SELLING YOUR HOME
What does an estate agent do?
Ever wondered exactly what estate agents actually do to earn the fee they take when they sell a property?
Read on to get the full picture or our services
Know The Industry
Over 11 Years Of Experience In Estate Agency
Help you set the value of your home
As an estate agent we will be able to give you an expert view on how much your house is worth, setting it at the right price to market. We will draw upon our knowledge of the local property market as well sold prices of other local homes like yours from the Land Registry to give you an accurate picture of what homes like yours are selling for and why you might pitch for more or less.
Market your home
As your estate agent we will ensure your property is professionally photographed, get an accurate floor plan drawn up and write a detailed, accurate, attractive description of your home to be used in the marketing. You don’t pay any extra for photography and these other basics as they are all included in the % fee we charge for our commission for marketing and selling your home. We use our skills to make sure the pictures are up to scratch as they are crucial to attract plenty of viewings and write up the details of the property as accurately as possible. As your estate agent will be able to inform you how the big property websites work – such as our preferred option Rightmove – with whom we have account so that your property will be advertised on there.
Conduct viewings
We arrange viewings of your home and guide potential buyers around the property answering any questions or queries people have. We also make sure your property is secure when we leave after a viewing.
We may suggest also to arrange an open house for your property where numerous buyers visit during a specific time period. The advantage of using us to conduct viewings on your behalf is that we are seen as a more neutral party by potential buyers who may ask questions that they would be embarrassed to ask the owner themselves. It also takes the hassle away of you having to show people round your home.
Manage negotiations
A key part of our job is to manage negotiations and for any potential buyers and the owner of a property. Offers should be made to us estate agent who will pass them on to the owner and, similarly, relay the seller’s response to any offer submitted. During this period, we can be helpful to the buyer but ultimately you as the seller, our client, first and we will always aim primarily to get you the best price for the property.
If you are thinking about making an offer on a property you can ask your agent for more information on the position of the owners – have they found their dream home and are they in need of a quick sale, or do they need someone who is prepared to wait while they hunt for somewhere to live? Buyers can also usually get a feel for what level of offer might be considered acceptable by the vendor via the agent.
Check the buyer is serious
Under the Property Ombudsman Code of Practice, as an estate agent we must take reasonable steps to find out from the buyer the source and availability of their funds for buying the property and pass this information to the seller. This will cover whether the buyer needs to sell a property, requires a mortgage, claims to be a cash buyer or any combination of these.
Usually we will ask the buyer to show an agreement in principle from a mortgage lender to prove that they are in a position to afford the property. Under this Code we are also legally obliged to put all offers through to their client, you the seller, even if the buyer hasn’t been financially qualified at this stage.
When you accept an offer, it is then our job to regularly monitor the buyer’s progress in achieving the funds required and keep you informed. All of this information will help your us advise you on the position of the buyer and how serious or good an offer is. We will be able to help you decide whether or not to accept an offer – but ultimately that decision is up to you.
Keep things moving
Once you’ve accepted an offer, or had an offer accepted, then our job is to issue a Memorandum of Sale to the vendor, buyer and their solicitors all the information they need on each other and each party’s solicitors. Many people think an estate agent’s job ends once an offer has been accepted, but this is where a good estate agent will really come into their own by helping make sure that the offer moves forward, unblocking issues up and down the chain and working to the critical points of exchange of contracts and a date for completion.