Estate Agents/ selling tips East Belfast

missma

Hi

Currently living in a two bed terrace which we are considering putting on the market as it was never the long term plan and doubt it will ever be the "right time " to sell again for years. Propertys have sold on our street/ area in recent weeks. We have wanted to move to something bigger for quite a while and have some savings available.

Just wondering has anyone any advice, I have contacted one estate agent for a valuation, I will probably get a couple of others into value to. Just wonder if anyone has any tips or advice. Is it possible to haggle on estate agent fees. Do not neceessarily want to go with cheapest but good all round service. Think I would also prefer that estate agent did the viewings.

Thanks in advance.

Old_Git

not sure on fees but some agents ask how muchs are you looking for it ,and then market accordingly .
They should tell you what its worth not based on what you want .If its overpriced it will never sell.As for viewings ,I have done viewings and also let the agent do the viewings .I prefered to do the viewings . I knew the house ,I knew the switches and thermostats ect ,I knew the boiler history . I completed on a house on Friday ,met the agent twice ,and I never met the vendors .

jtk174

Get several quotes from Agents. You can certainly haggle with the more expensive ones. If you are going to do the viewings yourself, be prepared for all the questions people ask. Hopefully, nothing you won't know the answer to.

Buyers will also try to offer you way below the asking price and ask you to take it off the market and deal direct with them. Know how to deal with those questions, if you handle all viewings.

I did a survey using propertynews when a friend in the East was selling. I looked at Agents in the area and how many sales each had. The top 2 sales were McCleary and Pooler. I think both of these agents have the lowest fees.

Whoever you choose, make sure you set rules with the agent with regard to viewings, especially if you are going to do the work. People will make appointments and not keep them and will also turn up without making an appointment.

Have a Solicitor lined up for when you accept an offer. Price around here also and make sure you get price in writing, once you retain one. The price they quote should include VAT. I have yet to deal with a Solicitor who actually does and will try to add VAT on to the price they quote you when they produce a bill!

missma

Thanks for replies. Never even thought about having a Solicitor ready. Not ready to put a For Sale up just yet anyway, even we did think we probably would need to start looking ourselves. We had thought if we got here sold about renting for a while. Would that put us back in First Time Buyer situation???

RTNI

Selling and then buying definitely puts you in a stronger position as you have nothing to sell. We didn't do that as would have meant having to "move" twice and associated cost. Although it all fell into place nicely with regard to our buyer being cash buyer (no mortgage needed) and the place we wanted being the end of chain and someone just privately renting.

I can give you the names of my solicitor and estate agent if you wish via PM. I would recommend them both and I managed to negotiate a deal with the agent for the selling fees.

NAR

Can you remember which agents sold houses on your street? They may be able to give you fairly accurate guidance on your selling price based on recent knowledge and sales.

missma

just bumping this thread, any more views?

missma

Hi wee update, had 2 estate agents round, both values similar but fees slightly different. Thinking of getting another one round this week so hard to know which one to go with. Thinking of taking the plunge and putting it on the market. If anyone even want to pm there views feel free. House is in east belfast

Honkycat

I found you can negotiate fees. Play them against each other .... they won't want to lose the business over the fee.

missma

I kind of wondered if you could. Every penny counts