When it comes to deciding on which estate agent to use when selling or letting a house, the plethora of options can make the whole process seem daunting. A saturated marketplace in such a competitive sector can force people into choosing the first company that springs to mind. But I Am The Agent, one of the UK’s leading online estate agents has jotted down a checklist to enable sellers to choose the right online agent to suit their needs.
Testimonials and references are the top item on the list according to the property expert. Asking friends or family can help to point people in the right direction, but what if no-one has used one recently? Most companies nowadays feature testimonials on their website to highlight successes, but it’s also worth checking review sites such as Trustpilot, which features reviews of a whole host of companies, as well as allAgents, which is the UK's largest customer review website for the property industry to get a broad mix.
Rebecca Peach, Managing Director of I Am The Agent, said, “Choosing an estate agent can seem daunting. And with the rise of online-only agents, it can seem even more confusing for homeowners, however there are certain things to look out for to make sure you choose the agent to meet all of your needs, while also providing you with the best value for money.”
If homeowners have whittled their choices down to a handful, it’s always advised to make an initial enquiry. This will cost nothing but can really pay off in the long run. Not only will it provide an idea of what the business is like first-hand, but it will allow sellers to ask questions – something many worry about with online agents.
Online estate agents have been hailed as a breath of fresh air to the somewhat stale industry thanks to their different pricing structure when compared to traditional estate agents. Instead of commanding a percentage of the sale value, they instead require a single, upfront fee to sell a house. This is so tempting as it is often much cheaper than selling through the more traditional means. However according to the expert, that isn’t the be-all and end-all.
Rebecca, adds, “Although everyone is looking to save money, just focusing on price simply isn’t enough. You need to look at what you are getting for your money – not just how much it will cost. Think thoroughly about how involved you want to be in the process and how happy you are to take your own photos etc. before signing on the dotted line.
“Just like when you instruct any agent, you should always make sure you are confident they are capable of doing the job and the service you are paying for matches your expectations. Agents should be more than willing to discuss their service with you further or provide additional information in order to answer your questions, CALL THEM, and make sure they are able to support you and are knowledgeable.”
Checking contract terms is another must for potential customers. Just like with high street agents, sellers enter into a contract when they instruct an online estate agent to act on their behalf. Making sure they know whether it is a sole agency agreement, whether they will need to remain with them for a specific time period, or whether they will continue receiving their services until the house sells are all things to look out for as payment is undertaken upfront. The other ‘pay later’ scenarios, should really be checked in detail, do not rush in to these contract as the credit terms can be ferocious and up to as much as 1000% if you miss the deadline, so check the small print and DO not be scared to ask questions.
I Am The Agent is one of the UK’s most successful estate agents, having many years’ experience working within the online sector. The company takes a different approach to selling and letting houses by allowing the seller to ‘become the agent’. Homeowners are free to be as involved in the whole process as they wish, or they can choose to sit back and let the team of experts take the lead.
Sales packages start from just £49 including VAT, while lettings packages start at £19 including VAT. No tenant or buyers fees and no hard talking sales staff, just refreshingly honest and transparent service, that put’s you in control!
