The role of an estate agent is to sell your property for you and act as an intermediary between you and any prospective buyers. These agents often work in conjunction with solicitors who can advise on the legal aspects of selling your home. They may also help you find buyers for your home if you decide not to sell yourself. However, if you’re moving house, choosing an estate agent can be a confusing experience. There are many different types of agents, and they all have their unique selling points
Here are tips for choosing an estate agent.?
Tips for Choosing an Estate Agent .?
Find out what sort of service you need
You’ll want to know what kind of service your agent provides before you book any viewings or viewings themselves. For example, some agencies offer full-service packages, which means they do everything from finding the property and preparing it for sale to managing the whole process from start to finish. Others only provide part-time services, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if you want a more hands-on approach.
Ask about professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance protects your agent against negligence claims when selling or letting properties on your behalf. It also covers any legal costs should there be an issue with a sale or letting. This can be essential in cases where owners are having difficulty selling their homes, especially when there is no forced sale order in place by local authorities due to overcrowding or other issues at the property concerned. If this worries you, then make sure your agent has this policy before agreeing to any contracts with them.
Experience
Estate agents in Solihull have a range of experience, from being in the business for years to coming from other industries. You want someone who has been in the industry for at least five years, preferably ten or more. The more experience they have, the better they know what it’s like working with specific types of buyers and sellers.
If you’re starting, ask potential estate agents how long they have been in their industry. If they aren’t sure, ask them to give you an approximate time frame when they started working as an estate agent.
Local knowledge
If you’re buying or selling a home in a new area or one that isn’t yet well-known, it can be helpful to find someone who knows all the local real estate agents in Birmingham and inspectors so that you can get their recommendations when the time comes to make your purchase or sell your home.
If there are any big projects in town, such as new construction, this may also be an important consideration because your agent will know which ones are coming up soon and have already been approved by building departments.
Contract terms
The contract terms play a crucial role when choosing an estate agent. Consider whether you will get a flat or a percentage fee for selling your property. If you have a property that needs to be sold quickly, it’s worth considering paying a flat fee as the agent will only get paid if they sell your property within a certain period.
This reduces risk and makes them more likely to agree to your price range and timelines. If you have a property that needs to be sold over time, then percentage fees are usually more appropriate.
Key Takeaway
Contracts are the foundation of any business relationship. They outline what you agree to and how your agreement affects each party. If you’re looking to buy or sell property, an estate agent will be your main point of contact. They’ll be responsible for everything from finding you a home to dealing with legal issues.
