How to choose the best estate agent for selling your house
26th January 2024
26th January 2024
Selecting a competent estate agent is one of the most important considerations for a successful house sale. The best estate agent will help value your home and sell it quickly at a good price.
Discover all the critical factors to check with these top tips and choose the right estate agent to secure you a successful sale.
Begin your journey into selling your house with these helpful search tips on how to find the best estate agent:
These insights will help build your aspirations and determine which estate agent stands out in your local area.
Narrow down your choices by comparing agents based on their sales record and local market share, and evaluate their property presentation skills with the following tips:
When going through this shortlist, why not arrive prepared with the top questions to ask when comparing agents?
Arrange a meeting with at least three estate agents, discuss their valuation methods and accreditation, and understand their marketing strategies. Meeting face-to-face is essential when discussing offers and asking more in-depth questions about selling your home.
The following areas to enquire about are a valuable checklist to shortlist your options effectively. Meeting with a few estate agents will therefore give you more opportunities to compare:
Interpreting estate agent valuations can be a language of its own, and it's worth considering the approach of tried and tested research to understand valuations with confidence. Whilst overly optimistic figures can sound pleasing, the basis of their valuation needs to be equally solid and realistic based on thorough research into factors such as the house sales in your local area and the property type.
Discover what makes a valuation effective with the following signs, as well as what makes a valuation overly optimistic, to give your business and time to the right candidate when it comes to getting the right results:
It’s also important to understand typical estate agent fees, how to negotiate them, understanding contract terms, and the implications of agreements like sole selling rights.
Estate agents often do most of the organising and management when contacting potential buyers; their support and market insight are essential for a successful sale. This stress-free service additionally comes with fees if they manage to sell your property, which usually falls within the following standard rates. However, these can also be negotiated with estate agents themselves.
Here is a summary of estate agent fees in the UK:
Agency Agreement |
Average Fees |
Sole Agency Agreement (One estate agent selling your property) |
Typical fees start from 1.2% to 1.8% including VAT |
Multiple Agency Agreement (Two or more agents selling your property) |
Typical fees start from 3% to 3.6% including VAT |
A standard estate agent fee will most likely include:
These services are subject to variation and negotiation with some traditional estate agents, so it is vital to check before making a final decision, so you know you will be adequately accounted for. Estate agents are required by law to state what their fees cover; however, it is always safest to check. When comparing estate agents, if there is any difference in prices, service, and success rate, this would instantly indicate which is best to pick.
When negotiating estate agent fees, some estate agents will be willing to adjust their prices to acquire business and sell your property. Depending on your estate agent's expectations, it would be best to familiarise yourself with negotiation etiquette and what mindset you should approach with.
Here are a few tips on how to properly negotiate with estate agents:
Navigating through estate agent contracts can, at first, seem complicated. However, with the proper understanding of your contract, you can be careful to avoid drawbacks and reap the benefits available. Thoroughly discuss the contract details with your estate agent and determine if they are the best option for you regarding budget and experience.
There may be implications to different types of agreements, especially when concerning 'sole selling rights.' This type of contract requires careful consideration as it gives the estate agent the sole right to sell your home during the agreed period. It will require paying even if you find the buyer yourself.
Similarly, look for the 'ready, willing and able' clause in your estate agent contract. This clause stipulates that the agent can still earn a fee if they are still looking for a potential buyer for your property, even if you withdraw from the sale before the exchange of contracts.
Evaluating an estate agent's approach to marketing, including which online portals they use and their strategies when conducting viewings and handling negotiations, is the final shortlisting stage, as these are some of their most valuable assets to you when selling your house.
Here are a few questions to research to see if their marketing and selling strategies are effective:
Are you open to either online or traditional estate agents?
While achieving the same outcome, online and traditional estate agents differ slightly in terms of marketing strategies, fees and service. Whether your plan to sell your house online or by the traditional method is down to personal preference on how you want to sell. Compare the following pros and cons lists for each and discover which options work best for you.
Online real estate agents manage like traditional real estate agents. However, agencies can be entirely run from a website or be part of a hybrid estate agency. Unlike online-only agencies, mixed estate agencies usually offer photography, description and floor planning, but this can come at an additional expense. However, the most significant benefit of online real estate agents is the vast savings on real estate agent fees due to its primarily online platform.
Pros |
Cons |
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Pros |
Cons |
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It might be necessary to change estate agents if a benefit means a better chance of selling elsewhere This change could be due to many factors. For instance, their marketing strategy may no longer align with how you wish to sell, or you may have found a different estate agent who better specialises in your property type.
Choosing the right estate agent is most important, and they should be your strategic partner in making your housing plan achievable and helping sell your house quickly. If not, switching to a better-suited estate agent is the most reasonable solution. Always check the contract you hold with your existing estate agent and any outstanding obligations before you make the switch.
Now you know how to pick an estate agent, here are some helpful signs that you are making an informed decision and balancing personal rapport with professional expertise.
These considerations are essential to finding the right estate agent perfect for your needs, which, if fulfilled, is the ideal starting point for a quick and successful house sale.
When you choose Marchand Petit to sell your property, know our estate agents have over thirty years of experience in property with expertise and knowledge of the South Devon property market that's unique to our leading brand. Our estate agents and marketing team are ready to accommodate you so you quickly get the best results possible.
We are always ready to assist potential buyers on your behalf with everything from accompanied viewings, to local and national marketing online and offline, and negotiations to get the best price for your house. We value liaising with buyers and sellers alike, and understand the importance of ensuring all parties are satisfied with the resulting outcome.
We specialise in selling properties across the South Hams region, such as Modbury, Salcombe and Dartmouth, in prime property locations, as well as coastal and waterfront properties.
Contact us today with any enquiries about selling your property with us and how we can help use our professional expertise in the market to assist you in selling your home successfully.