How to choose the best estate agent

It’s no secret that Estate Agents haven’t gained the best name for themselves over the years… so when it comes to selling your home it’s natural to feel confused about who to trust and imperative to choose the right Estate Agent. With over 17,000 Estate Agent branches in the UK… you may question: How would you even begin choosing the best? Well, fear not…

Our Recommendations

Many people will ask for recommendations from neighbours, friends or family. It’s key to remember that recommendations are based on the individual experience of a particular agent, selling a particular home in a particular area. If you go for an agent based on recommendations, be sure to understand others’ perspectives on that agent, obtaining a wide view before signing the contract. It is helpful to speak to numerous agents in the area and even more helpful to go on open house viewings with prospective agents. This will allow you to understand their viewing technique without putting them out.

Using Local Estate Agents

Many homeowners will look in their local area for Estate Agent boards and shop fronts, speaking to each Agent as they go. This allows you to see and speak to potential Agents quickly however, this method does not allow you to understand how each agent actually performs. Spend time asking each agent important questions instead.

Important questions to ask

• Q: How many similar properties have you sold recently?
• Q: How much did they sell for?
• Q: How long did they take to sell?
• Q: Do you have buyers ready for a property such as mine? If so, how many?
• Q: What checks to you put in place to ensure a buyer can afford my property?
• Q: What is your advertising strategy?
• Q: How are viewings managed? Who conducts the viewings?
• Q: Are there any additional charges?
• Q: What contracts do you offer? Can these be viewed up front?

These questions are important for any Estate Agent viewing your property, ensure that you understand and like their answers, questioning anything that you are unsure of.

Compare Estate Agents

If you want to choose the best local estate agent, avoid the leg work, use Estate Agent Comparison sites. These clever tools usually compare Estate Agents fees so you can see the agents in the area with a few taps on your keyboard…but be sure to use an unbiased and free comparison tool such as GetAgent. The GetAgent team always provides an unbiased online comparison of Local Estate Aget type in your postcode.

Get useful information in a click:

• % of asking price they usually achieve
• Number of properties listed in the area
• The average time it takes the agent to sell a property
• Selling Fee they ask

With data sourced from Zoopla, Rightmove, OnTheMarket & Land Registry, GetAgent’s comparison provides a truly objective view of the sales statistics… for the cherry on the cake, it even whittles down to the best 6 estate agents in your area.

One More Tip

When choosing your Best Estate Agent, it’s easy to just instruct the cheapest… but remember: the lowest cost doesn’t necessarily mean they would be the best Estate Agent to go with. It’s understandable your home is an investment and as such, it’s important for you to gain as much of the sale price as possible, but you may gain more back from an Estate Agent who values your house at a slightly higher rate, achieves 99% of their asking price, but charges a slightly higher fee, than an Agent who charges a lower fee, but does not achieve their asking prices!

You can start to compare Estate Agents straight away.