Questions to ask an estate agent

30 March 2010

Questions you should ask an estate agent BEFORE you decide to ask them to sell your home…and why!

1. What sales experience do you have of selling my type of property?
2. What comparables have you used to arrive at the suggested selling price?
3. Do you hold any estate agency qualifications?
4. All estate agents have to belong to the Ombudsman scheme but, are you an accredited member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)?
5. How long am I tied to your firm in your contract? (Anything over 2 months and you should be asking some VERY searching questions indeed!)
6. Is your contract written in plain English and does it have any terms in small print?
7. Apart from Rightmove which almost every agent is on, how will you market my home?
8. How do you justify your fees?
9. What will my total selling cost be if I sell with you including any HIP or HIP credit charges?
10. Can you show me recommendations from other people who have sold through you?
11. The final question to ask yourself…. Do I trust this person to work their hardest to negotiate me the best price for my home, my largest asset, and not just give away my lowest price to a buyer for a quick sale?

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