First time seller

Help1234

Hello, 

We are first-time sellers. The plan is to sell our home in Cheshire and move into rental in Brighton. We are moving to Brighton and think we need to be in the area for a bit before we purchase a property there so need to rent first (approx 6 months - may use long-term airbnb). We will then get a feel for areas where we like and the market and can do viewings easily. 

We have booked for 5 estate agents to do valuations next week and need to list asap. Just wondering if there are any tips with estate agent selection? Do we go with the highest valuation? Can we negotiate fees? We expect ballpark valuations of £200,000 so what would be reasonable fees? What are the important details that should make estate agents stand out or are they much of all the same?

MaryNB

Don't go with the highest valuation just because it's the highest. Their valuation means nothing if nobody will pay that much for your house. If it's too high it will just sit on the market for ages and then you'll have to reduce the asking price anyway. Have a look at what similar houses sold for in your area (sold figures, not SSTC) to give you an idea of what a reasonable valuation might be. The market has been a bit crazy in recent months but it will give you a ball park figure at least. 

Help1234

Thank you, we have looked at similar properties and think £200k is roughly around the right figure.

vixst

For me it was a combination of valuation figure, fees they were charging, how local they were to my property and just how 'interested' they were when they came to look at our flat. Two high street chain estate agents gave us valuations, they were both low (below what we sold for!) and their fees were fairly high, and they just didn't seem 'interested' in our flat at all - probably because they were used to selling the much bigger, grander, more expensive properties in our area. We went with the local independent agent, who incidentally gave the highest valuation and the lowest fee - but the real reason was that he actually took an interest in us and our flat, discussed a strategy for selling and I just felt like I could trust him to get the place sold. So whilst the figures really were important, the most important thing in my choice of agent was how interested they were in our flat and the 'feeling' I got from dealing with them.

badger09

Have a look online at the number & type of properties each of your possible EAs is selling. Some will specialise in different market sectors, so one which usually sells individual £600k (insert appropriate figure) 5 bed detached homes might not be so interested in selling your £200k 3 bed semi (see above).Do any of them appear to have sold many similar to yours?

As has been said, don't just go for the highest valuation. Its likely to be unrealistic and you might have to reduce later to sell. How well do they know your particular area? Do they already have people on their books who are looking for property like yours?

At that level, there probably isn't much scope for negotiation on fees, but if the one you prefer is charging more than one you don't like, ask if they will reduce their fee

When we sold last year, we had quotes from 3 local independents. I took an instant dislike to one of them when he 
a) didn't return my call for several days, and when he did, addressed me as 'Darlin' 
b) gave us a stupidly high valuation but hadn't sold anything comparable 
c) was late for his valuation and didn't call until 45 minutes later. He then said he'd be another 10 minutes, which turned out to be nearer 30     
Needless to say, he didn't get our custom

Good luck

Drawingaline

When we sold I looked on Rightmove and saw which estate agents were selling our type of properties. I actually registered with an online Site where it compared agents. Someone from there rang and went through some of them with me. Not sure it was much use as I had pretty much decided by then, but it did make me feel happy with my choices.

Certain agents sold different types of properties, the agent my parents chose to sell there huge four bed detached house were not the agent I would have chosen to sell my the bed ex council house terrace. 

I contacted three agents. One recommended by a few people, one who I knew did our type of property a lot (lots of sale boards on the estate over the years) and one which rated well on the online site I looked at. 

When they came round I decided to go with the one that had been personally recommended to us. However we ended up going with one of the others. Only because when chatting about what we were looking at they got us in to view a house before it hit the market that ticked all our box's. Vendors gave us two weeks to sell ours so we marketed with them. All worked out fine.

Good luck. I lived in Brighton for seven years (bought and sold our first property there), it's an interesting place. Incredibly expensive though! 

Help1234

Thanks everyone for the tips really helpful! I’ve used a “compare agents” website and it listed all the agents I’ve already booked which is good and also had their fees recorded, ranging from 1% to 1.5%. I don’t think this includes VAT. This seems incredibly expensive possibly over £3000! I was anticipating more like £1000.

Flugelhorn

Recently have used 2 EA and one charged 1% inc VAT (this was unusual - he wanted the business) and the other 0.9% ex VAT (10% reduction on normal rate)

we have far too often gone for the agent we liked and was very friendly, when in fact we should really have gone for the one who was matter of fact  and would get the job done - seems like last 2 sales did that having made errors in the past

Loza2016

When I sold last year I had to valuations. 

Estate agent A valued at £250 EA B at £240. I went with EA B but marketed at £250 and sold for that. 

We did get an offer over that but preferred the buyer offering asking. 

I went with the EA I preferred but not their valuation. 

Greymug

Valuation of the EA is irrelevant as it's just a very rough estimate and the real valuation is done by surveyors.

When I sold my property I checked which one was the agency that had the most properties sold/for sale in my area. It means this agency knows the market and potentially also has a list of people who may be interested. 

Racky_Roo

if your property is just a normal house or flat, you think it'll sell fairly easily and you're wanting to save fees then why not go to someone like Yopa? I know a couple of friends who have used them recently and they seem pretty good. In fact I wish i'd used them last year as I spent £3500 on selling my flat and ended up doing most of the viewings as the EA's were busy or didn't work the hours the buyers wanted to view at