If you want to buy, sell or rent a property with the minimum of stress, finding the right estate agent is key.
You should feel that they understand your needs, possess the right balance of professionalism and friendliness, have excellent insight into the local property market and are members of the right industry bodies.
However, not all estate agents are as professional, reliable or conscientious as you would like them to be. Choose wrongly and you could face frustration, wasted time and may not sell your home for your ideal asking price.
We’ve put together this short guide to help you understand the differences between the good, bad and the online agents so you can make an informed decision.
What makes a good estate agent?
Here at Cobb Farr, we pride ourselves on our professionalism, personalised approach, outstanding communication and deep knowledge of the Bath, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire and Somerset housing market and local areas.
The same should be true for any good UK estate agent, who should offer:
Outstanding market expertise
Your estate agent should understand the national and local property market, allowing them to provide an accurate property valuation that accelerates the sale of your home. It also means they can provide strategic advice that helps you buy, sell or let your home.
Friendly, proactive and transparent communication
You should feel that you can trust your estate agent to keep you informed, every step of the way. There should be no hidden costs, no unnecessary delays or confusion, only clear and accurate communication.
Customer-focused service
Your satisfaction should always be a top priority for your estate agent. They should take time to understand your needs and requirements and tailor their services to meet them. This includes handling all the necessary paperwork, dealing with enquiries, managing negotiations, conducting viewings and keeping everything moving.
Experts at property marketing
Your estate agent should also be experts at marketing your property. This includes high quality property descriptions, detailed floorplans, professional photographs and extensive data lists of prospective buyers to tap into.
Excellent reviews and ratings
Whether you’re looking for a high street estate agent or online, ensure you check their reviews and ratings.
These will give you a better idea of what it is like to work with these estate agents. For example, Peter Allison left the following review on Google about our services.
“I first met the team at Cobb Farr in November last year. This was the result of me helping a family friend to purchase a property at The Moorings in Bath. Philip Cobb was my first contact, followed by Vivienne Hayes, one of Cobb Farr’s directors. I was initially struck by the friendliness, honesty and supportive approach that Vivienne provided. As time passed, it became clear that Vivienne was both tenacious and patient with both the seller and purchaser. She did an outstanding job while working on behalf of both. My friend’s purchase was finally exchanged yesterday and I would thoroughly recommend Vivienne and Cobb Farr if you’re buying or selling a property.”
How can you spot a bad estate agent?
Some estate agents can have a bad reputation because they don’t uphold the standards of professionalism that they should. They may…
Struggle to communicate
There’s nothing worse than an unresponsive estate agent who is difficult to reach, doesn’t stay in touch or simply doesn’t want to communicate.
Lack local knowledge
If an estate agent doesn’t know the local area, they could provide unrealistic property valuations including under-pricing and over-pricing. Both can impact how quickly you sell your home and whether you suffer financial loss.
High-pressure sales tactics
Unfortunately, some estate agents like to use high-pressure sales tactics to push you into making a quick decision so they can get their hands on their commission faster. On the other hand, good estate agents will let you move at your own pace, according to your own needs and timeline.
Poor reviews and feedback
If you check their online reviews or customer testimonials, you could find many unhappy customers who had a bad experience, either in selling their home or buying a new one.
Unprofessional behaviour
If the estate agent in question isn’t a member of any industry bodies or acts unprofessionally, they are best avoided. This can include missing appointments, keeping information from you or failing to provide the correct paperwork promptly.
What about 100% online estate agents? Are they good or bad?
Online estate agents have become increasingly popular over recent years. Providing a modern alternative to high street estate agents, they carry both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Convenience
Online estate agents make it easier for you to manage many aspects of buying, selling and renting a property from the comfort of your own home – because you have to do it all yourself!
Wider reach (sometimes!)
When your property is listed with an online estate agent, it may reach a wider audience than if more traditional methods were used. Regardless of where someone is in the world, they can find their ideal property – though a good Estate Agent like Cobb Farr is online anyway, and will list your property online as well, as a matter of course.
Cheaper
Often, online estate agents charge lower fees compared to high-street estate agents.
Disadvantages
Limited personal touch
Because online agents usually don’t meet with their clients, it’s harder to build a trusting relationship.
Variable quality
The quality of service offered by online estate agents can vary wildly and can often fail to provide the local market knowledge, accurate property valuations and personalised service that high street estate agents offer.
DIY approach
If you choose a purely online estate agent, you will probably need to handle more of the complex tasks involved with buying, selling or renting a property. This can include hosting property viewings, managing negotiations or drafting paperwork required for the transaction to go through.
Good vs bad estate agent: how to choose
Choosing the right estate agent is vital if you want to enjoy a successful sale, purchase or rental of your property.
By choosing a good agent like Cobb Farr, you can rest assured that you’ll receive a professional, personalised service that is regulated by industry bodies.
We also boast in-depth local market knowledge, pride ourselves on our high-quality service and 100% transparency and will be there to help guide you through your property transaction with a minimum of stress.
Not only this – we also offer an online platform that allows you to search for your ideal property from anywhere in the world.
Get in touch to find out how we can help today.
