Choosing a competent estate agent is essential and will significantly impact how quickly you sell your house and at what price. All agents will say they are good, but talk is cheap. If you want to sell your home quickly and for the best price, you must find the best estate agent to sell it.
It’s all the more vital if you’re selling a house in Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, Coombe, Kingston , or Raynes Park because buyers attracted to these leafy enclaves of south west London expect an estate agent committed to excellent service and will lose interest in your property if that is not the case.
Residents in the area enjoy the best of both worlds with green parks, riverside, lively shopping centres and good transport connections into the centre of the capital.
This guide will help you find an estate agent who will proactively market your property and help you achieve the best possible price.
A good estate agent comes with personal or local recommendations, has great contact lists and has experience selling properties like yours.
It’s a balancing act. You want a bustling agency that attracts many prospective buyers. Yet they should also dedicate enough time to your house sale. They must be adept at seeking the best price for your property while staying competitive for a quick sale.
Read on for the signs to look out for and the decisions you must make.
Statistically, 90% of properties are sold by high street agents. For properties valued at over £1.3 million (the average house price in Wimbledon Village), that figure is closer to 99%.
Online estate agent fees are usually lower overall, but you often pay that fixed fee upfront. But remember that you get what you pay for – the fee covers their basic service. For example, you can usually access potential buyers’ feedback directly, but you’ll have to weigh it up and action it yourself. If you want more support, prepare to pay the online agent extra for services like accompanied viewings. You should also be aware that some online estate agents specialise in new homes sold by developers whose asking prices don’t reflect the broader market.
You’ll typically pay more for an excellent, high street agent as fees are calculated as a percentage of the selling price. However, their experience and local market knowledge can be indispensable.
The best estate agent in your area will know the local property market and how to pitch your home accordingly. They also hold lists of contacts who are interested in properties like yours.
Many buyers are drawn to traditional agents. A high street agent will take care of viewings and professionally handle communications.
Think carefully before signing a contract with sole or multiple estate agents – it’s not as simple as reaching more buyers. Vendors can instruct one estate agency (sole agent) under an exclusive contract, two agents who work in tandem (joint sole agents) under an agreement, or several (multiple agents) who work in competition.
Using a sole agency is more popular because it can simplify the process and save money. You don’t have to juggle multiple points of contact, and the fees are considerably lower.
The appeal of instructing multiple agents is the competitive aspect, though you may find agents are too quick to accept an offer before their rivals. Another draw is the ability to reach several more pools of buyers, though online property portals make this less of an issue.
But look ahead to the end of the selling process. Multiple agent fees are typically higher than sole agency agreements.
If your agent seems disinterested and uncommunicative, or you’ve had no viewings, consider switching estate agents. The longer your house sits on the market, the harder it is to achieve a substantial sale price.
The average home sale takes 25 weeks from listing to completion, so you don’t want to extend the process. Assess each estate agent, but check your contract first, as some agents include an exclusivity period in their terms and conditions.
Follow these five steps to choose the best estate agent to sell your home.
First, create a shortlist of at least three potential estate agents. Walk down your high street, looking for estate agents with attractive-looking offices. Ask for personal recommendations from friends and family.
Look on Rightmove or Zoopla for properties for sale in your area. Which estate agency is most active in your area? Which have the best adverts?
Ensure that all your shortlisted estate agents are part of a professional body. The main one in the UK is The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). Reading customer feedback on review websites like TrustPilot or Feefo can also be helpful.
Visit their office to make an appointment for valuations. Do you receive a warm and friendly welcome? Are they professional and courteous?
All good estate agents will come to your home to give you a market valuation. Excellent estate agents will justify their valuation with examples of similar properties they have recently sold.
Don’t be misled by high valuations. If the agent hasn’t sold comparable homes at that price, they are probably suggesting an unrealistic sale price to secure your business.
A great estate agent will be able to identify the features of your property that will be attractive to buyers. If the estate agent can’t convince you that your house is fantastic, how good will they be at talking enthusiastically to potential buyers about your property?
You must work closely with your estate agent during the house sale process, so you will need to get along with them. During your discussions, think about whether you trust them.
Ask the following questions:
Apart from the services you would normally expect from your agent of valuation, viewings and negotiation it is important to think about areas such as marketing in more depth. Do ask specific questions about the scope of their promotion to ensure they are reaching the right potential buyers on the media they would use.
Equally, you should look at their websites and social media posts to see what they do, and ask the agent about their advertising, or if they use newspapers or specialist magazines. If you have a premium property find out how they promote your property across the UK and internationally.
It is worth checking what professional bodies your agent belongs to as this gives additional assurance when you are entrusting them to sell your property. There are a whole range of organisations including The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the National Association of Estate Agents, Propertymark and the Guild of Property Professionals who hold agents to a certain standard of conduct.
Members follow strict professional regulations and keep their expertise and qualifications updated so you can be assured of their skills and experience. The Property Ombudsman service offers consumers and agents a service to resolve disputes and has the power to award compensation of up to £25,000. Property Redress provides an independent platform to address complaints and ensures agents comply with the law.
Researching reviews can help you choose the best estate agent for your house sale and focus on the ones for the office and agent that would be managing your sale. Read as many as you can and look beyond the star rating to the comments to get a real sense of the way they work in your local area.
Remember Google reviews may not be reliable as they are not vetted, so concentrate on those posted on Trustpilot or other verified platforms. When you find an agent who has excellent feedback, try and check it out with your friends and colleagues in your area.
Estate agent fees vary, with most charging a percentage fee of anything between 1% and 3.5% (plus VAT) of the selling price. Some estate agents will work on a fixed commission basis.
Don’t necessarily go for the cheapest offer – remember, you want the best estate agent for a smooth sale. Choose the agent you feel most confident about and who has convinced you that they can sell your property quickly and for a high price.
Decide whether to sell your home through a sole agent or multiple estate agents. Most home sellers choose one estate agent because the fees are cheaper, and it is easier to liaise with just one company. Agents will charge higher fees if you advertise through more than one agency.
Estate agent contracts can be complex; once you sign, you will be bound by the terms. Read the contract carefully and make sure you understand what you are signing. Here are a few things to look out for:
Estate agents usually charge fees based on percentage of the sale price of your property. You pay less with an agency if you only use one company 1.2% to 1.8% on average and more if you opt for multi-agency with two or more companies 3-3.6% on average.
You can manage the sale of your own property but it means you would have to take on all the work the agent normally does. You will need to make sure you have enough time to manage the sale stages from valuation to marketing, viewing and sales progression.
If you want to change to another agent, check on the terms of the contract agreement and the notice period. Speak to your estate agent about any concerns you have in case the problem can be resolved.
Agents must belong to schemes run by The Property Ombudsman and Property Redress to investigate complaints independently. The Estate Agents Act 1979 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 set out the legal framework for the sector.
If you are considering selling your home in Wimbledon, Coombe, Roehampton, New Malden, Kingston or Wandsworth contact us today – we would be delighted to give you a property valuation and advise you on how to market it effectively in the current climate.
Looking to Sell or Let Your Property? Book Your Free Property Valuation with one of our experts.
"*" indicates required fields
Book a quick phone consultation with one of our negotiators.
"*" indicates required fields
