Selling your home is a significant decision, and choosing the right estate agent is one of the most important choices you’ll make. As you compare different agencies, you’ll inevitably hear a variety of estate agency claims about valuations, buyers, marketing and results.
Most agents work hard, act professionally and genuinely want the best outcome for their clients. However, like any industry, some claims deserve a little more scrutiny.
That doesn’t mean they’re untrue.
It simply means they’re worth asking a few sensible questions before accepting them at face value.
Here are five common estate agency claims that are worth exploring in more detail.
“Your home is worth much more than the other agents have said.”
It might be.
Equally, it could be an optimistic valuation designed to win your instruction, only for the asking price to be reduced a few weeks later.
Rather than focusing purely on the figure, ask what evidence supports it. Has the valuation been based on recent comparable sales, current competition and genuine buyer demand, or is it simply an opinion?
A professional estate agent should be happy to explain exactly how they arrived at their recommendation.
“We’ve already got buyers waiting for your property.”
Excellent. Now ask a little more.
How many of those buyers are still actively searching? Have they sold their current property? Are they financially qualified? Have they viewed similar homes recently?
Every estate agency has an applicant database, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there are multiple buyers ready to purchase your home.
The more specific the answers, the more confidence you can have in the claim.
“We’ll sell your home within a fortnight.”
They may well do.
Some homes sell within days. However, nobody can know with certainty how buyers will respond until a property reaches the market.
Rather than asking for guarantees, ask for evidence. What is the agency’s average time to agree a sale? What happens if interest is slower than expected? What strategy do they follow if the first few weeks don’t generate the right offers?
Experience, preparation and adaptability are far more valuable than bold predictions.
“We’ll beat any fee.”
Saving money is always appealing.
However, choosing an estate agent on price alone can sometimes prove expensive in the long run.
Ask exactly what is included in the fee. Who conducts the viewings? Who negotiates offers? Will your property benefit from professional photography, high-quality marketing and proactive communication throughout the sale?
A lower fee can represent excellent value, but only if the service remains excellent too.
“Our marketing is unique.”
Perhaps it is.
If an agency describes its marketing as unique, ask them to demonstrate why.
Look at their recent property listings. Review the photography, video content, social media and brochures they’ve produced. More importantly, ask how that marketing has helped deliver successful sales, not simply how different it looks.
The strongest agencies rarely rely on slogans. They let their results speak for themselves.
Look beyond the promises
Choosing an estate agent should never come down to who makes the biggest promises.
Instead, look for clear evidence, honest advice and a realistic strategy for achieving the best possible outcome.
If something sounds almost too good to be true, don’t dismiss it.
Simply ask one more question.
“How do you know?”
A knowledgeable, experienced estate agent won’t be offended.
They’ll be pleased to show you the evidence.
Estate agency done ethically
We are proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN), a national network of independent estate agents that have been independently assessed against strict standards of honesty, professionalism, customer service and community commitment.
We’re proud to be the only local agency within the network.
If you’d like to find out more about what we do, why we passed the EAN assessment and how we can help with your move, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
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