central London properties in the £500,000 to £1.5 million range, sole agent agreements work perfectly, but high-end properties are an exception. The international buyer pool is smaller for properties at £2 million plus in prime areas such as Knightsbridge, Mayfair or Hyde Park, so agent networks play a more important role.
Joint sole agency agreements can make sense, for example a specialist UK agent and an international specialist. At Plaza Estates, we can offer local knowledge alongside international buyer networks, for specialist reach with sole estate agency fees.
Top tips for working with a sole agent
If you are going with one agent, choose wisely – get at least three valuations and ask plenty of questions to assess their success at selling your type of property in your area. Look for personal recommendations and at reviews too.
Our tips for building are successful working relationship are:
Be clear about your expectations and priorities when selling, are you looking for a quick sale, a smooth process with a cash buyer or are you happy to hold out for the best offer?
Read the contract carefully before you sign, if something doesn’t look right – ask.
Make sure everything you are expecting is included and that the tie in period works for you.
Be ready to act at every stage, getting a conveyancer in place and responding to queries quickly.
Be flexible about viewings and listen to their suggestions based on feedback.
If you’re concerned about something, talk to your agent and resolve the issue as soon as possible.
1. What is the difference between sole agency and multiple agency?
A sole agency agreement means one estate agent is exclusively appointed to market and sell your property for a set period, typically 8 to 16 weeks in London. A multiple agency agreement lets you instruct as many agents as you like at the same time, with only the agent who secures the buyer earning the commission. The trade-off is cost: sole agency fees in London average around 1.2% to 2% including VAT, while multiple agency fees typically run from 3% to 3.5%. Sole agency also gives your chosen agent a stronger incentive to invest time and marketing budget in your property, since they know they won’t lose out to a competitor.
2. How much do estate agents charge in London for sole vs multiple agency?
For a sole agency agreement in central London, you can expect to pay between 1.2% and 2% of the sale price including VAT. Joint sole agency — where two agents work together — typically costs 2.5% to 3.5%. Multiple agency agreements sit at the top end, usually between 3% and 3.5%. On a £1 million property, that difference could mean paying £35,000 under a multiple agency agreement versus £15,000 with a sole agent — a gap of £20,000 that needs to be justified by a meaningfully higher sale price or significantly faster completion.
3. Is multiple agency worth the extra cost?
For most central London properties, no. The additional commission rarely translates into a proportionally higher sale price. Since the major property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla collectively reach the vast majority of active buyers, a sole agent listing your home on both platforms already provides near-total market coverage. The scenarios where multiple agency can justify the cost are narrow — typically high-end properties above £2 million where international buyer networks and private client lists become more important than portal visibility.
4. Do multiple “For Sale” boards help or hurt my sale?
They tend to hurt more than help. Multiple boards from different agencies outside a property can signal to buyers that the home is difficult to sell or that the seller is desperate — neither of which supports strong offers. Experienced buyers and their agents may also use the presence of multiple boards as leverage to negotiate the price down, reasoning that if several agents haven’t sold it, there may be an underlying issue. A single board from a reputable local agent generally creates a cleaner, more confident impression.
5. Can I switch from sole to multiple agency mid-contract?
Not without risk. A sole agency contract commits you for a fixed period, and appointing additional agents before it expires could leave you liable for commission to both your original agent and the one who finds the buyer. To switch safely, you need to wait until the tie-in period ends or serve the required notice as set out in your contract. If your sole agency period is coming to an end and you’re considering adding agents, review the introduction clause too — most contracts protect the original agent’s right to commission on any buyer they introduced, often for up to six months after the agreement ends.
6. Why do property portals like Rightmove make multiple agents less necessary?
Before online property portals became dominant around 2010, each agent you instructed gave your listing access to a different pool of buyers through their office window, local advertising and mailing lists. Today, a single agent listing your property on Rightmove and Zoopla can reach an estimated 95% of active buyers. Rightmove alone receives around 130 million visits per month. This means the main historical advantage of multiple agency — wider exposure — has largely disappeared for standard residential sales. Additional agents now add cost without significantly expanding your audience.
7. What is “sole selling rights” and should I avoid it?
A sole selling rights agreement entitles the estate agent to their commission no matter who finds the buyer — even if you sell to a neighbour, a friend or someone who approaches you directly without any involvement from the agent. This is different from a standard sole agency agreement, where you can sell privately without owing commission. Sole selling rights agreements are generally best avoided unless there’s a specific reason to accept one, as they remove your flexibility and can result in paying fees for a sale the agent played no part in. Always check the wording of your contract before signing and ask for a standard sole agency agreement instead.
8. When is the only time multiple agency makes sense in central London?
The clearest case is at the top end of the market — typically properties priced at £2 million or above in prime areas such as Knightsbridge, Mayfair or Hyde Park. At this level, the buyer pool is smaller, more international and less likely to be browsing Rightmove. Agent-to-agent networks, private client lists and overseas marketing channels become genuinely important. Even then, a joint sole agency with two complementary specialists — for example a local central London agent paired with an international property consultancy — often achieves the same reach at a lower commission rate than a full multiple agency arrangement.
9. Will using multiple agents help me sell faster?
It can, but the speed advantage is often overstated. The competitive element of multiple agency — where agents race to secure the sale before a rival — can create urgency, but it can also lead to agents pushing you to accept lower offers quickly rather than holding out for the best price. For most central London properties, the factor that has the biggest impact on speed of sale is pricing. A realistically priced property with strong photography and a good portal listing through a sole agent will typically sell within a similar timeframe, without the added cost or pressure of multiple agency.
10. What’s better than multiple agency if my property won’t sell?
Before adding more agents, it’s worth diagnosing why the property hasn’t sold. The most common issues are pricing, presentation and marketing quality — none of which are solved by simply instructing more agents. Consider getting a fresh valuation, improving your listing photography or staging, or asking your agent for honest feedback from viewers. If you’ve lost confidence in your agent’s performance, switching to a stronger sole agent at the end of your contract is usually more effective and far cheaper than moving to multiple agency. A new agent brings fresh energy, a different buyer list and a reset on the portals, often without the fee premium.
If you’re wondering which estate agent to choose to sell your central London property, Plaza Estates can help. With experience and knowledge of the local market we’d be happy to give you a valuation and talk about the different agreements we offer.
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Maurice Shasha
The Property Industry has always and continues to interest me, and after joining Plaza Estates in 2008 I have experienced a market which has taught me alot. In my role advising clients on their purchases (together with our sales teams), managing the refurbishments for them (together with our management and design team), preparing the property for rentals (together with our rentals teams) or sales and being responsible for the Companies digital marketing I have seen the market from various aspects. The market is always changing and it is essential we constantly adapt, which since Plaza Estates was established in 1972 is something the company has always done. We pride ourselves in the personal relationship and service we have and give all our clients and being part of a company which is "big enough to cope and small enough to care" is something I really enjoy.
If you want 5-star reviews and want to remove negative reviews from Google, contact me via my profile; my contact details are listed there.
SM
Dear Eitan
In this whole sorry saga, with headbutting, unproactive lawyers, and a comatose estate agent etc etc, you have been a beacon of light throughout. Efficient, professional and responsive. This would never have got done without you.
Thank you.
All the best.
Maurice Shasha
We have been using Plaza Estates for many years for all our property requirements (sales, letting and management) and are delighted with the results and service they constantly deliver and provide!
KS
I generally dealt with the Marble Arch branch most of the time, but I can also say that the Knightsbridge office was also exceptionally helpful and professional on the occasions I did deal with them. Plaza Estates in general are excellent.
YZ
Have interacted with Plaza Estates across a couple of sites and always been impressed. Maurice must be the hardest working, most dedicated, helpful and knowledgeable account manager for any company anywhere! A real asset to the team!
LI
I have been a client of Plaza Estates for over 30 years and received excellent service. Both Rodney on the rental side and Fiona in the property management area have been have been attentive and helpful and always willing to go the extra mile on the few occasions when there were problems.
SA
Hope both of you are doing well. I wanted to thank you for always being there for us and for addressing our concerns promptly; safe to say you have been the best agents I have had the pleasure of interacting with.
KR
We have owned our Flat since 2008, which we purchased through Plaza. Our relationship with Plaza goes back to 1982 when we purchased a nearby flat and Plaza have handled all our lettings since then. I would have no hesitation in recommending Plaza - they will find you a good tenant and ensure your ...
MS
Thank you again for all your advice and calm attitude and charm. Nobody could try harder than you, and for which, we really thank you and appreciate it all, not just now, but over the years.
Thanks again for everything!
LT
Thank you for your kind help and your advice, it's been precious!
