Selling. Agent question

Peco141

Hoping to sell the house in the next couple of months and move up the property ladder.

How do you decide which agent to use when selling a property as there seems to be so many options here in Scotland with Remax, Your Move, Countrywide, Connextions, Bensons, etc etc etc?
Also is it worth considering saving on agents fees and do it privately via local newspaper adverts and in local supermarket noticeboards, gumtree etc perhaps?

Advice appreciated.

googler

You ask them to your home, interview them with some pertinent questions about what they can do for you that's better than the others.

You establish what marketing they'll do for you, what internet exposure they have, what they do in print, what else they'll be doing, etc.

Since you'll need a Home Report to sell, which will have a surveyor's valuation, then to a certain extent it doesn't matter what the agent thinks your house is worth, as the valuation in the Home Report will be the prime factor affecting what your buyer will be willing or able to pay.

Who seems to sell the most in your area? Who has the most boards with 'Sold' on them? Who has the most offices? Who's most visible to the buyers? These are the type of things you need to consider.

It's a big decision. You need to give it an appropriate amount of thought and consideration.

Oh, and do you really mean you want to SELL in the next couple of months (good luck with that), or merely that you want to get it on the market within that period...?

JQ.

I ask every single person I know and get personal recommendations.

fairy-girl

In my area (East of Scotland) the vast majority of properties are sold via Solicitors & Estate Agents who advertise via TSPC, ESPC, GSPC, depending on location.
In my opinion Your Move etc is not widely used in Scotland, most people go with the Property Centre who are online and also print a free newspaper weekly which goes out to the banks and offices, shops etc. I have never seen Remax being used here either.

Hope this helps.

Lizbetty

We decided to go for an estate agents because I'm a coward and prefer them to take the calls and do the negotiating. We are being charged 1.25% fees (make sure you negotiate them down, we got 0.25% knocked off for saying we preferred them but they weren't the cheapest), and we will appear on Rightmove which was a priority for us, as well as other property sites. The agents we chose (out of 3 who came) are a small, friendly firm, which was also important for us. The man was nice who valued it, they were realistic with the price - no false hopes! And everyone we've spoken to in their offices have been great. And human!

One braver person we know sold it himself, stuck a for sale board up as he was in a heavy traffic area and it went within weeks. The negotiations were straight forward and it completed quickly.

One of our neighbours is selling through a firm I'd never heard of - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/estate-agents/agent/eMoovcouk/National-88484.html

Before it appeared up on Rightmove, I googled the agents and found their site http://www.emoov.co.uk/. I couldn't find the property on the website and felt I would be put off if I was a buyer as it looked a bit amateur. But then I noticed it did appear on Rightmove, which I understand it's not possible to do if you sell privately? (An agent told me that, but may have been fibbing...) And they are very cheap. I prefer sticking with our agents to be honest, but I thought I'd throw it into the pot in case anyone else might be braver than me!

Good luck with whatever you decide. Ours goes up next Saturday. It's scary isn't it? And exciting. I hope all yours goes as you'd hope. x

Sorry. Durrrr. Just noticed you're in Scotland!!! Anyway. Will keep this on in case any of it is relevant to anybody! Sorry about that.

Peco141

googler wrote: »

You ask them to your home, interview them with some pertinent questions about what they can do for you that's better than the others.

You establish what marketing they'll do for you, what internet exposure they have, what they do in print, what else they'll be doing, etc.

Since you'll need a Home Report to sell, which will have a surveyor's valuation, then to a certain extent it doesn't matter what the agent thinks your house is worth, as the valuation in the Home Report will be the prime factor affecting what your buyer will be willing or able to pay.

Who seems to sell the most in your area? Who has the most boards with 'Sold' on them? Who has the most offices? Who's most visible to the buyers? These are the type of things you need to consider.

It's a big decision. You need to give it an appropriate amount of thought and consideration.

Oh, and do you really mean you want to SELL in the next couple of months (good luck with that), or merely that you want to get it on the market within that period...?

Hoping I guess. Going to fix bits and bobs, give it a fresh coat of paint and do the garden up a little to make it more presentable. Plan on getting it on the market in a couple of weeks time then fingers crossed we get a buyer. Failing that I guess we'll have to consider part exchanging.

I've seen lots of Remax, Connextions, Countrywide, Your Move, Slater Hogg, Ross Estates signs... and many more in my area of South Lanarkshire. I guess the main question I should be asking agents is how much is their selling fees. The only reply I've had so far is from Ross Estates:

Thank you for your enquiry. We offer a free valuation service that enables us to tailor a quote for fees and marketing to you and your properties individual needs. If you would like to take advantage of our free valuation service please do not hesitate to contact us on 01355 266605 or 0141 641 0200, alternatively e-mail back the address of the property you need valued with some suitable times to meet our agent at the property and we will arrange an appointment. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

So it's seems they are reluctant just to give the percentage fee, unless it varies dependant on the price of the property. Getting the property on Right move would be a priority I guess but I think most agents offer that service.

G_M

Always check how long you are tied in for to them contractually. If they dissapoint you, you don't want to be stuck with them for 6 months!

Negotiate on the fee, but also negotiate a short contract.

As soon as they start saying "Oh we have lots of buyers looking for properties like yours" you come back with "Oh in that case you'll only need 6 weeks contract to get me a buyer".

Peco141

Never even thought about that G_M, thanks for the advice.

googler

fairy-girl wrote: »

I have never seen Remax being used here either.

Whereabouts in the East are you? City? Rural?

DVardysShadow

Peco141 wrote: »

Hoping to sell the house in the next couple of months and move up the property ladder.

Property ladder? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Peco141

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Property ladder? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You know what I mean.