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Selling your house: How to choose an estate agent

Monday, 17 October 2011 3:00 PM

The basics of selling your property are simple. Sell it as quickly as you can for as higher price as you can. But unfortunately it is not as easy as that and there are many contributing factors. Picking the best estate agent can be a minefield. But with your house undoubtedly your biggest asset it's important to take the time to get the decision right.

Andew Ellinas, Sandfords estate agents director, offers AboutProperty his foolproof method of finding the best estate agent possible.

Streets ahead

A walk or drive around your local neighbourhood will reveal who the most popular estate agents are. However, watch out for boards that have been up for a long time but never seem to change from ‘for sale’ to ‘sold’.

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: If properties seem to go quickly, then check what the price is compared to other properties in the locale. It may be the skill of the agent or it may be that they are priced too low.

Local experts

Before you choose an agent, make sure you’re happy they know enough about the local area. Do they know the schools with the best Ofsted reports? Can they tell you which mainline station your local trains travel in to? Ensure they know the answers to the questions prospective buyers might ask.

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: We are very passionate about our local areas of Marylebone and Regent’s Park and get involved in many community events with local businesses enabling us to be a real source of knowledge for prospective buyers.

Are you being served

Estate agents have a whole raft of avenues to market your home today so make sure the agent you choose is taking full advantage of marketing opportunities available. They should be advertising your home on national property search portals as well as specialists, local portals, advertising in local newspapers, have good window displays and be able to offer you a 'for sale' board.

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: Have a look at how they have marketed other properties. Are the particulars enticing, have they taken good photographs; is it grammatically correct with no spelling mistakes etc?

The price is right

Estate agents have their own reason for pricing a property unrealistically high or bargain basement low. To avoid being exposed to their own agendas, do as much research as possible. There are various websites around that will tell you recent selling prices of homes in your neighbourhood, and check the current selling price of similar properties online and in local newspapers.

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: Remember there are lots of factors that affect house prices such as number of rooms, interior condition and even what side of the road you live on.

Value for money

Negotiating a low fee with an agent may prove to be a false economy, because it won't necessarily generate the high levels of enthusiasm needed to get the best result. Find out if the estate agent will consider working with an incentive to benefit both parties.

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: In addition, grill an agent about their lists of waiting buyers. They should be able to tell you how many buyers are registered with them, so you know they’ll be a raft of viewings in the diary as soon as you put your home onto the market.

Personality

It may sound obvious but do you like the agent as a person? Are they well turned out and are they the sort of person you would like to deal with. It is also important to visit their offices and see what potential buyers are going to see.

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: Try and meet some of the other agents in the office as they are very likely to be looking after the viewings as well. They need to be as equally professional and likeable as the agent you appoint.

Regulations

Check to see if your estate agent is signed up to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), The Guild of Professional Estate Agents (GPEA) or the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA).

Top Tip Andrew Ellinas: Members of each organisation voluntarily sign up to a code of practice and are generally taken more seriously than those who are not.

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