What makes the perfect Estate Agent?
January 8, 2016
So, let us see what Wikipedia has to say re what an Estate Agents is: “An estate agent is a person or business that arranges the selling, renting or management of properties, and other buildings, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.”
We also can now say that an estate agent could be both a traditional agency on our high street or can indeed be an online or hybrid version.
So what makes a for a good estate agent? I did some research across Google and visited varied website and blog posts and picked out some of the most obvious and most interesting explanations (I have highlighted my favourite and what I feel are the most important):
- Understands the local area, it’s key benefits, community, locations, property types, valuations and more.
- Has vast experience in selling property and most importantly, dealing with the property type you are looking to sell / buy.
- Has the property / clients suited to your requirements.
- Has a strong high street presence.
- Has a strong online presence.
- Listens to your needs over their own.
- Communicates with you frequently during the whole selling / buying experience and that includes updating you even when there is nothing new to save you worrying or having to ask for updates yourself.
- Confirms and shows up on time for all visits and if cancellations occur, let’s either party know in good time.
- Qualifies new applications correctly to save time wasting situations.
- Uses all forms of latest technology to market a property including the likes of floor plans, audio tours, drone photography etc.
- Takes the best photos of your property and makes sure they take them in the best light, ie blue skies, or have software that enhances photos.
- Is honest (ie gives honest feedback on viewings).
- Has good opening hours, ie evenings and weekends.
- Uses the major property portals, ie Rightmove and Zoopla (OnTheMarket depending politics etc).
- Advertises strongly in local newspapers.
- Professional appearance of staff members especially during viewings.
- Has good connections with local legal and interior design companies to help facilitate sale.
- Knows the true valuation of your property to get you the best price in the best time.
- Greets you by name when you walk in to their office.
- Charges a fair commission rate / flat fee.
Can you think of any more? I am sure there are, all down to our personal requirements…
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