A Quick Guide to 

What To Ask An Estate Agent

Before Instructing Them To Sell Your Property

It's really important to take charge and ask the right questions when agents visit to do valuations. The number one reason people aren't happy with their estate agents is because they assume all agents are the same.

20 Questions You Should Ask?
Split Into Sections

Part 1. Valuation Pricing

It is important to get three prices from your agent so you know how and where to pitch your property price dependant upon the speed at which you need to sell. There is no point over pricing your property if you need to sell in 2 weeks.

1.What is their current open market valuation to agree a sale within the next 2 weeks?
(This is the price they are confident of achieving over the next couple of weeks. Remember once you have agreed your sale it still takes a further 4-6 weeks to reach completion)

2. What is their opinion of valuation in terms of a 6 week selling price?
(If the market is rising this price should be higher than the immediate selling price and lower if the market is in recession).

3. What is their opinion of a forced sale price to a cash buyer?
(This price will invariably be lower than the current market valuation but should guarantee you a cash buyer who can complete in 2-4 weeks if necassary)

Part 2. Fees & Charges

4. How much commission do they charge for Sole Agency?
(sole agency is where you instruct just one agent but reserve the right to introduce your own buyer)

5. Are there any upfront costs?
Not many, but some agents charge to put your property on the market.

6. Are there any termination costs?
Not many, but some agents charge to take your property off the market.

7. Are there any additional costs?
Not many, but some Agents charge extra to adverts in additional publications.

Part 3. Client Services

8. Do they guarantee to accompany all buyers during viewings?

9. Are they open on Sundays and do they accompany viewings on Sundays?
(Although some agents open on Sundays, they only have Sunday staff who are not trained to do viewings)

10. Do they guarantee to call you back within 24 hours of your call and give guaranteed buyers feedback within 24 hours of a viewing?
(There's nothing worse than wondering what a buyer thought of your property and not getting called back after you have a left a message.)

11 Do they qualify buyers before viewings?
(There's no point in having people round who are a waste of time)

12 Who looks after your sale once a price has been agreed?
(Once a sale has been agreed it generally takes between 4-8 weeks to complete. This is usually where all the stress and problems occur. If your agent isn't a competent sales chaser then you could be in for a very rough ride. If the company has a dedicated sales co-ordination department... this is a real plus)

Part 4. Promotion & Advertising

13. Ask to see a current set of property details and confirm they do floor plans as well as internal and external photographs?

14. Do they advertise on rightmove?
(Absolutely essential)

15. Do they advertise on Zoopla?
(Absolutely essential)

16. Which local publications do they advertise in?

17. Which national publications do they advertise in?

18. How often will they feature your property until sold in these publications?

Part 5. Contracts, Payments & Termination Of Services

19. How long are their sole agency contracts and how much notice to terminate do you have to give?

20. How much do they charge for a Joint Agency / Multiple Agency and how much notice to terminate to you have to give?

What to Ask An Estate Agent (Download)

Here is the link to our questionnaire in .pdf format, Feel free to download yours and use it to compare your local agents.

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