Choosing an estate agent. Questions to ask

Jumex

Hello all,

My wife and I have 3 estate agents to come round next Monday to value our house and give us some information about putting it on the market. We're first time sellers and wondered what kind of questions we should look for, or what to watch out for?

We're aware we've got to ask for the duration of exclusivity, the commission and ensuring it's advertised on the right portal. But what else do we need to cover?

nubbins

Try Hatched, Tepilo or one of the other onliners and take you and your family off to a nice summer holiday on the commission saved.

Jumex

nubbins wrote: »

Try Hatched, Tepilo or one of the other onliners and take you and your family off to a nice summer holiday on the commission saved.

I'm dubious of online estate agents, partly because there's so many out there. I also notice in our area (Salisbury - Wiltshire) not many people use them and those who do seem to have their house on the market for a long period of time.

rosie383

Ask about the fees. Most will work on a percentage of the selling price afaik. Make sure they all know that you are getting quotes from the other agents and bargain them down. I think they probably do like a lot of sales people and go in with a high figure and rub their hands with glee if you just accept it.
If you know anyone else who has sold in the area ask them about the EA they used. Every one of the agents who come out will be so nice, sympathetic, your best buddy, and will show you at least one or two brochures of similar houses in your area that they have successfully sold over the asking price. They will not share with you if they routinely overprice homes then consistently have to reduce them after sitting on the market for a while.
And pay heed to all of the advice on here about getting your own EPC/surveyor/conveyancer etc. Tell them firmly that you know who you will be using, even if you don't at that stage. You don't have to give them any names.

Better_Days

I'd advise you to prepare a list of questions and write down the answers as you go along. In effect 'interview' your prospective EA. Otherwise they can all merge into one.

I'd ask about their strategy for sales progression - just as important as finding a buyer. You'll probably get a lot of flim flam but hopefully you will get an idea how they operate.

If you can view a property through each of the EA's to see how they treat buyers. Are they helpful, courteous, do they follow up for feedback etc. How do they 'sell' the property? Are they enthusiastic and do they emphasise the strengths of the property?

You could ask for their 'time on the market' stats, ie how long it takes them to secure a sale.

Ask them what they do that sets them apart from other EA's in the area. (although whether or not they actually do it is a different matter ).

rosie383

You can ask for market stats but how do you know what is truthful?
Viewing a house with each agent is a good idea. You have a chance for that over the weekend.

penguingirl

We asked what the fees were, did that include VAT (most didn't, so add that on), how long to get on market, what minimum contract was (none of ours had one), what notice period was, who would do viewings, did they have any suggestions about alternative ways to present the house/ spot any jobs. Also ask what websites they are- not all are now on zoopla as some use onthemarket.com which has just launched

eddddy

- Ensure EA's contract is 'no sale, no fee' - avoid any EA that wants a fee for introducing a 'ready, willing and able' purchaser.

- Ensure that the EA doesn't charge a 'withdrawal fee' /'cancellation fee'

- Go for 'Sole Agency' rather than 'Sole Selling Rights'.


And don't base your choice entirely on commission rate - their ability to sell your property (and get a good price) is more important.

Hoof_Hearted

You could ask: "Will you lie to me?"

8iatch

Ask how they validate the chain - I just got caught out by my EA - 2 months into my sale/ conveyancing they found another house in the chain that hadn't been sold.


Ask them how long conveyancing is taking - if they say they can do it in 8-12 weeks they are not be honest atm its taking 4-5 months


check the solicitors in the chain, if any of them are a conveyancing factory, be prepared for the maximum amount of frustration, a smaller solicitor is better - conveyancing houses deal with every piece of paper in the order they find it on the desks and ones in my chain made up the law as they went along


Be prepared for lies - it will happen somewhere along the line

kinger101

I'd recommend you check the websites of the EA's and ensure;

(a) they can be seen on Rightmove and Zoopla;
(b) you're happy with the way the properties have been marketed. I.e.,

(i) have the photos been taken with a decent wide angle lens and adequately lit, or do we only see one third of a dimly lit room at an obscure angle.
(ii) are the descriptions of the properties informative, or is it a load of EA-wankspeak?
(iii) can they be bothered to do floor plans, and if so, is it a normal 2D one or a useless 3D one?