Whilst there are still long-standing stereotypes of estate agents as untrustworthy cowboys in dodgy suits, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Estate agents nowadays see the value of long-term relationships with clients so are transparent about the sales process, proactive with their communication and upfront with their costs.
Despite this, every property sale is unique so it’s important to find the estate agent that’s right for you. Below is a short guide of the most important questions to ask estate agents when deciding who you’d like to sell your home.
1. How much do you charge?
Before signing any contracts ensure you’re clear on all fees and charges. Most estate agents charge a percentage fee of the agreed selling price of your home, though some will present you with additional fees as time goes on. Make sure you know the total cost of what you’ll have to pay so there are no unpleasant surprises along the way.
2. How will you keep in touch and how often?
Selling your home can take months so it’s important to know who you’ll be interacting with throughout this time and how you can get in touch. Will you have a single point of contact? Will they provide regular progress updates? Can you contact them via phone or email? When are they likely to be available?
3. How will you advertise my property?
When selling your home you’ll want to reach as many potential buyers as possible, so you’ll want to know where your estate agent plans on advertising your property.
Long gone are the days of shop windows and newspaper ads, with most marketing conducted online. It’s likely your estate agent will list your property on their own website but also via social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram.
The most popular online platforms are Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location, so ensure at least one of these is included in your contract.
4. What other properties do you have on the market similar to my own?
Most estate agents offer a catch all service, selling all kinds of properties in a particular town or county. Some are a bit more specialist though, focusing on smaller areas or a particular property type, which is particularly helpful if your property is especially unique.
Asking about similar properties on the market is also helpful when gauging how well properties similar to yours are currently selling in your area. You can look at how long they’ve been on the market, at what price etc.
5. How long will it take to sell my property?
This is a difficult question for estate agents to answer, but based on their knowledge of the local area and the current conditions of the housing market, they should be able to provide you with a rough estimate.
If you’re based in or around Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Clacton, Colchester, Diss or Ipswich, and are getting ready to sell your home, get in touch with our specialist team who will take the stress out of the legal side of things. Or, if you’d like a rough idea of our fees, check out our online quoting tool.