Homes marketed by multiple estate agents take 64% longer to sell and are substantially less likely to find a buyer than fresh instructions, according to new TwentyEA analysis.
The property analytics firm found multi-agent properties had a 31% likelihood of selling, compared with 44.5% for homes where the vendor had switched estate agents.
Fresh instructions performed considerably better still, with TwentyEA calculating that multi-agent properties were 46% less likely to sell by comparison.
The analysis, covering the period from the beginning of 2025 to 2026 to date, also found multi-agent properties were 56% more likely to undergo a price reduction and achieved 3% less against their original asking price.
MULTIPLE LISTINGS
More than 80% of new instructions examined by TwentyEA were fresh to the market, while 10% involved vendors who had switched estate agents and 9.4% were multi-agent listings.
The findings challenge the assumption that putting a property with several agents will increase exposure and improve the chances of securing a faster sale.
Nick Huntley (main picture, inset), Director at TwentyEA, says: “Buyers are drawn to fresh stock. The prospect of discovering a newly listed property can generate excitement, particularly among those actively searching.
“But when the same property appears across multiple agents, its appeal can quickly fade. Rather than generating interest, repeated listings can raise questions about why it hasn’t sold, creating doubt where there may otherwise have been none.”
TwentyEA calculates that a 3% difference against an average UK instruction price of £438,300 equates to around £13,200.
LONDON LEADS
Multi-agency instructions are particularly prevalent in London.
North West London has the highest proportion, with 21.6% of properties marketed by multiple agents, followed by West London at 21.3%.
London postcode areas occupy the top six positions in TwentyEA’s ranking, while Southend-on-Sea, Jersey and Watford are among the locations outside the capital appearing in the top 10.
Huntley says the findings provide agents with evidence when discussing different marketing strategies with vendors.
He adds: “For agents advising vendors who are considering this route, the statistics provide a valuable starting point for a more informed conversation about the potential impact on sale price, timescales and the overall selling experience.”
