Independent Estate Agent or National?

timmyt

My opinion from what I hear is always independent over nationals. What does anyone else think?

Can someone advise which is better.

I have heard that some national agents farm you out to very expensive 'hidden charge' lawyers for the conveyancing, almost implying you have to use them or your offer will not be accepted or your house marketed.

I hear some hold on to your passports on the pre-text of money laundering checks they have to do, so you feel trapped to use them.

I hear some promise national coverage, but no national coverage takes place.

I hear that many have much longer tie ins than independent agents.

I hear that many people consider them as not local, in the sense that they do not use local lawyers and so are outsiders to the local business community and only lower grade property goes to them.

I hear that some nationals might hold on to your HIP you paid for if you go elsewhere


On the other hand, I hear local independents have their ear to the ground and know the locals because that is their business, and that they offer a good honest local service you might expect, using local lawyers who work well together.

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What is true?

Ian_W

Sounds like you've already made you mind up.

Personally I would also always go with local unless I'd heard the local ones were complete t0ssers! I which case I'd go with a corporate.

Can someone advise which is better.

The one that will sell your house quicker, cheaper, give you least hassle and provide the service level you desire.

Seriously, depends on the property you're selling as well. Most I've sold wouldn't have benefited from national coverage (other than being on RightMove) but if you were selling a country mansion somewhere desirable or a £50m gaff in Chelsea might be a different story.

princessamy86

I think the best way to choose an agent is primarily to mystery shop several in your area. See how they treat you in the office, is it clean, tidy and well laid out, are the staff friendly and knowledgable? Act as a potential buyer, and this will give you a good idea of how proactive they will be if they were selling your house. I would then get 3 valuations, 1 independent, 1 national and 1 other, and compare prices and what they offer for the money. I've never heard of an agent holding onto your passport-though they will need to see some form of ID when you sign the contract.

Things to consider: what sort of advertising is included in the fee? Are they on rightmove? What do the brochures look like? Some independents aren't on rightmove but I will stress that not every area is awash with agents that do use it, you'll have to make a judgement call on whether or not it is important.

The only reason an agent would hold onto your HIP would be if it was offered as part of the package, and you would need to pay separately to obtain the HIP. It's cheaper to get your own done off the internet.

I do think local independents tend to give a better, more flexible service, but there are well established offices of national agents who will know the market just as well.

Hope this helps, don't mind answering any questions (I'm an EA).

Sharon333

Hi timmyt

From personal experience I'd say go independant every time, for my last house sale I did dual agency, and the difference in the service on every level was unbelieveable, especially after you signed up with the agencies. My own experience is that the independants are more driven to sell your property as they get paid on sales, where as a lot of the large corporate companies pay their Estate Agents regardless of sales. The independants make the time to call you with updates and you get to know them, where as the nationals rarely call and you are just another name on a list. I'm sure other people's experience may be different to mine, but I hope this helps you in some way!

Fatboy40

I'd say independant, and certainly steer clear of Your Move !.

A neighbour, who admitedly isn't paticularly strong willed, put their house on the market with them after being bulshitted to that they'd get far more than it was worth in the current market. They sold for 17k less than the property was originaly put on the market for, and then they end up buying a property in the wrong area of town that was also marketed by Your Move.

Our EA, a local independant, was having a chat with one of the guys at Your Move, all EA's in a town know each other, and the Your Move EA was quite chuffed about how he sold theirs and then managed to get another one off of his books straight away, and near enough admited to stitching them up.

And from what I can remember Your Move is owned by a parent company that also owns two other hight street EA's, probably best to steer clear of all of them !.

Hopejack

Interesting read. I'm hoping to market our property early next year and have rang two agents so far (one local independent and one national although the negotiators/valuers are self employed so effectively earn what they work!). On talking to them, I preferred the latter but we all know it's not talk they need to do lol!

I think I'm going to get 3 valuations (2 local and the one national) and compare not on valuation but on how they come across and whether they'll budge on fee! I'm hoping to get 1% plus VAT - I might be lucky!!

pie81

I had five agents value our property, two local, two national, and one "London wide". Went with the London wide option in the end.

The national agents tended to be more expensive (i.e. less flexible about negotiating on fees). They also gave higher valuations - perhaps to try to tempt buyers in.

The local agents were more flexible on fees, tie ins etc. However their valuations/suggested asking prices were much lower (I have noticed this on other properties too, not just ours).

London wide agent was in the middle. We went for them but using the slightly higher suggested asking price from one of the national agents.

I would suggest using an independent local agent (assuming they are listed on Rightmove, have a decent website, etc) BUT you don't necessarily have to use their suggested asking price.

princessamy86

I would suggest using an independent local agent (assuming they are listed on Rightmove, have a decent website, etc) BUT you don't necessarily have to use their suggested asking price.

You're absolutely right that nationals give higher asking prices to tempt you to use them, this is NOT the best thing to do. They will beat you down on price after they have got your instruction. Local independents tend to be much more aware of the local market, and they will usually price accordingly. Pie81, can I ask if you have had a lot of interest in your property?

jamesperrett

In my experience it is down to the individual people in that particular estate agent branch. When we sold our last house a couple of years ago we initially went with an independent who seemed to be fairly clued up when they initially contacted us (we put the house on a website first) but turned out to be disappointing when we hired them. They were used to selling cheap flats and terraced houses but didn't really have a clue as to the level of service expected selling larger houses like ours. We dumped them at the end of the initial 3 month contract. We then went with a regional chain who had similar property to ours on their books who were much better.

When I sold my previous property I went with a branch of the Countrywide chain who owned a couple of the estate agents in town. After a few weeks they offered to try putting the house with one of the other local agents they owned. It was interesting that the level of service from the second agent just wasn't up to the first, despite them being owned and run by the same company. Fortunately the first agents actually sold the house.

James

pie81

princessamy86 wrote: »

You're absolutely right that nationals give higher asking prices to tempt you to use them, this is NOT the best thing to do. They will beat you down on price after they have got your instruction. Local independents tend to be much more aware of the local market, and they will usually price accordingly. Pie81, can I ask if you have had a lot of interest in your property?

Yes, two offers at asking price, we accepted one and it finally exchanged today :j

But I should say this is in the London market which is definitely a sellers market at the moment so possibly this wouldn't apply elsewhere.