Can your agent afford to give you time?

At the time of writing this, I have toothache. Real bad toothache. The sort where you can’t sleep and just don’t know what to do with yourself. I need a dentist. The internet can’t help me, googling toothache doesn’t help. I need the help of a professional. An expert in their field and somebody who I know won’t hurt me. It will cost. But it will be worth it for I am in pain.
Can your agent afford to give you time?

I used to think dentists were expensive. You might do too. But when you think about it, the years they have trained, the experience they have, the sheer cost of their equipment and costs they have to actually run their business, they probably aren’t as pricey as we think. I’m going to hold that thought for when I pay my bill tomorrow. I’m going to focus on what they have actually done, which hopefully will be to have fixed my tooth! I say this because a client has recently asked me to explain my fees as an estate agent. They asked me what we actually do for our money. Not sarcastically, they genuinely want to know. I decided to write it down. The time we invest even surprised me!

Let’s look at a sale we have recently completed on. I have a chosen a 3 bed semi-detached house in Bowerham. The entire process from beginning to end took 12 weeks.

The Market Appraisal – 3 hours
The valuation was throughly researched prior to meeting the potential client. An individual marketing pack was prepared which included market comparables and brochure examples. We visited the gentleman in his home. We advised on price, marketing, home staging. We felt furniture should be moved in order to get the best price for them house and suggested a few odd jobs which should be finished. The valuation was followed up in writing. We then chatted further later by both phone and email answering a variety of questions. We also had to talk separately to his ex-wife who was not at the valuation due to their personal situation.

Brochure Preparation Time – 4 hours
We carefully photographed the home. Items needed moving and we helped clear the kitchen work surfaces and bathroom toiletries away in order to get the best photos. We even helped the client straighten his bed! Photos were then selected and edited. We wrote the description highlighting this homes best features in order to attract the right buyer. Epc’s and floor plans were ordered. The details were sent out for approval and once returned we made some minor amendments. Remember it was important the brochure looked superb!

Internet uploads and newspaper advertising – 1 hour
The property was then uploaded to our website and all of major property portals. We wrote the advert copy for the press adverts and sent it off to the newspaper. Once done it was all checked through to make sure it was correct. A social media campaign was also created.

In house marketing and arranging viewings – 6 hours
We contacted our registered buyers by both phone and email. Over 70 people were contacted. Some by email, some by telephone. Sometimes messages had to be left. Conversations took place. Viewings were booked. It all takes time.

Viewings – 10.5 hours
In total we carried out 14 viewings. Some where 2nd viewings and we generated 4 offers. With travelling time each viewing was approximately 45 minutes.

Viewing Follow ups – 1.5 hours
Each viewing was followed up and the owner informed. On average each follow-up is about 10 minutes. Feedback is highly important. I’m sure you would agree!

Offer negotiations – 3 hours
We received 4 offers on this house. We mentioned above it was a separation case so 3 parties were involved in the negotiations. Many phone calls were made. It went to best and final offers. Some conversations took more time than others, verifying buyers positions and financial situations.

Sales Progression – 25 hours
Many clients don’t see just how important a sales chaser is. We believe it’s essential. In this instance 3 separate parties, 2 solicitors and 2 other agents in the agent had to be talked with. The survey took a little bit longer than we would have like as the buyers were self-employed. Our vendor had to be re-assured. The survey came back with some issues which had to be checked. We arranged for the reports to be done before any renegotiations are even discussed. We spent time reading through the survey ensuring we knew what was required. There was asbestos in the garage. The electrics needed checking. We talked to solicitors. We chased outstanding paperwork. Building regs were needed for a small extension that was done. More paperwork was needed for a window which had been recently installed. We chased all of this all the way through to completion. We also helped the owner find potential rental accommodation as he was struggling to co-ordinate everything.

That’s a whopping 54 hours for just one house sale which completed in much faster time than many we see advertised locally. Can you imagine if the buyer or seller had changed their mind at any point? It occasionally happens. All that time would have been for nothing. On top of this there are costs we incur from fuel, postage, telephone, advertising or the costs from the tools we need to do your job properly! You can easily assign approximately £300 per house to these additional costs alone.

Quick question. What is your agent charging you? Your sale might need more time than this. Can they afford to give you the time without having to employ minimum wage staff? Work it out!

Back to the dentist. He charges over £100 an hour. My Dad has offered to pull the tooth for free using string and a bottle of whisky. I’ve declined. Maybe paying a professional, who’ll take care and give me the time I need is not such a bad idea after all!

My name is Michelle and I am a director at JDG Estate Agents. Do you want to know more about we can help you move? How we can help you get the price for your home? Why not call us on 01524 843322 in Lancaster or 01524 409100 in Morecambe. We are here to help you

Michelle Gallagher

You May Also Enjoy

Home and Living

High Quality Modular Homes for the UK

Are you looking for added accommodation space in your garden / on your land? Modular Living Homes by tutumHOUSE offer a new way to live – minimalist in form, rich in experience. “There are approximately 9.6 million homes in the UK with a garden shed, and around 52% of the population owns one.” asgardsss There…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The most stressful places to move to in the UK

With more people in the UK moving homes during summer than any other season and the average cost of moving in the UK rising to over £14,000, picking the right place to move to has become more crucial than ever. Luckily, new research from Pay Less for Storage reveals the UK cities that make life easiest…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Time-Traveling Estate Agent Sequel Climbs Amazon Charts

A UK Estate Agent Currently Bringing Joy to People’s Lives – Shame He’s Fictional…   Eric Meek, the fictional estate agent created by author Dale Bradford, is back for a second outing in The Time‑Travelling Estate Agent 2, a sequel that is already climbing Amazon’s bestselling time‑travel rankings. Estate agents were recently highlighted as the third…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Is it finally time for lenders to back green homes?

Andrew Smith weighs the risks and rewards Property developers are increasingly pitching green homes to lenders; however, with sales cycles slowing down and repair costs rising, is now the right time to back sustainable builds and at what price point is there market demand? Sustainability is continuing to shape our future of construction with the…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 24/07/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   OpticWise – digital infrastructure in commercial real estate If your building were a product, how would it perform on the user experience scale?  Week 9: Experience as Infrastructure – Designing for Human-Centric Buildings Welcome to Week 9 of our 52-week journey into the future…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

UK Housebuilding Falters as Construction Hiring Flatlines

New research from Inventory Base reveals that UK construction industry employment has increased by almost 11% in the past five years, but there has been less than 1% growth in the past 12 months. Inventory Base’s analysis of the UK construction industry shows that in 2024 (latest data available) it employed an estimated total of…
Read More