Selling Your Home? Leave It To The Professionals
It seems that estate agents have been around forever. Ever since people have wanted to sell their home, there have been estate agents there to help.
These days though, things seem to be changing a little, with online estate agents, hybrid agents and ‘do it yourself’ packages springing up online. With these in mind, is there really a need for traditional agents any more? How exactly does an estate agent help when selling your home?
Our latest blog takes a look at all the benefits of using an estate agent…
The Best Possible Sale Price
Most estate agents work on a commission basis, which means they’ll be driven to achieve the best possible sale price for your property. If they’re working on a fixed fee, they’ll still be incredibly motivated, as word of mouth and customer feedback is at an all time high in terms of importance.
Their knowledge of the market will help you achieve the best possible sale price for your home.
Bigger Listing Resources
Estate agents use their buying power to sign up valuable real estate on listing sites like Zoopla, Rightmove and Prime Location. Without an agent you could struggle to get your property listed on these sites (known as ‘the big three’) which will majorly reduce your homes potential impressions.
If you do manage to secure a listing on the sites we’ve mentioned, expect to pay a higher sum. Agents that are listing properties on a regular basis are eligible to discounted listings and with margins so small, this is usually one of the few ways an estate agent can turn a profit.
In some cases, the total listing cost for your property yourself could far outweigh the fees an agent charges! So it’s worth taking into account.
Experience Marketing & Listings
The best estate agents are a dab hand at turning properties around for the best possible price, in the quickest possible time. They’re highly experience in marketing properties and making sure listings have pin-point targeting for their market.
Using an agent lets you tap in to that knowledge and experience, meaning you’ll unlock valuable marketing and property listing advice which would otherwise go amiss if listing your property yourself.
Potential Buyers
In some cases, estate agents already have buyers waiting. Perhaps they’ve recently sold a home where the vendors new property has fallen through? Or they have links to local developers looking for their next opportunity?
Either way, instructing an estate agent to sell your property could potentially open up a portfolio of buyers that are ready to go.
Hassle Free Viewings
Nervous about property viewings? Using an estate agent can get rid of all that stress!
A professional agent will either handle your viewings for you, where necessary, or guide you on the best possible way to showcase your home to potential buyers. This means hassle free viewings for the time your home is on the market.
Local Knowledge
Estate agents build their business by integrating into the local area, with local knowledge and expertise. If something is happening in your area, they’ll know about it.
This local knowledge is vital for ramping up your sale price, making your property more attractive to potential buyers as they learn about developments in the area. In some cases, agents may even advise against selling your home, if they’re in the know on something which could drastically change it’s value!
Showcasing Your Home
Selling your home is about appealing to the biggest possible share of the market. Estate agents bring extra value to the table with advice on the best way to stage your home, helping you appeal to the mass market and get it sold more quickly.
Paperwork & Fraud Protection
Nobody wants to deal with paperwork at the best of times and selling your home generates more red-tape than most things in life! A good estate agent is worth their weight in gold when it comes to cutting down on the paperwork that you need to do.
Using an estate agent should make things much more simple and stress free. Simply instruct them to sell your property and they will do the rest.
What’s more, you’ll never fall foul of any laws or fees that could be involved, that you may be totally unaware of, if selling on your own. Fraud is always a worry when it comes to selling on your own too, which an estate agent will be able to help you avoid.
Negotiation on Prices
Using an estate agents gives you a strong ally when it comes to negotiation, which they can do on your behalf.
Usually with years of experience under their belt, estate agents are hardened negotiators, which means they’ll be able to play hard ball with potential buyers.
Access To A Professional Network
Selling your property is just part of the job! Once your home is sold, you’ll need solicitors and other professionals along the way to help keep the wheels moving. In some cases, you may be looking for mortgage advice too, which can help secure your next property.
Whilst you can generally find these services online, using an estate agent means you’ll ‘weed out’ the rubbish. Estate agents will only work with and recommend professional service providers, after all, it’s in their interest to get the deal done too.
In some cases, the difference between a good and bad conveyancing solicitor can mean months in terms of completing, so it’s well worth checking with an agent to make sure you get the best team for the job.
Thinking Of Selling Your Home?
As you can see, there are still (and always will be) plenty of reasons to use a good estate agent, no matter what happens in the market. If you’re looking to sell your home, why not speak to us? We’re Estate Agents in Wigan bringing the best of all worlds, good, honest, traditional estate agency, with online benefits and a network of marketing to hand.
Speak to Pete and our team today, or request a valuation online today. We’re always happy to help.