Over half the properties on the UK residential property market are struggling to sell because of inflated prices, according to Move with Us.

Their research has highlighted that, on average, it takes approximately 78 days to achieve a sale. However, hundreds of thousands of on-market properties are stuck with minimal interest or activity beyond this three month average. As such the company believes that many vendors now need to be more innovative in the way in which they incentivise estate agents and advertise their property.

There are options available to home sellers to help motivate their agent correctly.

Traditionally, multi-agency agreements have been favoured, as they mean exposure to a wider group of buyers. Sellers could also look to introduce incentives to buyers, such as paying for the stamp duty or other associated fees, which has proved successful in corporate property sales. There is also the opportunity to incentivise the estate agent, so that the fee they receive is based on the percentage of the asking price achieved.

Robin King, Move with Us Director, said: “Inaccurately valued property is one of the most problematic issues in the current market. These exaggerated prices lead to stagnation and price reductions become the most common outcome to try and stir up some interest.

“More often than not, agents value the property at an inflated price to win the business and then have to backtrack on price further down the line, creating frustration and disappointment for sellers.

“Our experience in selling property has shown that using the best agents in the area on a multi-agency basis to value the property accurately, from the start, means that the property is sold in realistic timeframes and sellers’ expectations are upheld.”