Local Estate Agent or National Estate Agent

aalleexx

Hello,
weighing up the path of either using a local estate agent or a national estate agent , I have a property which is , according to the  advise I have received, only going to appeal to a limited range of buyers predominantly people who are looking to downsize.  With this in mind what benefits does a national estate agent bring which a local one can`t .For example to they have marketing strategies which will focus on the buyers that I need to attract ?
Thank you

Justonemorecupoftea

I would go local every time. In my experience as a buyer national chains feel like little more than call centres trying to sell you mortgage products and, as a seller there is very little difference in cost (unless you're talking online only).

All EAs will market your property nationally (e.g. via rightmove), but if it's someone relocating a local EA should be able to answer any relevant questions.

When you get your 3 valuations from the EAs, ask them about how they would promote the house to relevant parties. 

AdrianC

By "national", do you mean a national chain who have a local office... or do you mean an online-only?

I wouldn't factor in whether a local EA was part of a national chain or not, either way. They're all as good as the staff in the local office - which may be a franchise.

I wouldn't touch an online-only with your bargepole.

gwynlas

When you say local do you mean independent or branches that are local to you. Winkworth for example are a national name but local branches are owned by individuals and vary branch to branch. Most EAs tend to advertise on Rightmove which so  you are probably best taking the free valuations offerred from three agents and deciding for yourself based on how they present properties for sale.

purplebutterfly

Our vendors used an online only national EA who have been a nightmare from the start (it took 3 days of phone calls to get a viewing booked!) and took the worst photos you have ever seen.  No floor plans, no room dimensions on the listing. 

They are also charging a flat fee of £3000 whereas even our most expensive local agent would cost £1500 at this price point. 

We actually used that local agent to sell my grandad's house in 2020 and they worked their bottoms off, took amazing photos, added a great video tour and sold it during lockdown.  

The cheapest local agent is £995 flat fee.

The online only EA that our vendors have used "promise" to sell your house within 30 days.  6 months later our vendors had had 2 viewings and one offer - ours. 

Our vendors admit they were naive but were desperate to sell and this online EA has an amazing sales pitch to get custom. 

Do your research and definitely get 3 or more valuations. 

aalleexx

Thank you all for your comments ,they have been a great help . For reference when I referred to Local EAs i did mean EAs which have one office and operate in my area .I will be staying away from online EAs!!

tdawber

Yes please stay away from online EA’s they have targets and have large caseloads that are unmanageable this is In my experience. 

babyblade41

Online EA's are crap 

Bonniepurple

Local every time.  The estate agents we sold through we bought through.  In a small town where everyone knows everyone it helps.  The ones we’re buying through are the ones that my parents bought through back in the 1990s!

RoseGold2021

I went National, biggest mistake ever! Didn’t read small print, & got locked into a 3 month contract. Tried to get out of it but I was threatened if I breached (ie employing another EA), I would be liable for extortionate costs. In that 3 months of them hanging onto my property I had….*drum roll* 5 viewings! Not only that they wrongly advertised, & make huge errors which I feel lost me potential viewers. In the end, I terminated the contract 2 wks early, & switched to Local, & they sold my property in the end. 

Like someone else has suggested, do your research!! Always check how long their contracts are, & what their costs are. The National one were charging, £2500, unlike local, £1200! Nice little saving!

Thrugelmir

What's your target market for the property?