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Finding the Best Estate Agent 

Finding the Best Estate Agent 

When it comes to finding the best Estate Agent, there is quite a bit that you can do to ensure that you only shortlist the best.  For a start you need to be prepared to undertake a little research, because the best Estate Agents are not going to seek you out, you have to make an effort to find them but it is quite a straightforward process and will only take a little time but it is definitely time well spent!

The first thing to do is to ask friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues if they are able to recommend someone to you.  Usually a few names will come up as being pretty good, competent, professional and reliable.  Conversely some names will come up as being pretty bad and so you need to draw up a list of those that are good and those that are not!

Next you should Google local Estate Agents.  This is not to add other names to the list, but simply to get some contact details.  Now you can get sneaky!  When you have the contact details for all the Estate Agents that feature on the ‘good’ part of your list, give each one a ring.  But you will not be a vendor, instead you will be posing as a potential buyer.  Describe your ideal property and see how they react.  Are they knowledgeable, helpful and give the impression that they are competent?  If so, keep them on your list.  But if they are off hand, not very interested etc, then you need to move them from the ‘good’ part of your list, to the bad part!  This may sound harsh, but remember not only do Estate Agents have to liaise with vendors, they also have to liaise and negotiate with potential buyers.

Now you will have a shorter list to work from!  Having Googled all the local Estate Agents you will have all the website addresses for them and so you need to go onto each of these websites and simply check out how many properties they have handled, how many sold, how long they have been in business, what kind of properties they have on their books etc etc.  This will really help to ensure that you appoint an Estate Agent who has all the relevant and necessary experience to be able to sell your house!

Your list will now be considerably shorter and by now you may well feel that there are a couple of Estate Agents who are really shining out.  At this point you can contact them again to ascertain just what they are able to offer you and who is able to offer the best in terms of a realistic price (that will attract buyers), who is keen to sell your home and who would be the Estate Agent that you would prefer to act on your behalf.  They really will be acting on your behalf, so it is important that you appoint the right agent to represent you!