Choosing an estate agent

[Deleted User]

We want to sell our house, but there are so many estate agents in our area (7 on our high st, another 4 nearby) we don't know who to go with.

Most are asking for 1% fees. Annoyingly, the one we feel might be best is asking 1.25% - 1.5% depending on the sale value.

So.. are estate agents much of a muchness, or could paying an extra £500 quid really help?

How do you go about picking the best agency?

nomoneytoday

If the EA is better, then surely they can charge more?

[Deleted User]

nomoneytoday wrote: »

If the EA is better, then surely they can charge more?

But are they better? Are they knowingly charging more to appear better? How else can you differentiate your business when there's 10 others competing for houses?

I wish there was a website I could use to find out how many houses each estate agent had sold in the area.. The best I can currently do is search sites like Rightmove and look at the sold/on offer properties.

googler

Why do you 'feel they might be best' ...?

[Deleted User]

googler wrote: »

Why do you 'feel they might be best' ...?

Well, they're who we bought the house with originally, had a couple of recommendations; nothing other than a 'feeling'. Now I don't like decisions based on those sorts of ideas, so i'd prefer a more appropriate mechanism of choosing.

googler

A couple of recommendations are a good place to start, but you might consider asking them all -

What can you offer that your competitors can't?
What will you do that your competitors won't?
What marks you out as different from your competitors?

The answers to these questions should make your choice clear.

Marco12452

Pick the best 3 or 4 that offer wide coverage and fit your expected outlay.
Ask them all for a valuation of your home, they should then explain the fees, coverage (both shop front and internet) and any other aspects they can offer.
Tell them all (even the lat one) you have one more valuation (this can also bring out any further offer they might be willing to make) before you make a decision on the agency and then evaluate the offers and conditions at your leisure.

[Deleted User]

Hmm, its not a very objective mechanism. Sadly, due to the lack of true metrics, it may be the only option.

halfone

I think there can be a bit of discretion on the percentages. If you’re more inclined towards one particular estate agent, for whatever reason, it won’t hurt to ask why they charge extra when everyone else is at 1%. They might be willing to go for slightly less % to secure your business.

GlynD

Ask someone else in your area. Even your lawyer might have a good idea.

kingstreet

If one of the agents says they have someone waiting to view, but they can't arrange it until they have your signed contract, I'd be very careful in instructing them.

These viewers have a nasty knack of not wanting to view after all once you're tied in to a contract you wouldn't have accepted without the lure of the urgent viewer...