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There are more than 22,000 estate agents in the United Kingdom, and choosing the best estate agent to sell your home can have a massive impact on the time it takes to sell and the final price. So, how do you find the right one? Of course, you should choose an agent you have a rapport with, who understands your property and brings the right energy. Don’t leave it all to a gut feeling, though. You can and should make some key checks that will guide your decision.
1. Professional Accreditations
Check that your estate agent holds up-to-date and valid accreditations, and don’t just trust a certificate on the wall. Look for membership of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Members of these organisations are held to the highest professional standards and membership demonstrates a serious commitment to the profession and continuous development. For more than a decade, estate agents have had to belong to an approved organisation like The Property Ombudsman, which gives you an official body to complain to in the event of a dispute. If your agent doesn’t have these accreditations, do not proceed.
2. Local Market Performance
While it may be tempting to go with a well-known national chain, you might do better with a local agent with real in-depth market knowledge and a proven track record. Ask them for their average time to sell properties and examples of properties like yours they have sold recently.
Use one of the many free estate agent finder tools online that will give you all the facts, including how many properties an agent has listed, the average time to sell, the percentage of the asking price achieved in the final sale, and more.
96% of property searches start on these websites, so if an agent stands out from the crowd here, it’s a fair sign they will do a good job for you and you can proceed to booking a house valuation on platforms like Purplebricks.
3. Positive Reviews
Online reviews can be an invaluable insight when it comes to choosing your estate agent. Check Google Reviews and independent sites like Trustpilot and Yelp to see what other customers have to say. You might find a simple web search turns up some uncomfortable truths that make you go elsewhere. Look for a solid track record of satisfied customers, and pay careful attention to repeated complaints.
4. Create a Shortlist and Get a Valuation
The Home Owners Alliance recommends you get at least three valuations from separate agents. So, make a shortlist of agents with all the qualities and qualifications you want, and then get them all to submit a valuation, together with a detailed breakdown of their commissions, fees, and services.
5. Commission Variations
Estate agents can charge anything from 0.9%-3.6% of the final sale price, including VAT, and that is a serious price gap. Sole agency agreements can sometimes attract lower fees, typically between 0.9% and 1.8%, while non-exclusive multiple agency agreements can see your fees escalate to 2.4-3.6%.
There is no right answer when it comes to choosing between the two. If you commit to one agent and they can’t find a sale, then inevitably, that costs money. You might pay more for multiple agents, but it may be the smart choice if a fast or slow sale affects your finances or life plans.
It’s a bad idea to focus on price-shopping when it comes to agent commissions. Pick the agent with the best track record, who brings the most value, and treat the additional cost as an investment in your future peace of mind.
Conclusion
It takes an average of 4-6 months to an estate agent to sell your home, and the agent you choose will have a major impact on the timescale, the final price, and the stress levels that go with a big move. So, it pays to do some research before you start, focus on the important points, and choose the right person for the job the first time.
Also Read: Renovating to Sell: A Strategic Blueprint to Maximise Resale Value