Have You Asked Your Agent?

Your chosen agent should make the process of selling or renting out your home, a journey of ease and satisfaction, guiding you towards the right choices and ensuring that your property is placed in safe hands in an appropriate time frame. For you to be certain that you are working with the right person for you and your situation, asking not only enough questions, but the right questions, can expose the cracks in the potential partnership, or solidify your belief in them and their ability to deal with your house. If you haven’t already, ask your agent the following to provide your property with the best support.

What is my property worth?

Knowing how much your property can go on the market for is, perhaps, one of the earliest pieces of information that you will need to retrieve from a potential or current agent. An experienced estate agent with awareness of the area that your property is situated in, will be able to give you an accurate and honest valuation on what similar properties in the area are selling or renting for. Certain features will attract different prices depending on the applicants in your area, so your agent must be equipped with the local knowledge to provide you with an appropriate figure to earn you as much money for your property, without overpricing.

What are the fees and when do I pay?

All agencies price differently for their services, so it’s important to tally their fees to provide you with an approximate singular figure for the process. Knowing what you’ll be charged and when, should be prioritised, so as not to run into any unforeseen or unexpected charges. A trustworthy agent will check in with you to confirm your awareness of any likely charges, but if they haven’t clued you in on the inclusivity of VAT, additional costs for viewings, the production of certain required certificates, or legal fees, query that.

Have you worked with properties in my area recently?

People often believe that general experience is the most important attribute for an estate agent to have, but having knowledge on your local market and being active in the region is even more valuable. Check with your agent if they have sold or let similar properties to yours in the area as they will more than likely have potential clientele that would also suit your home. They will have a stronger idea of the pricings and the target market, which will be beneficial to you and your house as a deal could be confirmed sooner than it would with others who aren’t as well versed in this area.

What are my legal requirements as a landlord?

There are many obligations that landlords in the UK must abide by to comply with government guidelines and you must confirm with your agent what these are, because if you haven’t managed to acquire a certificate or contract, this can be arranged for you. Not only that, but agents can log these in their systems and keep tabs on when they need renewing to avoid legal trouble. Before, during and after a sale or tenancy, your agent should draw your attention to the bits that require your legal compliance, so remembering to request this information prior to the process, will ensure you know exactly what you are embarking upon.

When do I sell?

It is always tempting to put your house on the market in a hasty manner, in a bid to secure a quick sale, but you can do yourself a disservice if you market at the wrong time. The point of partnering with an estate agency, is to utilise their information and resources to allow for a stable and timely transaction. Ask your agent for their opinion on timing, to avoid entering the market at a busier time and encountering greater competition for the best buyer. Entering the economic cycle at any time can come with its own set of struggles, but liaising with your agent on when could work out better for you and your property, will create an easier experience.

Failing to ask these all too important questions could mean you miss out on information and guidance that can better your property and make the experience unnecessarily more confusing. The agent is there to assist, so you should have a decent amount of knowledge on their abilities and how they intend to proceed with your house. These are just a fraction of the potential questions you could have- there will be more specific concerns for each individual home, so compiling a clear list of any, and all queries, will be vital to providing your property with the bespoke assistance that your agent has to offer.

Maya