Choosing an estate agent?
Jim Harris explains what to look for when selling your home, from valuations and marketing to communication and local expertise. 

Selling your home is technically a property transaction. 

But I’ve never really liked calling it that. For most people, selling a house is tied to something much bigger. A new job, growing family, divorce, downsizing, relocating or simply starting a completely new chapter. 

So how do you choose the right estate agent to sell your home? 

For me, it comes down to much more than who gives you the highest property valuation. Should you choose the estate agent with the highest valuation? 

Not necessarily. 

A good estate agent should be able to explain what your property is worth, why they’ve valued it at that price and what’s happening in your local property market. An unrealistic asking price might sound great initially, but if your home sits on the market for months, it can make selling much harder. 

Honesty matters. 

What makes a good estate agent? 

I'd look for three things: 

• Local knowledge.  

• Good property marketing.  

• Communication. 

Your agent should know your local housing market, understand what buyers are looking for and have a clear plan for marketing your property. That could mean professional property photography, video, social media, floorplans, 3D tours and drone footage where appropriate. 

But great marketing means very little if nobody follows up with the buyers who enquire. Your estate agent should be speaking to buyers, gathering viewing feedback, negotiating offers and keeping you updated throughout your property sale. 

You should never feel like another listing 

This is probably the biggest one for me. You shouldn't have to spend weeks chasing your estate agent for an update. 

You're trusting someone with one of your biggest financial assets and potentially one of the biggest changes in your life. Estate agents can't change someone's life every day. But helping someone sell their home and move onto whatever comes next genuinely does. 

That's why choosing the right estate agent matters. 

If you're thinking about selling your property, speak to your local Property Expert for an honest property valuation and a proper conversation about your next move. 

Until next time,
Jim Harris, Managing Director, The Property Experts