Should you use using an Estate Agent to sell your home?

Are you looking to sell your home or investment property? One of the most important decisions you can make when selling your home is whether to sell through an estate agent or to arrange your sale privately directly to a prospective buyer. The aim of this article is to outline to advantages and disadvantages of selling a property through an estate agent. We at Johnson Astills are here to guide through your property sale at every step.

Advantages

There are many advantages to selling your property through an estate agent, the main advantage being the ability to reach and tapping into a wider market of prospective buyers. Estate agents have the skill of catering the advertising of the property in several efficient ways. The most popular is online of the agent’s website or through their dedicated mobile application. They will also advertise your property if it is suitable to people who enquire at their offices or over telephone, with an agent in place they can help advise you on which bids are genuine and which prospective buyers are going to be good people to sell your property to and also getting the highest sales price possible.  Another key advantage is the hassle-free commitment of the progression of the sale. Estate agents are there to look out for your best interest in the offer stage but also all through the transaction up to completion, where you will hand over the keys to the buyers. They communicate to the buyers directly so you will not need to put as much effort compared to if you are to sell your property on a private basis. The agents will also communicate with both solicitors who will represent you and the prospective buyer.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of selling your property through an estate agent is that they will take a commission from the proceeds of the sale which can be very expensive. The commission rates vary between each estate agency so we advise to do your research as going for the cheapest agent may not always equal the best service. Research at this stage is essential in determining if the estate agent has provided a good service and good value for money.

An estate agent may wish to refer you to a solicitor firm after the sale has been agreed. This is where the team at Johnson Astills can guide you through the full legal process of your property sale.

If you are looking to sell your home or an investment property our Conveyancing team at Johnson Astills can assist you and provide you with further information regarding any conveyancing queries. Please contact us at our Leicester Office or Loughborough Office on 0116 2554855 or 01509 610312