Moving house is often seen as one of life’s more stressful events. However, choosing the right estate agent can make all the difference. Get it right, and you’ll be sold up and moving into your dream home in no time. Get it wrong, and your house could sit unsold on the market for weeks or even months; not to mention some estate agents may even charge you for the luxury of your home sitting unsold.
We’ve put together this guide to help you pick out your perfect estate agent, so you can get your house sold in a breeze.
First things first, you’ll want to find the best estate agent you can. An experienced estate agents with friendly customer service will make the whole process of selling your house far more enjoyable. So, here are our top three areas you should consider when choosing who to sell your home with.
Whilst it seems like a simple thing to be looking for with any service, quality and experience is so important when choosing your estate agent. Highly experienced estate agents are going to know every trick of the trade. You want an estate agent who knows the industry as well as the area, ensuring they’re getting your property out in front of the right people. With high-quality service also comes personalised advice and support throughout the process, leading to your home getting sold in no time.
A team that’s passionate about their work will make sure your house is in safe hands. Check reviews and ratings from previous customers. You should see reviews from happy customers, not just one or two, but consistent high ratings. Research into an estate agent’s credentials; they should be more than happy to let you know which organisations they’re accredited with if they don’t already have it showcased on their website. You want to make sure you’re in good hands.
An estate agent should make you feel like a valued customer who will receive the highest level of service throughout the whole process. You should feel like the sale of your house is a priority and isn’t just another property to be sold. Estate agents with dedicated contacts mean you know exactly who to get in touch with during the sales process; they’ll know everything there is to know about the sale of your property.
Having your property on the market shouldn’t cost the earth. Find an estate agent that will offer a sales package that works for you. Finding somewhere that doesn’t ask for cost upfront is ideal. Being paid upon completion is an excellent motivator for an estate agent to sell your house, so you don’t need to worry about your property sitting on the market for too long. This is an excellent way of ensuring you have a passionate team at the front of your seller journey.
Value for money goes so much further than getting a reasonable fee price agreed upon. Make sure you’re getting the best offer, too. Does the estate agent you’re looking at only offer one fixed package? Maybe look for somewhere that can provide a couple of options to suit your needs. Don’t forget to check what exactly is covered in that package too. Are your conveyancer costs included with your estate agent fees? Are you getting an excellent marketing strategy for your property? Are things like floor plans, EPC ratings and professional photography included? What sort of after-sales care will they provide? All these are things to consider when making your choice and can make a world of difference when selling your home.
The lowest price doesn’t always mean the best option. You want to consider the value of the service you’re getting, so really make sure your estate agent is giving you the very best.
This links a lot to the previous points we’ve mentioned, but it’s a vital part of an estate agent’s role. Make sure you choose an estate agent with a strong property marketing strategy. You want to make sure your property is shown to the right buyers, and with the right estate agent this shouldn’t be a problem. Website marketing and wider advertising through larger property sites such as Rightmove and Zoopla should come as standard.
Even something as simple as using professional photography on any property listings can be a make or break. Think about when you’ve viewed photos on a property listing in the past; if those photos were poor quality you’ve probably walked away. Having professional photographs can show off your property’s true value and potential, resulting in more interest and finding that buyer quicker. It’s a simple step in the overall marketing strategy of your house but can make the most significant difference.
Getting the right property marketing strategy will mean selling your house quickly and as close to the asking price as possible, or maybe even higher! So make sure to ask any estate agents you are considering how they will be marketing your property.
The past few years have seen a rise in online estate agents. With fewer overheads than traditional, high street estate agents can appear cheaper, but is that lower price worth it? When considering whether to use an online estate agent, it’s essential to be aware of the quality, value and experience you might be missing out on, something you will certainly get with the right high street estate agents.
With a high street estate agent, you’ll have access to a team that knows the local area and are experts in their field. Online estate agents often operate out of call centres, and even their local property experts won’t have the same level of local knowledge as someone who lives and works in the area. It’s also likely that you won’t be speaking to the same person each time you call to get an update. Whereas with a traditional estate agent, you’ll know who your contacts are as you start building a positive relationship throughout the process.
You cannot deny that online estate agents offer what appears to be a great price. For some people, this may be perfect. However, it’s important to consider what this fee actually gets you and whether you have to pay this upfront or not, resulting in you losing money if your house doesn’t sell and you decide to move to a high street estate agent.
Additional fees can begin to creep in if you require additional services that many high street estate agents offer as standard. This can include things like conducting viewings, something vital in the house selling process. Some people may be more than happy to arrange and carry out viewings for their property, but if not, this can result in additional fees to have an agent conduct their house viewings. Remember, these viewings can be an excellent opportunity to give a sales pitch on the property, something estate agents are well-versed in.
Overall, online estate agents are great if you want to save a little on fees, have the cash upfront, and the time commitment to manage the sale of your house. Just remember high street estate agents will do everything for you. So while going the traditional route may mean paying slightly more in estate agent fees, you’ll be getting a lot of value for your money as everything and anything related to finding a buyer for your home will be taken care of. You’ll have a dedicated team, no upfront fees and a whole range of extras included as standard, depending on your estate agent. These extras may consist of photography, floor plans, accompanied viewings and more.
Whichever estate agent you choose, make sure it’s the right one for you. You should feel like a valued customer, not just another property to make money off. Do your research and find out more about the service they will provide. If you’re unsure about anything, why not get in touch to see how we can help?
Here at Coleman Estates, we’ve been selling houses since 1998. We’re featured in The Best Estate Agent Guide and are Telford’s best estate agent with excellent customer reviews on Google. If you’re unsure about how to choose an estate agent, or want to find out more on how we can help you sell your house, get in touch. A member of our friendly team will happily answer any questions you may have and arrange a free valuation so we can get started finding you your dream home.
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