Take a stroll along any busy high street and you will see several estate agents all vying for your attention. When it comes to selling your home all will offer you an exemplary service, so how do you choose which is right for your and your property?
Making the right choice can ensure your home sells, all issues are dealt with professionally and that you achieve the best price. This is your property, and the agent will work for you.
Type of property
Many estate agents will be experts in selling certain types of properties, be that city pads, country homes, historic houses, coastal properties, period homes, equestrian properties or business opportunities. Take to the streets, and carry out research at all of the estate agents in your area, and find out which style of property, and in which geographical area they excel. A family member or friend may have sold their property with a particular estate agent, but that agent may not be experienced in selling properties like yours.
Knowledge of estate agent
You may assume that all estate agents will be knowledgeable about every area and chances are they will be, but do check to ensure that they are familiar with the property stock where you live, and have experience of selling properties in similar areas and of similar type to yours.
Family and friends
Estate agents across the country spend lots of money on marketing, but you will no doubt make a decision based in part on recommendation. Ask your family and friends about any great service they have received from a specific estate agent. Were they satisfied? How professional were the agents? How did the agent deal with any issues?
Preparation is key
Before you choose an estate agent, get digging! Use the internet to discover house price trends in your area, so you know what you can expect.
Personal and professional service
Once you’ve gathered your intelligence, speak to your top choice estate agents – there’s nothing better than a face-to-face chat to get a real feel for the agents and to ascertain which you prefer. You may know that a particular agent sells the most houses similar to yours in your area, but if you don’t click with that agent you may run into issues later down the line. Do they respond quickly to your calls and requests for information? Can you access testimonials from happy vendors and buyers?
Visit each of the agents that are on your shortlist and pose as buyers – what impression do you leave with? Do you feel confident that they will give your property the attention it deserves? Do the agents possess professional qualifications and are they members of professional associations? These associations will govern their practice and give you recourse.
Marketing material
Which property portals do they use, and therefore where will your property be advertised online? Most estate agents produce professional marketing literature for each property in their portfolio. Take a closer look at some examples: Are they written well? Are the photographs of a good quality, and do they show properties in their best light? Where are properties advertised, and are they marketed to the right demographic?
Valuation
It’s vital to obtain an honest evaluation of your property, from the point of view of an experienced estate agent. Listen carefully – those worth their salt will discuss ways to make your property more appealing and they may offer some valuable and honest advice on what you need to change or rectify in order to achieve the best price.
Be on the look out for agents who simply say that your property is perfect. There are always ways you can improve your property's saleability and it’s in everyone’s interest to obtain an honest evaluation. Find out what they would do if your property wasn’t selling in the time expected. Do they have contingencies in place, and extra marketing that they can employ?
Viewing your home
Find out if the agent offers accompanied viewings, or if you will be expected to be there. You may have a preference, so make sure that the agent is aware and can accommodate.
Do agents vet buyers? Are complete strangers going to be coming into your home, or do agents have full details of each individual?
Costs
Ask agents and do some research to find out what fees they charge, and what you can expect for those fees. It’s no use choosing the agent that charges the lowest fees, only to realise later on that your property is not receiving the attention it needs to secure a sale.
If you are looking for an estate agent that embodies all of the above, please do get in touch with our York branch. We are experienced in selling a broad spectrum of property and provide a professional and five star service.
