Does it really matter what Estate Agent you choose...

RedfordML

...if they advertise on Rightmove and take good quality pictures?

We are currently considering switching agents next month, but currently have an excellent 1% deal with current agents but wanted to gain opinion on the above question.

If a potential buyer is serious, will they not just use Rightmove reg, rather than waiting to be contacted by an individual agent?

Any advice welcomed, as any new agent will be above 1% for us and is this going to worth the increase in fee?!

Gonzo33

I've been going back and forth on this recently for my own property. I have finally decided to sack my current agents (which also involves losing my tenants) and instruct another.

I am doing this purely because the LA that is also advertising my property for sale are rubbish at doing a good 'write-up'. They are also not in the high street of where my property is situated, and as a potential buyer I do look in Estate Agents windows as well as on RM.

So I am a vote for a change.

Yorkie1

An EA doesn't just find a buyer, but can be of great help if things stall during the conveyancing process, by chasing up issues if required.

@Gonzo are you sure you have to lose your Ts? I'd take advice from one of the LL associations as that seems wrong.

Peco141

See my thread for some good replies from members:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3715939

Caleb11

I dont even look at the agent as a potential buyer. i look on rightmove & have set up notifications when a house is put on that matches my critera. i dont know about other buyers but i only use the internet so to me i would look at maybe lowering the price or something for more intrest instead of changing agent

CharlieBubble

By just looking on right move you may miss out on houses that don't even make it there. I have been called by agents about houses that haven't even had their details written up yet and haven't been put on any websites.

I chose my selling agents by the number of houses they had on the market, far more than their nearest competition + the guy who came out had a printout from rightmove of the number of houses sold by every agent in the town for 2011 and they had double the sales of their nearest competitor.

googler

Caleb11 wrote: »

I dont even look at the agent as a potential buyer. i look on rightmove & have set up notifications when a house is put on that matches my critera. i dont know about other buyers but i only use the internet so to me i would look at maybe lowering the price or something for more intrest instead of changing agent

You do realise that in Scotland there's areas where RM only has a fraction of the available properties, with the majority to be found on other sites?

bobula

In scotland right move is as much use as. Chocolate teapot

Infact i can say that all there is on it in my area are new builds and very old expired auction properties.

In scotland the "area" solicitors property guide is a much better place to find properties

Brallaqueen

Well, when I was flathunting one estate agent turned up at my address, rather than the flat I wanted to view. So yes, there is a variance in basic competency between estate agents and their ability to sell themselves.

They represent you to the buyer so a too pushy salesman or a bland idiot is going to do you harm.

theGrinch

you cant put a price on effort and effort is what you need from your EA

Caleb11

Really?- I thought that most or all agents used right move even in Scotland. I hate how everything differs up here. So would you need to go direct to agents and ask if they have properies or look direct on their websites? How do you find them if you don't know the agents exist?