In today’s market, you have a greater choice than ever of which estate agent you use to sell your property. You might prefer to use your most local agent, or you may break with tradition and opt to sell online. Whatever decision you make, it’s important to understand what to look for when choosing an estate agent to ensure you make the best choice and make the selling process just that little bit easier. Here’s what to look for:
Online Or Traditional
The wider choice of options puts you as the seller in the driving seat. It’s important to remember that and not to feel as though you have to appoint the first agent you meet. Take a look around your area to see who has the most ‘for sale’ and, more crucially, ‘sold’ signs up. This will give you a feel for the most popular choice locally. If you do decide to shun the traditional route, note that online agents, which currently account for just 5% of sales, tend to charge cheaper fixed upfront fees rather than the ‘no-sale no-fee’ structure of their physical counterparts. They also vary in terms of what’s included, so make sure to clarify exactly what they are offering so you know what level of service you’re going to get.
Assess Their Reputation
The agent’s reputation is critical to your decision. With more tools than ever at your disposal to rate their effectiveness, there’s no excuse not to do a little homework first. Check out their testimonials as well as reviews on other impartial sites. Ask around for word-of-mouth recommendations – but don’t be afraid to widen your network too, perhaps even dropping a note through the door of someone who’s selling or has sold with an agent you are interested in, to see how they’ve found the experience. In a Beckenham Facebook group, we’re happy to report we were among the most popular choices when members recently asked for the ‘best estate agent’ locally.
What’s Their Track Record?
Understanding an agent’s track record is crucial and it’s here you need to do a little further digging. Do they have experience selling properties like yours? You can quickly check this out by looking in their shop window, on their website or through property portals such as Zoopla and Rightmove. This will also give you a good feel for how professionally and imaginatively they market properties – from the quality of their pictures to how enticing the accompanying copy is. Try to get a feel for how proactive they are, their enthusiasm for keeping in touch and how quickly they sell properties like yours.
Is Their Pricing Realistic?
Understanding how realistic their pricing is will allow you to assess whether that valuation they’ve just given you is achievable, or whether it’s just a carrot to tempt you to sign with them. Lots of ‘for sale’ signs but fewer ‘sold’ signs could indicate that things aren’t quite right, as would lots of properties marked as ‘reduced’, so keep an eye out for those red flags. Ask for proof of sold prices for properties similar to yours that will help to support the valuation they’ve given you. Don’t restrict yourself to just one valuation either. To better understand the right price to put your property on at, interview multiple agents – remember they are working for you – and get multiple valuations.
Check Their Fees
You don’t want any nasty surprises in the selling process, so understanding the fees a prospective agent may charge, as well as the hidden costs and terms and conditions, is another important step. Average estate agents’ fees are around 1.42% including VAT in 2023 and will typically include all the services involved – from valuation to photographs and managing viewings. However, what’s included can vary – especially online – so it’s always best to double-check. Note that, if you choose to instruct multiple agents rather than just one, then fees will be higher. Of course, we’re confident we can help you, so we’d recommend that sole agency (with Proctors) is the best way to go!
What To Do If You Want To Change
Of course, even having done all this legwork, it may be that the relationship with the agent you’ve chosen doesn’t prove to be the best one and you aren’t happy. Viewings may have dried up or perhaps you are having trouble getting hold of them or you’ve been told you need to reduce the asking price you originally both agreed on. Exclusivity periods can range between 4 to 12 weeks, although it’s normally closer to the latter, and forms part of the terms and conditions you agree to when you sign the contract. So, ensure you are clear on this before you sign – just in case. Whichever route you choose, you are always free to negotiate, whether that’s the fee or the contract term.
Proctors is an independent network of individual estate agent businesses with branches in Beckenham, Bromley, Park Langley, Petts Wood, Shirley and West Wickham. We’ve been buying, selling and letting in these areas since 1946 – you’ve probably seen our boards around. Our local knowledge is second to none and we are committed to making sure you get the best customer service and support to help with your move. Our reviews and reputation support this claim. Do get in touch to see how we fulfil your checklist for choosing the best agent to sell your property.