Where to Find Estate Agent Reviews

poshsimontemplar

Hi,

If we're to drop the agent we have at the moment, for reasons I won't divulge here, how can I go about finding genuine and accurate reviews of other agents in the area?
I did find a couple of review sites but it seems they are either out-of-date, or don't have the agents in the area listed.

Any other ideas are welcomed in the minefield.

Thanks

Senior_Paper_Monitor

I'm quite a fan of ...


www.freeindex.co.uk

The_Deep

http://www.allagents.co.uk/

googler

Just google 'EA name+reviews' ..

rachhh

reviewcentre.com has quite a lot.

poshsimontemplar

Thanks for the replies.
I originally searched google and bing for reviews but didn't find much. so far those others haven't got much in the region I'm seeking, or current reviews, it's as if nobody wants to review agents.
Why would that be?

Davesnave

Why not review your local agents yourself by going through their web sites and getting a feel for the way they present property?

Some agents really haven't a clue how to take photos, write concise descriptions for the target market, or even give themselves any kind of image, so you can weed those out.

Also, if you watch the market in your own area for a while, you may see who is shifting property through presenting it well at realistic prices. I know two agents in my area who seem to do well in this respect. Floor plans are essential too. Lazy agents don't bother.

You can also ring the agents about a property like yours and gauge what kind of response you get. Do they follow-through, flag-up similar property and so on, or do they just say "We have a few more like that on our web-site"?

The rest is down to gut instinct when you meet them, always bearing in mind that 'nice' people aren't necessarily the best at driving through a sale. Some offices have front desk staff who do a good job with customer relations, but they keep a sharp-suited Rotweiller in the back room. Not the practice where I live now, but it was where I came from!

HopScotch

It's not exactly what you're after but I recently came across a letting agents review site aimed at students. They seem to cover some of the big LA/EA's in my area.

I'm too new to post links but I think they're called student landlorder.

Sorry I can't be more help!

Hoof_Hearted

Why not use an online agent and save £££££'s....

poshsimontemplar

Thanks for the replies.

I don't believe objective reviews can be done by anyone other than someone using the service of the business under review. I can't do a review of a restaurant if I don't eat its food and experience its service. With estate agents, its occasional use by most, but that experience of their service is invaluable for others.

as the house I'm selling is in another part of the country its not practical to visit easily nor to knowwhich agents are selling and which are not. This is one of the reasons why a review site would be of value.