Key questions to ask Estate Agents..

zain

We are due to put our place on the market after Xmas and i can't decide how to pick an estate agent and would like to know some key questions to ask each of them.

My first one would obviously be:

1. What is your fee?

I wonder if we could build up a list through this this thread.
Any thoughts.

cattie

Well I'd ask how quickly properties similar to yours have been selling, along with the following:
how long is the contract for
Is January a good time to be marketing, or is it perhaps better to wait till Feb/March
Do they list floorplans as well as photographs & use rightmove.

Poppycat

My property was recently sold on the 2nd day. We got 3 EA to value, two came in at 112k and one at 110k. We went for the one with 110k because he seemed to no what he was doing, also a house down the same street sold quickly which was with same EA. One EA we had we was far too pushy and we don't like being pushed as much as he was a nice guy.

I did try and get the commission down from 1.24% but they wouldn't budge I did get the min contract down from 3 months to 4 weeks though just in case.

They were quick on the ball, 2 buyers the day before officially on the market mainly for house down road as they missed out. In the end it went because I felt there was little on the market at present on terraced houses which we have and also we had trouble finding a suitable house for ourselves a semi detached.

We get a sign on front of house, local rag advert (although it was sold by then), virtual tour, floor plans and the EA leaflets you get on spec of house, internet advertising which has virtual tour. Very polished and detailed pictures unlike some EA we used to look for houses. I think you can not have enough detail it wastes time for all concerned not having adequate pictures, floor plans etc.

MortgageMamma

Why dont you bypass the agent completely and try selling through an online agency yourself you could save yourself loads. have alook at houseladder.co.uk and netmovers.co.uk

cwcw

Ask them where they advertise their properties.

pigeonpie

Are you in or near London? One EA told me they don't like virtual tours as would be burglars use them! Good photos should be enough if that worries you. You can usually tell how many properties they have on their books - look in the window or get a mate to pose as a buyer in your price range. I would get chatting and just see how well you get on with them, as you are going to have to rely on them & deal with them a lot. (btw in London Rightmove isn't up to date as property moves too fast and the EAs don't update it).
If you have a local solicitor you trust, you could ask which agents are selling property in your area.

zain

Thanks for all your tips.
Curious about bypassing the estate agent. Any one had any experince of this?

pusscat

Ask to see samples of their brochures - the quality is often poor - spelling mistakes, poor photographs (and if I see one more firepace listed as "adams" I shall scream!)

Do they do accompained viewings or do they just send the viewers along and expect you to do viewing? (depends on what you want)

Are they members of NAEA and other regulatory bodies - if not, then why not (avoid at all costs)

Ring them up and ask for information on some houses - see how efficient they are

Where do they advertise - do they use rightmove/primelocation etc? Do they have their own website? Do they use the local papers? National coverage etc?

How long are you tied in for? Is it sole agency or multi? What is the notice period to end the contract?
What if you find your own buyer - can they still claim the comission?

Do they hold "open house days"? these are easier as you only have to keep the place spotless for a day, not every weekend!!
Are they open weekends/evenings/Sundays? Do theya rrange viewings at these times (again depends on what you want)

Do they check that buyers are honest about their market position (first time, mortgage etc) If so, how and at what point in the proces?

Do you feel comfortable with them?

Read the small print in the contract and ask to have it explained - make sure you uinderstand what you are comitting to.

Thats all I can think of for now.....

I used one EA who had keys to the place as I worked abroad a few nights a week. They were always supposed to ring and arrange viewings beforehand - twice they turned up with buyers when I was in bed!!! They pulled every trick in the book and then went bankrupt - lucklily. all I lost was a 6 weeks, a bit of sleep and a set of keys, but it could have been a lot worse.

Poppycat

I started looking at house before mine was on the market just to get a taste of whats around. I found one EA very unhelpful, 20 minutes late to meets us at the house for viewing, didnt say sorry, didnt offer any advice, unfriendly bunch. We almost left before EA showed up.

Ironically we bought the house via that EA as there was little that we could find that we wanted

clutton_2

pretend to be a buyer from out of town, and see if they can give you clear and accurate instructions as to how to get to the property to do a drive-by. The number of times EA simply cannot give you good directions - if a buyer cannot find the house, they wont buy it !!!!

some EA's put a map on the back of the Details

carrielouise80

morning,

I'm a part time estate agent, my advice is there should be no lock in period, check how long their notice period shouldyou want to leave them. Check how often your property will be advertised in local and regional press (most agents put properties on to a rota base sysem) however some of the national agents only get 6-10 advert boxes per week and mostdo not advertise on bank holidays!) Check what web sites your property will be advertised on (the net is now the best way to advertise a property that along with a for sale board are the mosteffective forms of advertising) your property should be on Rightmove. Check if they print their brochures off in the branch or send to an external printers - if it's the latter there could be an unnecessary delay with the distribution of these. Check how they mail out their properties (any good agent will text/email and post perspective applicants).

Don't be bullied or feel obligued to use their financial packages/solicitors and so forth - YOU WILL pay a premium for what is in the majority sub standard service.

Floor plans are a great thing to have on your brochure - these should come as standard. Butabove all go with your instinct... Please be aware that some agents will grossely over price your property to get you on the market, please don't be fooled get at least 3 agents out a national one, local independent and a regional one. It is currently a buyers market (in North east england anyway). Oh and January is a fantastic time to sell, straight after new year the office goes mental with people wanting to fresh start for the new year.

Hope this helps - feel free to msg me with any further queries you may have.