Choosing an Estate Agent: Three Questions to Ask Before You Commit

When hunting for a professional to sell your home, you’ll probably compile a list of property-related questions to fire off at prospective estate agents. What’s the property worth? What changes need to be made before it’s listed? And what’s the best way to market it?

Choosing an Estate Agent: Three Questions to Ask Before You Commit
All wise questions worth asking, but please, don’t stop there! No matter how keen you are to get your property on the market, you need to uncover a few more facts about how the agent does business before making a final decision. 
 
Not getting enough detail can be a costly mistake that means you:
 
-       Achieve a lower selling price.
-       Pay unexpected fees later down the line.
-       Spend months locked into a deal with an agent who is missing in action.
 
So, before you commit, here are three important questions you need to ask.
 
Am I getting value for money?
 
Agents typically charge a commission on the price the property sells for. If the property doesn’t sell, you don’t pay a thing.
 
Your initial thought might be to go with the agent who charges the lowest commission, but it’s not always that simple. If an agent with a slightly higher commission can get thousands or tens of thousands more for your home, you’ll actually be much better off going with them.
 
The alternative is an online agency, where you pay an upfront flat fee (regardless of whether you sell) for a limited service. You can opt-in for additional services, although charges apply. This approach often costs more in the long run because, as time passes, sellers tire of doing so much legwork themselves.
 
What services are included?
 
Be clear about what you’re paying for. Most traditional estate agents include photography, copywriting, online advertising, floorplans, viewings and negotiations. With online agencies, you get the bare basics.
 
How long am I tied into a contract?
 
Sometimes, sellers don’t read the fine print and get locked in for 24 weeks with a 28-day notice period. So, they’re tied to that agent for six months, no matter how good or bad the service.
 
Tie-ins are negotiable (steer clear of agents claiming otherwise). Great agents don’t need to tie you in for half a year because they know their strategy works.
 
If you’d like a free property valuation, contact us here at Grey&Co Estate Agents.

Abigail & the team at Grey & Co x.

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Meet Abigail

  Hello, my name is Abigail, and I am the Grey in Grey & Co. I started working here in 2002 as a Junior Negotiator and have worked my way up the ranks since then. I took over running the company in 2014 and have been enjoying the roller coaster that is leadership ever since.   During my 20 plus years at Grey & Co I have dealt with the sale of over £100,000,000 worth of property and overseen the management of assets worth £250,000,000 for clients around the world.   I also had the pleasure of working with my father, the founder of Grey & Co, for 15 years before he sadly passed away and from him, I learnt the work hard ethic and our values today are still the ones that he founded the company on all those years ago.   Be Remarkable, Be Passionate, Be Humble and Be Better.   As a community centric boutique family agency, you couldn’t find a better partner to take with you on your property journey.

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