subject: Go Local When Looking For An Estate Agent [print this page] Estate agents are vital allies when people wish to sell their home and buy a new one, so making the right choice is important, particularly because buying and selling property is a high-value transaction, and you will be living in the property that you buy. There are many estate agents on the high streets of the towns and cities across the UK, but which one will be the best choice to work with on your property transaction?
A local presence is one of the most important factors when selecting an estate agent. If you are looking to live in a certain area, then an estate agent that is local to the area will be likely to be able to provide you with the best service, purely from the fact that they do business locally, know the local amenities, and are up to speed with local issues in general.
Looking at estate agent's boards outside houses in your chosen area is one of the best indicators for finding a good local agent. Walk around the residential areas of the town and look at the estate agent's placards outside the properties. Take note of the name of the estate agent of course, but even more important, take note of whether the property is described as "For Sale" or "Sold".
If you want to sell your home, using an estate agent that has many signs prominently displayed outside properties large and small saying "For Sale" may not necessarily be the best one to work with. Instead, look for an estate agent who has many boards that say "Sold", as they will probably be able to get your home sold too.
Local news and information media are another important source of information when making your decision regarding an estate agency. Which estate agents have a presence in the local newspaper? This does not only mean advertisements in the Property and Homes section, but news articles too. These could for example be about local sponsorships for charities and schools in the town that the estate agency has been involved with.
Word of mouth and personal recommendations will help you select an effective estate agency, and avoid estate agents that do not provide good service. If you do not know people in the town, you could ask people in the local pubs and coffee shops about their views on the best estate agents. Alternatively you could look online for local websites which will have news and information about the area you wish to live in. The larger local websites often have message boards and forums where you can post a question and receive an answer from a member of the message board.
Finally, the estate agents themselves should be visited. Pop in to their offices and have a chat to them. Are they welcoming, knowledgeable and commercially astute?
Paying attention to these local issues will set you on the right path when you reach the point of deciding which estate agent to work with.
