What Estate Agent to go with?

Damago

We are looking at getting our house valued within the next week to be listed for sale ASAP. This is the first time we will be selling a property and I wanted to know opinions on what EA to go with, there are a LOT of different EA's in the area we live.

We are really interested in one property that we will put an offer in on (hopefully if still available) once ours is up for sale.

Would it be easier to go with option:

a) The same estate agency as the house we are hoping to buy is listed with - does this make things a lot easier if only dealing with one EA for both sales? My only reservation about these are that they are smaller, not located in the exact area where we are selling (they are located in the next town about 20 mins away but do 'deal' with selling properties in our area)

b) A much larger / more well known EA (who our next door neighbours sold with earlier this year within days of their house being listed). Who also have more local offices and more of a local presence that option A

I know obviously it depends on their fees etc too but would appreciate any advice.

bobbymotors

Go with both. It costs the same nowadays, they don't generally charge more for multiple agency.

stator

Avoid national chains like Sequence group or Connells group, they are more interested in making money by forcing potential buyers to use their brokers/conveyancers than they are in selling your house for your benefit.



Go with a local firm with a good reputation and check they are not associated with a national chain.
You might not want to use the same Estate Agents as the property you are buying. They might have a conflict of interest when issues arrise.

robatwork

bobbymotors wrote: »

Go with both. It costs the same nowadays, they don't generally charge more for multiple agency.

That's not my experience.

G_M

Get 3 (+?) round and talk to them.

* Ask for a price they would recommend marketing at and their realistic view of what it should actually sell for. ask why.

* do not just agree the one offering the highest value. Consider how they explain the value they came to

* ask about fees. Multi-agent and sole agent. Do not agree to 'sole selling' contract (you have to pay the agent even if you find a buyer yourself)

* then negotiate on the fees. (downwards!)

* ask how long their minimum contract period is. If they say they are confidant they can find you a buyer, reply "in that case you don't need a 12 month contract." Negotiate down. 6 or 8 weeks contract max. If you don't like them later, you don't want to be locked in for too long.

* ask how they will advertise. Colour or black/white photos? which websites? etc

* don't be influenced by small 'freebies' - eg a 'free' EPC. The small print will say that if you later switch agents you have to pay (hugely!) for the 'freee' EPC. If you need an EPC, get it yourself for £50.

* choose the one you trust best with the best offering. Ignore the fact one of them is selling the property you want. Irrelevant.

Lurkingtoposting17

On top of GMs advice. I’d go for the one you like the most. I like most people am not a fan of EAs, but the chap I’m buying my house off was good and I would go to him to sell my house as I’d trust him to do a good job. These people are often not trusted but they are sales people at the end of the day and you want a good one not a wet behind the ears teenager attempting to sell your property !