Which Estate Egent do i choose??

nutmegman

Number 1 - came in his 5 series beeemmmeerr had a quick whizz round and suggested £185,000 - £190,000 he said you could go for £195,000 but it would be slow, fees are 1.1% (there listings on rightmove dont link to the full brochure, neither can you see the full detials on righmove) They are located on the main highstreet he was in the house for 20 mins

Number 2 - very nice bloke indeed he had time for us and was open in his discussions he spent around an hour with us, his fees are 1% and he valued the house around £200,000 with a recomendation to market the house at £199,950. They are on rightmove with full links to the brochure etc. The problem with this agent is that he is not on the main highstreet so would get less footfall past his office.

Number 3 - An ok lady and sugested maketing the property just under £200K they are part of a larger group so when the are in the local paper they have loads of houses from out of the area. fees again 1%

All agents would not move on the fees.

I would like to go for agent 2 who does not have an office on the main highstreet, however, thier office is easyily located.

Where do people start when searchin for property, internet etc? will i loose out by going with the agent who is not on the high street.

I want to go with number 2 as he came across the best

I am in Stone Staffordshire

Cheers

poppysarah

Which one had the biggest knot in his tie (number 1?)?

Number one has an eye on the market, mentioning a quick sale price.

Ring them all up and ask them as if you were planning on buying in the area. How do they deal with you? (ok, get someone else to do it, or use a relatives address and name) - but this way you know how they deal with people.

Ask them how many people they have on their books wanting houses like yours.

Chances are they all get the same customers - so you want someone who's efficient and easy to deal with.

What tie in did they all ask for?

cheeks

Personally, when ive been looking to buy a house i went round every estate agent i could find. I don't think it makes much difference whether they're on high street, its not the type of shop you walk past and think "oh yes, i must buy a new house"! When you're looking for a house you make the effort to seek out all Estate Agents. Great idea from poppysarah about ringing each agent pretending to be a potential buyer to see how they deal with you. Hope this helps

PasturesNew

I'd never go to an estate agent's offices. I'd always look on RightMove.
This is espeically true if you live in an area where most buyers are from out of the area (e.g. seaside/2nd homes; retirement area; large growth area).

Number one seems the best bet as he seems the only one that indicated there are two prices: the price you'd like and the price he could probably sell it at.

jammie*dodger

How long is the term of contract? If it's too long you may not be able to terminate quickly in the event that they turn out to be c**p. The problem is if you terminate before the end of the contract and get another in the 1st one is entitled to commision if you sell before the end of the original contract.

Rob.

Felicity

Ring each one up tomorrow and request if they have any houses for sale (in the area you are selling).

If any of them don't take your name and number within the first 5 minutes for the call cross them off your list (they are NOT on the ball).

If any of them mention they possibly have a property coming on the market in the next week or so (ie YOURS) bingo ..... go for them! They are well and truly on the ball.

Thats a bit basic, but you get the idea of what you need to do!

FBThree

Definately depends on the location of your own property and if it will advertise itself. If it won't you need the widest advertising spread, newspapers and internet. To be honest, anyone looking for a property will use all avenues, and the agents window is really only a Sunday afternoon capture. No.2 gets my book - if people like his sign and your property they'll find the agent. If he advertises in the local press and your property photos well there they'll find him. If it's on the internet that'll catch them too. I am always looking on the net and I hate agents without the full brochure available. I avoid them. He has the full brochure, go for it - if the rest of his internet presentation is good (have you checked???)
BTW. We live in a small Cotswold town, popular with 2nd homers, and the neighbour has been trying to sell for 2 yrs. She's jumped through 4 agents in the time, only 1 of which was on a major internet search. Missed a major market in my book.
BTW2. Make sure the photos show your house at its' very best! Get the right to get the photos changed if they aren't good enough. Take digi-photos yourself well in advance of instructing the agent, and view first to see how much better you can make your house look better. Get your friends to be honest about the photos. Then get agent to upload his photos in front of you and critique them. One agent next door had his shadow in EVERY photo! Another photos the single bed in the double room. And all but one have the main photo with MY house as centre stage (trying to avoid photographing the competing agent sign).

dubsey

I always look on rightmove first, then call the EA in the area I am looking. I can't remember the last time I stepped foot in an EA office, not for years. As others have said, if you can give them a call as a potential buyer and see how they come across. I would be very aware of the price though, at the moment new properties here in my part of Kent that are coming on at a high price are not budging at all. So, maybe check on rightmove to see what similar properties in your area have SOLD for, not what they are marketed at as that at the moment just seems to be a ball park starting point.

bo_drinker

First I look in local press then the web.Rarely look in the windows. Go for no2. We have been on the mkt for 8 months with one buyer dropping out. If you don't need to sell don't. It is hard going at present. If you do go ahead ask the agent not to send anyone round who have not sold theirs yet, total waste of time believe me. Not so 12 - 18 months ago. It is a different game now.

nutmegman

Thanks to all who have replied to my post, I have gone with Number 2 the house should be on rightmove by tomorrow.....his Contract is 8 weeks with two weeks notice at anytime which i thought was reasonable.

I have done the hip via a solicitor whom i have delt with before for £300 inc vat.

JanCee

Your rightmove listing is crucial. Make sure that that there lots of good quality photos on the page (no having to click on full brochure to see all the pics). I have been househunting on RM for the last 6 months, I just don't have the time or inclination to tramp round EA's offices, and I just skip past the houses without decent photos.