With the housing market being robust at the moment, mainly due to the stamp duty holiday, Estate Agents have had a really bumper year, in the main. Properties have been selling like proverbial ‘hot cakes’ and a lot of Agents have been inundated with viewings, sales contracts and sale progression paperwork. Choosing an Estate Agent can make the difference between a seamless sales process or a nightmare!
They say that moving home is one of the most stressful things in life, so If you’re thinking of selling your home, here’s our top 6 tips on how to choose the right fit for you to ensure your move is as easy and seamless as possible.
Tip No 1 Decide what type of Estate Agent would suit you
Traditional Estate Agencies usually have glass fronted offices, where they can show their stock to passers by. They’re usually located on high streets where there’s lot of traffic flow. They usually offer a complete service, with a ‘no-sale, no-fee’ contract.
However, over the years, there’s been an emergence of online only estate agents, which operate solely online. They don’t have offices and very often they insist on an upfront fee. Many times, they don’t have the backup support and you may find that you’re doing a lot of the work yourself, like taking your own images and uploading them yourself. This is all fine if you’ve got the time and the technical knowledge, but it can be a faff, particularly if your photographs don’t show your property in it’s best light!
Tip No 2 Do your homework
And by that we mean take a stroll down your local high street and make a point of looking in the Estate Agents windows. Are their offices tidy, their windows clean and showcasing properties properly? Are they advertising similiar properties to yours? Is their advertising leaning more toward rental properties or sales? These questions will give you an idea of what sort of agency they are and what is their bread and butter income.
Take a look at their websites too! You can easily form an opinion of a company by looking at the team members, reading customer reviews and seeing how long their stock takes to sell.
Tip No 3 Make a short list
Once you’ve got an idea of the Estate Agencies in your local area, make a short list of the ones that appeal to you. Ask friends and neighbours if they’ve had any experience. Also check out if they’re members of NAEA Property Mark (formally, the National Association of Estate Agents) or RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Accountants)
Every Estate Agent must belong to an Ombudsman scheme for dealing with unresolved complaints, and it’s essential that you check for this.
Tip No 4 Look at one of their listings in detail
It’s a good idea to take a look at how they display and layout their listings. Is the photography adequate or outstanding? Do they describe their properties thoroughly or have they got limited information? Is there a floor plan, a video – anything that persuades potential buyers to book a viewing? Do they have a downloadable brochure for potential buyers? All these things will show you that the Estate Agent has gone the extra mile to promote their properties well.
Tip No 5 Do they advertise on the major portals
It doesn’t make sense for an Estate Agent not to advertise on the major portals, such as rightmove.co.uk, zoomla,co.uk, because they can get infinitely more exposure of their stock online and the more exposure, the more sales. So check that they’re advertising your property in as many appropriate places as possible.
Tip No 6 Work with your Agent, not against them
Once you’ve decided on your Estate Agent, having perhaps spoken to about 3, justified the valuation and taken your circumstances into consideration, it’s important that you both feel comfortable with each other and work as a team. Your Agent should have a list of ‘hot’ prospects already lined up who he knows may be interested in your property.
By working together, it’s a win-win situation. They help you sell your property, explain their sales progression to you, assist with conveyancing Solicitors and will also work with the buyer to ensure a seamless process.
If you have any questions or need some help when choosing an Estate Agent, we’re here to help. We are situated in Gloucester and are here to help you sell or rent your house. Call us on 07832 359448 or visit our website www.ashgroveonline.co.uk