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How To Choose An Estate Agent

Date Published 11 March 2024

When you want an estate agent to help sell your home it's all about choosing the right one. Sometimes the biggest problems are one that many agents bring on themselves, because often they seem to be speaking a totally different language!

Thankfully things have improved in recent times. There is generally less use of industry terms that might be unfamiliar to the general public, and the old formal 'notwithstandings' and forthwiths' are making far fewer appearances too.

Even so, sometimes it still feels like an estate agent might be trying to bamboozle you with jargon and playing buzzword bingo to knock you off guard - so how can you cut through and sort the wheat from the chaff?

Reviews and recommendations

In the old days 'word of mouth' was seen by businesses as the best form of advertising. Having family or friends recommending someone for a job because they've used them themselves is always going to be the best way of introduction and that's as true today as it has ever been.

If a neighbour has recently sold their house it's worth asking them personally about the agent they used and if they would recommend them. If they had a couple of offers the agent might have a ready-made buyer for you!

Of course things always move forward and now online reviews often act in the same way as the old 'word of mouth'. Anyone proud of their business will be asking happy clients to leave a review and as they are very hard to fake, you can be confident it's a good way to help you come to a decision.

Big names

Big brands versus small businesses is the David and Goliath commercial battle that's going on all around us in all walks of life. There are plenty of ways in which a local business can come out on top. When it comes to property, it stands to reason that a locally run estate agent will be more invested in your area.

A big chain agency is often seen as a first rung stepping stone for someone who wants to start a career in estate agency. A well established local firm with a good reputation will be far more likely to be staffed by experienced people who really know the local property market inside out.

Moneywise

Watch out for any agent who tells you they can get a much higher price for your property than others can - it's all too easy to let the pound signs lure you into a situation which ends up with a price reduction a couple of months later and a property of which potential buyers will then be wary.

Likewise, you should always be clear what services and actions are included in the agent's fee - essentially, it should be all of them! You'll find that 'add-on extras' often usually some as standard elsewhere and are things that any decent agent should be doing anyway.

Red flags

As with most things there are some obvious 'rules of thumb' that can act as red flags marking out an estate agent to avoid!

An agent that tries to pressure you in any way is not going to be someone who is acting in your best interests. Depending on how busy the local property market is an agent might be more eager to take on new clients but that should never cross the line into aggressive marketing of themselves to you.

A good agent will have a history that more or less speaks for itself.

If you'd like to find out why so many people choose us to sell their home in and around Worthing call us on 01903 608080, email us or pop into our office just around the corner from Worthing pier at Worthing House, 6 South Street.