Getting a Free Property Valuation

Getting a free property valuation from local estate agents has never been easier. Compare estate agents fees near you to make sure you are getting value for money when you are selling your home or property. 

Selling property should be a straightforward process but how do you choose the best estate agent to put your house on the market? Do you go with the estate agent with the highest valuation or the lowest commission?

Sometimes the stars do align when selling property and you find the right estate agent to sell your home quickly for a good price, but a lot of the time there are issues that create delays and sometimes add costs.

Choosing a local estate agent who can deal with your issues from start to finish is well worth their commissions fee. So who is the right estate agent for you?

Getting a Home Valuation

The property valuation is an important part of the sales process. Getting the best price depends on the size and type of property but also the condition and if you have improved it while you have been living there.

In fact a lot of homeowners get their property valued before they do any big improvements like a new kitchen or rear extention to see if there is enough equity in the property when they eventually decide sell it. 

A cheap way to get a higher asking price for your home is to decorate. Estate Agents find it a lot easier to find buyers for a well decorated home. Getting this done before you decide to put you house on the market is advised.

The property valuation is the first time you will meet the estate agent. They will want to make a good impression on you and expect that you will be getting multiple valuations and commission quotes.

This is your chance to get to know them and find out if they are the type of person you want showing potential buyers around your home. They will have a good idea of the properties value from historical data and market conditions, but they will probably ask you if you have had any other valuations and for how much.

Ok, I have got multiple valuations, so which estate agent?

Online feedback on google or trustpilot will give you some idea about how high street estate agents have been performing over the last few years. If you want to do your due diligence, whittle down a list of estate agents who you think stand out and go and view some properties yourself. Chances are you are looking for a house anyway, this way you can see how you are treated from the buyers perspective.

But, bear in mind, estate agents have a high turnover of staff and bad reviews are not going to make the boss happy, so don’t expect poorly performing estate agents or negotiators being their long.

High performing estate agents are in demand, so you can also expect the best performers to move on if they think they can earn more money elsewhere.

Established independent estate agents who have been around for a while are going to be selling properties and making a profit, so starting with them is not a bad idea.

But how much do they charge? Some are very clear with their commissions while others want to charm you first.

The Estate Agent Commission Fee

A good way to narrow down potential estate agents is by comparing the commission fee each agent charges. You have a target valuation and estate agents that charge too much commission are not going to look very attractive unless they can guarantee a high sale price.

We can help you find out how much an estate agent is going to cost you based on the commission fee they charge. Get a quote by simply telling us the size, location and estimated value of the property and we will send it to registered estate agents near you who will reply with a quote for their services.

This will help you shortlist estate agents that you think will be able to sell your house for the right fee and price without leaving the house.

Who works at an Estate Agents?

There are over 23,000 estate agents in the UK and the list is growing. They are an important part of the economy and create wealth for their clients and the Government (stamp duty).

A typical sales team will consist of negotiator, a marketing consultant, an administrator or move manager and an office manager.

The negotiator is the main contact who is responsible for the house sale from beginning to end and the others are there to support.

Sometimes the negotiator is a senior member of staff or even the owner.

Sales Negotiator

A sales negotiator is responsible for viewing your property and giving you a valuation before you put it on the market. They will negotiate a commission fee at this point if you haven’t already discussed it.

The sales negotiator will be responsible for organising viewings and showing around buyers interested in the property. Experience will tell them who is really interested in your home and what they are particularly looking for.

Offers will hopefully come in and it is the negotiator's job to liaise between the homeowner and the buyer to get the best possible sale price. At this point there could be a lot of interest so sealed bids might be used to encourage a higher sale value or chain free buyer.

For homeowners or landlords, good communication with the estate agent who is selling their property is important. Therefore negotiators tend to be good communicators, especially over the phone and easily contactable. You should expect a quick reply to your queries.

Negotiators work on commission so a high turnover and meeting the sale price makes them happy.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing are responsible for marketing your property locally using the estate agent website and office window. Sometimes they take the photos but often a photographer will come in and do the job.

They will market your home to buyers and contacts currently looking for a property near you while working closely with the negotiator.

They are responsible for writing the property descriptions, creating the floor plans (also sometimes the photographer) and listing the property on Rightmove, Zoopla etc.

Mortgage Advisor

If you are selling your home the buyer will more than likely need a mortgage to complete the purchase. Most high street estate agents have advisors in house to see if your buyer has the potential to get a mortgage or is going to waste your time.

The mortgage advisor also works on commission and is referred by the negotiator who will be eager to get a serious buyer looking at your home.

Surveyor

A surveyor will inspect and value a property on behalf of the buyer before sale. Additionally a surveyor hired by the mortgage provider will do another valuation to secure the mortgage.

If there are any problems with the property in the report they will be discussed between the negotiator, buyer and homeowner.

Should I hire an estate agent with the highest valuation?

Negotiators will value properties depending on the demand and whether or not there are potential buyers waiting in the wings.

The good estate agent will have been online to check your property valuation and discussed with their team a sales plan before they left the office.

Getting multiple valuations is the best way to see where your property sits in the market. If one negotiator is offering more than the rest you might be tempted to go with them. But, high valuations might be used to bait the homeowner.

Getting an online valuation using Zoopla or Rightmove is a good idea before looking for an estate agent to sell your house.

Choosing the right estate agent for you will depend on their commission and predicted sale price.