First Valuation - Now had the third!

Mrs_Optimist

Use your gut instinct - we did. Doozergirl thanks for your input that has made me feel metter (most people have thought us MAD to go with a one man band rather than an established company) We just thought that he would have more incentive to sell our house because no sale, no wages!

We too had the spiel about largest agent, etc but at the end of the day we cannot see a problem with the sale of our house so do not need the reputation of an agent to help us. And also we too had the agent with low valuations just wanting the qucksale - they were salaried rather than owners which DOES make a difference.

Trust your instinct.

JonathanA

When we sold our house at the turn of the year, we had 3 valuations. One was from a small family run estate agent who charged commission of 1.2% plus VAT & valued at £225k. The second valued at £230k, fees of 1.5% and was part of a national chain, but knew his stuff and was very good. The third was a regional company, valued initially at £209 - can't remember the fees but about 1.5%. When I challenged the valuation, he immediately said that it may be worth £219k absolute max, but if we wanted a quick sale (we did) then he wouldn't recommend such a high price.

We had nothing really to benchmark against, we had extended our house significantly & houses in our road don't come up for sale very often. The 3rd agent also gave the spiel about being the biggest agent in the area, sold more properties than any other etc & does frequently have 4 or 6 pages of adverts in the local press.

We went with the first agent - family run - but put the house on the market at £229k. It sold within 4 weeks for not much less than the asking price. I do think that well established, local companies give better service. They had fewer properties on their books, the staff all knew all the details about our house and they gave regular feedback after viewings etc. Mrs optimist is right, trust your instincts, go with the people who you think will really work for you.

In our case, the house we wanted to buy was also for sale with the same agent that we marketed ours with, so there was an added incentive for them, but to be honest either agent 1 or 2 I would have been comfortable with.

Gut instinct and will they work hard to secure your sale? Try them out, go and view some of their properties you may be interested in buying. Do they follow up after viewing etc?

Jonny_B_3

Thanks for those inputs!

Just had the 3rd valuation, this was actually the EA we bought the house via. A friend has also used this company recently and said whilst they might not be the brashest, in your face company they are friendly and good at staying in touch.

She valued it at the same as the first.

Fees were 1.5% but when I said the first was 1.25% she brought it down to that. Either way the second was 3% and then 1.75%.

Now I feel like I'm in a good position. My fave 2 (ironically last time we moved we sold through one and bought through the other) have valued it at the exactly the same and offered me the same fee. I really can't choose between them so whichever lowers their fee and/or has less of a lock in will get it I suppose. Both are local, well established EA's.

Anymore thoughts? Thanks for the input so far :T

Jonny_B_3

Still can't decide between the first and the third. Might be tossing a coin at this rate!

lush_walrus

If you can't decide, you could try asking them both to market it multi agency for the 1.25%. If they are both non big chain, probably they will go for it and if they don't then you can decide on the 1.

Its always worth a try with these things, if the EA thinks your property is very sellable & the market is good, then you are in a good position to negotiate as they will feel that it will be quick to sell (and therefore low costs, so low fees cover it). BUT this only works with the non chains..The valuers in big chains have very little powers to negotiate as they are part of the big machine....The little ones are easier to get deals with

lynzpower

have you tried googling thier names in case there are ranting tales anywhere on the internet from previous vendors using them? that might tip the balance?

Jonny_B_3

Good idea, nothing came up though !

Jonny_B_3

Afetr much consideration we went for the 3rd agent, especially after I beat them down to 1% :j

Thanks for everyones advice.