Whether you are buying or selling a property, it is important to use an estate agent that puts your interests and needs first. The estate agent should be honest and transparent – but there are other things that you will need to consider when choosing Chiswick estate agents.
Get Recommendations
It is always worth asking friends, family and colleagues to see who they used when they sold their property. This will give you an idea of what companies are out there while you could also keep an eye out for properties that have a sold sign outside. This will help you to see how many properties certain estate agents are successfully selling.
Industry Accreditations
Any reputable estate agent will need to be registered with The Property Ombudsman Scheme. Furthermore, they will also be members of trade bodies, and this will ensure that they comply with regulations. This means that you should look for estate agents that are members of the Guild of Property Professionals, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Find Out What They Charge
Estate agents charge for the service that they provide but there are many things to consider here. You want to find out what they charge to be the sole agency which means that only they can sell your property, but you might also want to find out what they charge for multi-agency which means several agents can market your home.
Find Out How They Advertise
Almost every estate agent will have their own website so you should expect to have your property advertised here but there is so much more that they can do these days. They might use several options for advertising your property and this can include the local paper, in their window and on property websites such as Rightmove. In fact, you should expect them to advertise on these kinds of websites as that is where most people go to look for properties.
Find Out How They Manage Viewings
Ideally, you will want your estate agent to handle viewings as that is part of the service that you are paying for. You’ll need to find out if they will have someone attend all viewings and talk potential buyers through your property while you might also want to find out whether they offer viewings during the evening and on weekends.
Narrow Down Your Options
It always pays to compare estate agents as this will enable you to see what they offer. You can compare services, the overall feel of the people you deal with and the fees that they charge. Take a look at the properties that they market and see if they market many properties like yours. If they have many then they clearly understand what they are doing and how to market your property. Once you have all of this information, you can then begin to decide which one is right for you and your needs.
When choosing an estate agent, it is important to make sure you choose the right one. There are many to choose from, but you need an estate agent that will work hard for you and your property.
