Posted: Thursday, May 19, 2022

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your New Estate Agent

When finding the right estate agent to sell your property, there can be a lot to consider. We've outlined 10 key questions you should be asking to ensure you make the right choice: 

 

1. How long are homes in this area typically on the market?

Several factors can impact the amount of time a home remains on the market, including price, changing interest rates and economic trends. It’s a good idea to get a sense of how long the process of selling your house will take, and your agent should have a good understanding of what may affect it.

2. What type of contract are you offering me?

There are several types of estate agent contracts and each has benefits and draw backs, so make sure you know what you’re being offered. Some contracts state that your agent must be the only one to sell your home during a certain period, whereas others let you market your home with multiple agencies. Pay attention to the length of the contract offered – if your agent has told you how long it will take to sell your home, your contract should reflect this.

3. Have you sold properties like mine before?

Agents who have sold similar homes to yours will understand the features that current buyers are looking for. They’re also more likely to have a large pool of prospective buyers already on their books, so will be able to present your home directly to them as well as advertising to new buyers.

4. How well do you know the area?

It is important that the person showing your home is someone that knows your area well, so they have a personal knowledge of nearby schools, transport networks and other important facilities. You want them to be able to really sell the idea of living in your home, and someone with first-hand experience of the local area is best placed to do so.

5. How quickly will my property be up for sale?

Before your property hits the market you’ll need a valuation, photographs taking, a property description writing up and other tasks your agent may need to do. Asking your estate agent what their typical time is for getting a home up for sale will help you avoid any unexpected delays, and allow you time to prepare your home to be presented to potential buyers.

6. How will you market my property?

It’s more important than ever that your home is presented to potential buyers in the best possible way, so make sure to find out how your agent plans to do this. Online listings and window displays are standard methods of marketing, but some agents offer social media promotion and quality brochures to advertise what your home has to offer.

7. How will you communicate with me?

Some agents communicate via email or texts, while others prefer regular calls or arrange in-person meetings. Whatever your preference regarding method and frequency, it’s best to outline your expectations upfront to enable quick and easy communication throughout the selling process.

8. How do you conduct viewings?

Viewings are essential to any property sale, so vital you’re clear on how they’ll be carried out. Timings and length of viewings, how much notice you’ll get, and who will be accompanying them are all good things to ask, as well as establishing whether you would prefer to be present whilst potential buyers are in your home. This is especially important if you have young children or pets, so arrangements can be made to make the experience as stress free as possible.

9. What is the follow-up process with buyers who have viewed the property?

After a viewing, it’s important that you understand the process for establishing whether a buyer is interested in your home. You want to know how quickly your agent will follow up with buyers, how they will be presenting offers to you, and what checks are carried out to ensure a smooth sale. The more efficient and thorough this process is, the less likely you’ll have a sale fall through.

10. Do you handle offer negotiation and sales progression?

When you receive an offer, your agent should be willing to help you negotiate for the best possible price. Once you’ve accepted an offer, they should be happy to oversee the sale right through to completion. That means regularly chasing all parties in the transaction to ensure the sale is completed as quickly as possible, giving you peace of mind that everything has been taken care of.

 

Contact us

If you're looking to move home in the near future, make sure to contact your local Guild Member to ensure you're enlisting the right team to help you along your journey to finding your dream home.

Looking to buy?

Looking to buy?

We'd love to help you on your journey home.
Don't miss out on on the latest properties by registering for our property alerts.

Register with us today

Read What Our
Customers Say

I can't speak more highly of the team at Homesearch. When I met Michael to discuss the sale of my home instantly from that meeting, I could tell how knowledgeable they were. From that moment until closing, everything went absolutely flawless. This experience of selling went without a hitch with them giving great tips on preparing my home for viewings. Thank you. I really appreciate all your help during this process. I highly recommend Homesearch to any person who is looking to sell their home or buy a new home.

Loretta Barrett, Seller

I started with two very well known real estates, but I hated it. I was simply another number to them and I didn't feel they were honest and transparent. With HomeSearch I felt comfortable that they were on my side and they were always available to help. The process is hard enough, so having a team who supports you can make such a difference. Highly recommend.

Arian Barvarz, Seller

The reason we chose Homesearch to sell our property was that we liked the straightforward, no-nonsense approach of both Anna and Michael. They gave an honest appraisal of our property and a clear idea of what we could expect to sell it for. In fact, the offer we accepted exceeded our expectations. The sale took longer than we would have liked, due to delays caused by the buyers' solicitor, but Michael was tenacious and must have worn his phone out keeping everyone informed of progress.

Nicola Watson, Seller

Homesearch are hands down the best agent I have ever worked with ! The team helped me in an extremely complex sale. Without the knowledge and experience of the whole team, my sale would not have completed. I dont normally write reviews, only when they are truly deserved. An exceptional team! Very kind and personable, reliable & trustworthy.

Leslie John, Seller

My experience with Homesearch is that they are professional, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure that something stressful like selling a house runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. They work hard to get the results and have kept me updated throughout the process. I honestly could not recommend them enough, they are easily the best company I’ve dealt with in the buying/selling houses field. And to top it all off, they always answer the phone in the most pleasant tone and always provide service with a smile.

Chanelle Hunte, Seller

Homesearch are PROFESSIONALS. I sold my property through Homesearch and I have not dealt with a more competent agency. Every single person  dealt with knew exactly what they were talking about and I can tell that they all have knowledge in the industry and were not just picked up from the street. From the get go I was impressed and I will certainly do business with them again.

Paul Hobbs, Seller

Many thanks Homesearch for locating professional corporate tenants for my property. I am very happy with your property management service as you always ensure that the tenants give the property back in good order at check out. Five Stars!

Maria Foran, Landlord

I have been absolutely delighted with the exceptional service I have received from Homesearch. They have removed all the stress & hassle of renting my property and dealt with all manner of situations I would have struggled with in such a professional & courteous manner. They give valuable unbiased advice with such a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, who are always friendly & helpful. Homesearch let and managed my property and I am very happy with their property management services, they are very knowledgeable.

Paula Carter, Landlord

Homesearch always do what they say they will do. They are efficient and raise any issues early and provide options to resolve them. Homesearch is very  easy to get hold of and talk to, no matter where I am in the world! My property is well looked after, regarding tradesmen, replacement of items swiftly etc. with the minimum of fuss.

David Connells, Landlord

From our first viewing right through to the present, Home Search were brilliant. They helped make the whole process quick and stress free and even now we are in and settled, they are still happy to assist us with any queries we may have. We couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Julie Maney

Home Search helped us move into our new flat smoothly and Tim was always happy to provide help to put our nerves at ease. Arranging a viewing was easy and Home Search were happy to open after hours for us to sign the paperwork. They were very helpful and often would offer to help! Having moved in we received a lovely card and they have always been swift in communicating with Usif we have any questions. Would recommend it.

Will Houghton

Michael and his team were simply amazing!! They helped us to find the perfect house, offering a nice and attentive service from the beginning through to the end. Thank you so much!! 5 stars service. Highly recommended!!!

Giordana Sicali

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tim, Michael and the team Made the whole renting experience easier.

Amol Sinare

I had a very difficult situation as I did not have a guarantor and my dad was earning enough but was not a homeowner. It took a about 3 weeks but Michael sorted it all out in the end and my dad became my guarantor. I got a lovely home and all the staff were very helpful including Paris, Zainab and Tim. Thank you all very much! Would recommend them to anyone

Misti Chakraborty

On behalf of myself, Noa & Niamh, we would like to start off by saying a massive thank you for the amazing service Home Search Ltd provided us with, especially highlighting the work of Clorissa. Within a week we were able to sign, seal and move into the property that we looked at, all down to Clorissa's prompt and effective work ethic, which allowed us a smooth transition from one property to another, without her, this move would not of been possible to have happened within the time stamp that it did. We are very grateful for the work that was done by Home Search Ltd, highly recommend.

Lewis Francis
How Much is Your Property Worth?

Expert Valuation

We always come armed with evidence and statistics of why we are pricing your property a certain way. We know the importance of getting the initial price of your property right, first time. With our extensive experience we will also explain current market conditions as we want to get our sellers the best price.

What's more, get a free gift with your free expert valuation with one of our experienced Valuer's.

Book a Valuation