Moving house is one of the biggest steps you’ll likely take. Estate agents provide invaluable expertise and peace of mind to millions of people when moving home or purchasing a new property.
With so many agents on the high street, there are certain things you should look for when searching for a suitable estate agent to sell your property.
Here are six signs that it’s time to abandon ship and make sure you’ve got the best estate agent possible.
Communication issues
Are you having trouble speaking with an agent or getting a straight answer? At all times, you should feel like priority number one, with information readily available to you.
Establish whether a mobile, landline, or email is the best way to contact your agent, and if you’re still having issues getting through or are failing to get a response within a reasonable timeframe, move on!
There’s a lack of guidance
The information your estate agent can provide could be essential, owing to their in-depth knowledge of the property market.
If you feel they’re not helping you in the right way, think about changing experts. It can start as early as pricing your property or putting in an offer for another.
They may not be helping you with legal issues when you’ve paid for it. If you are feeling undervalued or frustrated by the inadequate guidance you are receiving, bid farewell!
Your house isn’t selling
If you’re having few or no viewings from week to week, ask why.
Ask if there’s anything you can do to help, and make sure agents are giving you accurate and sufficient guidance.
Ultimately, you’re paying your agent to sell your property. If they aren’t performing, then you should know why and how they plan to fix the situation.
Sometimes properties take time to sell, but you need to make sure agents are doing everything in their power to avoid your property falling by the wayside. Your property still isn’t shifting. Wave goodbye!
Lack of exposure
With home buyers heading to the internet as the first port of call to find their dream property, it seems obvious that your estate agent should be listing your property on their own website.
Advertising your property on major property portals, such as Zoopla, Rightmove, and OnTheMarket, is another must-have marketing tool.
Is your estate agent using social media? Do they list properties in any printed material, such as the Martin and Co. Property Life? Do they send out regular marketing emails?
These are all property-marketing basics, fundamental to selling a property, and all included when you choose to sell your property with Martin and Co. If your agent isn’t using every channel available to them to market your business and find a seller, move on!
You’ve noticed a high staff turnover
You strike up a great working relationship with the agent who initially came to value your property. But it’s been one month, and suddenly she’s no longer at the agency.
Change happens, of course, but if you notice a lot of new faces at your estate agency, it should raise suspicion.
A good estate agency should have low staff turnover. A team that is constantly changing undermines its stability, depletes local knowledge, and shows a clear lack of investment.
Do you really want uninspired, disconnected agents looking after your property’s future? Time to leave!
Your property information isn’t kept up to date
The majority of property searches begin online these days. You need to ensure your agent is presenting your property in a favourable and competitive light. Is the description fair, yet complimentary?
Are your images professional-quality? Does the listing include floor plans and local schools?
If your property information isn’t thorough and your estate agent doesn’t look likely to change it, walk away!
We hope you find this information useful. If you have any questions or would like to adopt Martin & Co as your property professionals, why not visit your local branch today?
