How to choose the right estate agent

Selling your home is a huge decision for anyone, and is frequently cited as one of life’s most stressful events. So when it comes to choosing your estate agent, making the right decision is key. Pick the wrong one, and you could be in for months of hassle and frustration. But get it right, and you’ll soon be moving on to the next chapter of your life. Here are our top tips for choosing the right estate agent.

 

Ask Around

 

Online reviews are a great tool when it comes to choosing the right agent, but nothing beats word of mouth. If you have any neighbours, friends, or family in the area who have recently moved, ask them about their experience. While not everyone will feel the same way about any particular agent, it’s good to get some first-hand insight from people you trust.

 

Check Out Their Website

 

When you have some estate agents in mind, go and take a good hard look at their websites. Are they easy to navigate? Do they make it easy to contact them? While many people will be searching for houses solely on the property portals, the estate agent’s website is still hugely significant. Because if they aren’t able to market themselves, how do you know that they can market your property?

 

Draw Up A Shortlist

 

Once you’ve got your first impressions, it’s time to come up with a shortlist of at least 3 agents you would like to speak to and invite them to do a valuation on your home. It’s during these evaluations that you can get all your key questions answered. Here are a few things to remember:

 

• What is their fee structure, and are there any other hidden costs?
• What kind of contract do they use and what is their tie-in period?
• Who will be conducting the viewings, and how many team members will be dealing with your sale?
• What marketing strategies will they put into place, and are the marketing costs included in their fee?
• How many potential buyers do they have on their books, and what will they do to tell them about your property?

 

There are no right and wrong answers to these questions, as they will largely come down to personal preference. But it’s good to gather as much information as you can so you can make an informed decision for your sale.

 

Ask For Evidence

 

When you are speaking to your selected agents, be sure to ask them about any comparable homes they have recently sold. If an agent has experience in selling houses like yours, they will know what your potential buyers are looking for and may even already have some on the books.

 

Having evidence to back up their claims is also important when it comes to the valuation. It might be tempting to go for the agent that gives you the highest asking price, but you need to know that the figure is realistic. They should each be forthcoming with a good selection of comparable sales to back up their valuation. If they are hesitant to offer you any evidence, it’s possible that they’ve given you an inflated price purely to try and win the instruction.

 

Put Yourself In The Buyer’s Shoes

 

When you call the estate agent, what impression do you get? Are they friendly and enthusiastic? Or do you get the feeling you’re interrupting their day? However you feel when you speak to your agent, potential buyers will likely feel the same. You can even take it one step further and do a spot of ‘mystery shopping’. Call up your agent posing as a buyer interested in a home they have on the market. You might be quite surprised with the results.

 

Go With Your Gut

 

It’s important to be armed with vital information about your agent, it’s always good to listen to your instincts. After all, selling a home is an emotional experience and you are likely to be in frequent contact with your chosen agent over the following months. If you were blown away by their service and marketing but feel that your personalities don’t really gel, have a rethink and really compare your options. While selling quickly and for the price you want is important, your personal experience can really make all the difference.

 

We know how important it is to choose the right agent. That’s why we started Blatch Fine Homes with the ambition to exceed all estate agency expectations. We offer a bespoke, first-class service for every single home, with hundreds of previous successful sales to prove it. If you would like to get in touch about getting your home on the market, give us a call on 024 7624 9333. We will be delighted to help.