Seven Deadly Questions When Choosing An Estate Agent

Choosing an Estate Agent to sell your home is part skill and part intuition. You have to believe the agent is going to do his or her best to sell your home for the best price as quickly as is possible.
Trust is critical and so is communication.

1. The agent him/herself and the company they work for MUST be registered with the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA). That’s a legal requirement. The PSRA also obliges the Agent and the Vendor to have a Letter of Engagement (contract) in place. www.psr.ie

2. Trust, as I say, is critical. If you believe in the agent, then it is likely that potential buyers will also. And it is remarkable how many agents don’t answer calls or don’t reply to emails and voice mails.

3. Local knowledge is good but remember an agent with a number of properties in your locality may have split loyalties.

4. What is the fee – you can expect to pay anything between 1 – 2% of the sale price, more than that is unnecessary. And get a clear picture of marketing charges – the sign board, brochures, advertising and photos. Online advertising has pretty much taken over from newspaper ads.

5. A good Estate Agent will gather details, not alone on the property itself, but also on the neighbourhood – transport, facilities such as schools, shops, sports grounds, new developments and so on – all of those things you will want to know when you are buying.

6. The Agent is obliged to tell a potential buyer about any issues (planning, structural, flooding etc) s/he knows of if asked.

7. Have your house as well presented as is possible for photos and for viewings. The old adage – “they can see past that” is not worth the risk. It lowers both the perception and therefore the bid value of your property.