Are you thinking of selling your house and struggling to decide who to go with? Making the right choice when it comes to selecting an estate agent to sell your house is crucial. In today’s blog post, we will explore a few tips on how to choose an estate agent, enabling you to find the perfect fit for your property sale.
Read on for more!
What makes a good estate agent?
A good estate agent is someone who puts their clients first, working hard to deliver results and gain trust. They should be knowledgeable about the local market and kept up-to-date with trends and regulations. Great estate agents need to be able to balance professional expertise with interpersonal skills, helping clients feel comfortable throughout the process.
Communication is key; understanding the client’s individual needs or concerns, responding in a timely fashion, and addressing any issues promptly. A good estate agent should be reliable and easy to work with – capable of providing efficient solutions when searching for the perfect property. When hiring an agent, it’s important they demonstrate all of these qualities and more, so you can confidently place your trust in them.
Ultimately, the best estate agent will maximise the value of your home and make the entire process a positive experience without any unnecessary stress!
Should you work with a local estate agent?
When considering buying or selling property, working with a local estate agent can be your best bet. Local agents are familiar with the neighbourhood and regional markets, making them well-versed in helping you find the perfect home for your needs or getting the most money for your current property.
Plus, local estate agents may have greater insight into the school district or work commute times than those that are not from the area.
Finally, since local agents will likely have more clients from the same area, they can provide invaluable recommendations from client experiences that an out-of-town agent may not be aware of.
All of these benefits are why you should seriously consider partnering with a local estate agent whenever you’re looking to buy or sell a property.
High Street Estate Agents or Online Estate Agents?
When it comes to selling your property, there is no one size fits all option and weighing up the pros and cons of each estate agent type can help you decide which is right for you.
High Street Estate Agents are likely to provide a more personalised experience, often providing in-depth local knowledge while having the ability to access their network of contacts. However, this convenience might come at a cost, as they may have higher commission fees than online agents.
Online Estate Agents offer suitable technology that can automate some of the processes, such as generating viewing requests or feedback, making them an attractive option for a busy lifestyle. On the flip side, you might sacrifice certain levels of service and support that could be particularly helpful when moving home.
This is why hybrid estate agents offer the best of both worlds – the convenience of an online service, combined with the expertise and knowledge of a traditional high street agent. From lower commission fees to using technology yet still offering face-to-face contact, with hybrid estate agents, you will receive professional marketing advice as well as access to a wider range of potential buyers than you would on just an online service. Therefore, if you’re looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to sell your home, hybrid becomes the obvious choice.
Should I use one or multiple estate agents?
The answer to this question depends on the type of property you own, as well as what is most important to you.
Using different estate agents can significantly increase the exposure of your property and potentially lead to more offers on your home. However, it could also come at a cost; not only in terms of time, but with agent commission fees too – depending on the service used. There is also a danger of giving a prospecitve buyer the impression that there is an urgency to sell quickly, which could result in lower offers on your home.
On the other hand, using just one estate agent often results in a better understanding between both parties and having someone knowledgeable who knows exactly what you’re looking for can be beneficial when buying or selling a house.
Plus, by working with a sole agent, they will become more invested in achieving successful results and communicating effectively throughout the entire process, so you know your interests are in good hands.
How do you find the best estate agent?
Now that we know all this, how exactly do we go about finding the best estate agent that will help sell your property? Finding the right estate agent for you can be a difficult task, but there are some key steps that can help make it easier:
Ask for recommendations
When choosing an estate agent, one of the best ways to start is by asking your family, friends and colleagues for recommendations. Perhaps they sold their house recently, who did they use, and how was their experience?
You can even try asking on local community forums or Facebook groups for localised advice. Doing this will arm you with the necessary information you need to make an informed decision. Just be sure to thoroughly check out their qualifications, experience, rates and customer reviews before making your final selection.
Check their reviews
Reading customer reviews can be an invaluable way to assess the quality of an estate agent. Try searching online for independent reviews as well as checking their website.
Even better, why not reach out to customers directly and ask about their experience? Doing this will give you a more personalised understanding into how the estate agent works and whether they are worth considering.
Finding the right estate agent doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what you want from them and do your research properly.
Choose an estate agent that’s right for your property
Ultimately, you want an estate agent that’s right for your property. Whether you choose a traditional high street agent, online service or hybrid option; make sure they understand what it is you’re looking to achieve and are open to any additional advice/support they can offer.
Whether you’re looking to sell quickly or want to increase the value of your home, discussing this with them early is important. This will help make sure that they are the right fit for you and can provide the service you desire.
Finding the right estate agent should be a priority when selling your home, so don’t rush into it or sign up just because they offer cheaper fees. Remember, taking your time in researching and gathering information is key – as it could end up saving you both time and money in the long run.
Get valuations from multiple estate agents
Getting detailed valuations from different estate agents is a good way to compare the sales process and fees. This can also help you understand how much you could achieve for your property, what support an agent offers and whether they are up-front with their fees or not.
Just bear in mind that cheap estate agents aren’t always the best option, in fact they could end up costing you more time and money in the long run.
Although researching different estate agents can be a lengthy process, it will give you peace of mind that you have chosen the right one for your needs. The more research you do at this stage, the better chance you have of finding an agent who is sympathetic to your requirements and provides great value for money.
Read the terms and conditions
Before signing an agreement with any estate agent, the most important thing is to read their terms and conditions. It is important to make sure you understand all of the details involved, and it’s wise to ask questions if something appears confusing or unclear. Be wary of signing an agency contract with a long tie-in period, removing your ability to change agencies in the event you are not happy with their performance.
Additionally, be conscious of any hidden costs which could arise from associated services like taking photographs, videos or getting For Sale signs made. Taking the time to look over everything in detail will help ensure you get a smooth and stress-free experience when selling or buying your property.
Marketing your property
Another important aspect when choosing the right estate agent, is making sure they have the knowledge and experience to get the job done. It’s important to assess how an agent plans to market your property.
Proper placement in various channels of media is key to obtaining results and sell your home. Ask them questions about their marketing strategies – such as what online real estate platforms they list on (rightmove and zoopla, etc..) and what type of ads they plan on posting, as well as any avenues for offline promotion.
Be sure to also inquire about their area of speciality, so you know that you can rely on them for making informed opinions about pricing and other pertinent information. Ultimately, choosing a competent estate agent starts with establishing what approach they’ll use to advertise your listing.
Check their past performance
Also, don’t be afraid to ask your potential agent for evidence of their past successes. How many properties have they sold? How quickly do they sell homes?
Any good estate agent should be able to provide you with a list of recent sales, as well as any awards or accreditations they have received.
This will help give you an insight into their performance and allow you to compare them against other agents in the local area. It could even make the difference between selling quickly or not at all!
Making Your Final Decision
When deciding between different estate agents, consider the whole package: Their qualifications, experience and customer reviews; as well as any additional services they can provide such as property advice, photography or guidance on external improvements that may increase the value of your home.
At the end of the day, be sure to choose the agent that you feel comfortable with and trust. Do your research, take your time in making a decision and don’t forget to ask for help if needed.
Conclusion
Selecting the right estate agent is crucial when selling a property. Ensuring you pick an agent that’s right for your needs and matches your budget is key – as it could end up saving you both time and money in the long run.
We are a local independent estate agency covering Peterborough, Bourne, Stamford and surrounding areas. With over 3000 property sales between us, we have the expertise and local knowledge to help you sell your property quickly, efficiently and for the best price.
Contact us today for a free property valuation and to find out how our services can help you move home.
