How to choose the right Estate Agent for your property sale
When it comes to selling your home, you need to make sure that you have the right estate agent. There are many different companies around all competing for your business, so it is important to make sure you are comfortable with who you have representing you. Our tips and tricks will help you pick the perfect agent for you.
1. Ask for recommendations
Of course, the most obvious trick is to ask family and friends who they have previously used. Make sure you find out if there were any issues along the way, especially before completion. The other thing you can do is have a look around the area or online and see which estate agents impress you with their marketing. Online reviews from real customers can be a big help in swaying your decision especially those five star reviews on google and social media platforms.
2. Check industry credentials
All estate agents should be members of trade bodies like Property Mark , ARLA and the Property Ombudsman. Amos Estates are at the forefront of the campaign lobbying the Government to introduce mandatory licensing for the whole industry. We are immensely proud to be one of the very few local firms which are licensed.
Licensing means that estate agents like our firm follows a strict code of conduct. which delivers a higher standard of professionalism and diligence for you the client.
3. Go undercover
One trick you can use is to go into an estate agency and pretend to be looking to buy a property like yours. You can then evaluate how they treat you. Are they showing the property in the best light? Would you buy your property from them? This will give you a realistic idea of whether they are going to be able to sell your house easily.
4. Have a list of questions
You want to make sure that you ask the estate agents certain questions- things like, if you go for a sole-agency contract what is the tie in period and how much do they charge? How will they advertise your property? Who will handle the viewings? How long has the estate agent been established and what is their level of experience.
5. Decide between Sole-Agency or Multi-Agency
When selling your property, you want to decide whether to go with Sole-Agency or Multi-Agency. Multi will mean that your property is marketed through a number of different agencies and in theory will be seen by more people, but it costs more. Really, a great agent should be able to get you the reach you need without another agent's help. If they're not able to sell the property, getting multiple agents on board isn’t going to help. Instead, why not research thoroughly for a great agent before you start. They may cost a little more than a cheap agent, but it'll cost less than a multi agency contract, and they can get you the price you want and need.