Choosing an Estate Agent By Susy Copus At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

When you sell your property you want to be with an estate agent who you can trust. Here we look at what you need to know to choose your agent correctly.

Like every business some estate agents are great, some mediocre and some wanting top dollar at every opportunity. Be wary and ask the right questions when you choose your agent. Prepare yourself with a list of questions to ask and have a pen handy to jot down their answers - be professional and take your time. It is very costly to buy and/sell a house and you want to keep your costs as low as possible.

Check the commission rate the estate agent is offering. Some will want 2%. This is high in the current market and you must shop around to get the lowest rate. Some will offer 0.75%. You need to haggle and if you are not used to this, remember, it doesn't need to be uncomfortable. You can be upfront and simply state that you want the cheapest commission rate you can get.

The tie-in to the contract must be in your favour. You do not need to go with the agent who has a tie-in after a certain amount of time on their books. In fact, when you sign up with an agent you may be able to give in your notice at the same time. That gives you, say, 4 weeks with one agent and you can renew the contract if you are comfortable with them. Or, after 4 weeks, you can advertise your property with another agent. Again, this is something you can haggle for. This can be a point where people, especially first time sellers, overlook. If you know what to expect you know how best to handle it. Do not simply take the agent's first offer as one that you need to accept. Remember that you are the customer and every estate agent will want your business. Aim for a renewable contract of four weeks with no tie-in and give in your notice as you sign up so that you can renew after four weeks if you are suitably happy with the agent. Speak to the agent about this and again, you can be upfront about it.

Be wary of any fast-track scheme for an additional charge where your property is "fast-tracked" to potential buyers. Surely an agent of merit should be selling every property as well as they can. Ask exactly what you get out of any deal and decide whether it is worth paying out extra for.

Another expensive part of the house buying and selling process is the legal fees. Again, you need to shop around for both a recommended solicitor and one that charges a reasonable amount - often around £500 to £600. You do not need to use any in-house solicitor that comes with your estate agent. A solicitor local to your home is handy so that you can speak to them in person if any complication arises and for when you need to sign papers (though this can be done via post). Buying and selling a house can be stressful and there is often a lot of paperwork to-ing and fro-ing from your solicitor. Being able to have a personal relationship and being able to pick up the phone and speak to them directly can make the process of buying and selling a house less stressful and altogether easier for some people. Or, you could choose to do your legal work via an online company. If that suits you then it may be cheaper. Your estate agent may be able to recommend a company to you.

If you are selling and then buying a property you will need to secure a mortgage. Some estate agents have mortgage brokers within their agency and they will be keen for you to use them but be aware that they may be limited to the mortgages offered only via the estate agency they work for. When finding a mortgage it may be useful to get advice from an independent mortgage broker and also straight from high-street banks as at the moment some banks are offering better deals when you go direct to them.

Check that the estate agent can accompany all viewings. It is best for you to be out of the way when a viewer comes, especially for the first viewing. For the second viewing it may be beneficial to meet the potential buyers briefly so that you can have a personal relationship, which could smooth the way for exchange and completion. However, it is best to let the potential buyers have privacy and space in your property so that they have the opportunity to imagine themselves living there. Ensure that your estate agent is a good salesman and points out the good aspects of your property. You may say, "Surely this is obvious!" but it's so important and some agents can point out the disadvantages of a property!

When choosing an agent ask to view the brochures of their current houses for sale to see how they market property. Also, ask what websites their properties appear on as Internet exposure is very important in finding a buyer. When you have decided which agent to go with, then check everything they do. Check that their photos both in the brochure and on the Internet show your house to it's full potential. Check the wording of the descriptions, ask to change the wording as appropriate - always remember that you are the customer and you will be paying thousands of pounds for their services. You need to make sure that they are working as hard as they can and efficiently as they can to sell your property. Check on their progress and keep in contact with them on a regular basis.

In the current climate, you need the right estate agent and you need to maximise the potential of every viewing. This is your job and remember that you need to prepare your property for each viewing.

Good luck with the sale of your property.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=329904&ca=Real+Estate

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.