As a London based property developer with over 30 years of industry experience, being able to identify effective estate agents to sell my completed units has been vital to ensuring that premium prices are achieved. As someone who started their career as an estate agent, I have seen both sides of the coin and consider myself well- placed to advise on how to recognise a competent estate agent.
For many people, a property is their largest asset, so it is imperative to take time in instructing an estate agent and consider a variety of options
First impressions count so check out your potential agent‘s website. How are their properties marketed and what are their online images like? They should be of a professional quality, not substandard smartphone shots, and ensure that their property write-ups are informative. With the majority of homebuyers searching online make sure that your favoured agent is signed up to one of the major online portals including Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket.
Try registering as a buyer on their website and see if and how quickly they call you back. Don’t be afraid to test them through this process and find out if the person who makes contact with you is knowledgeable about the area. An effective estate agent should encourage you to go and view properties. It may be worthwhile attending a viewing to sample their customer service and sales technique. Equally, a good agent should conduct the viewing themselves and not leave it to the seller to essentially market their own home.
When it comes to having a property valued many sellers are tempted to instruct the agent that provides the highest valuation. A good estate agent should be able to provide comparable sales evidence from the past three to four months of what they have sold in the area, including how close to asking price they achieved.
Look for an agent with a strong success record, sold boards in the area are a good indication of this. It’s important that your agent is a strong negotiator, so if they are easily talked into dropping their fee, this doesn’t bode well for them negotiating the best sale price with a buyer on your behalf.
Following the above tips will help ensure that you select the best agent to sell your home efficiently and for the best price.
