How to research an agent to sell your property

Selling your home can feel like a daunting task as you embark on a new chapter in your life.

For many people it’s an emotional process – not to mention a stressful one – which is why it’s important to find an estate agent who you can trust to get the job done.

So we’ve compiled a checklist of things home-movers should look for on Rightmove when choosing an agent to sell their home.

Are they marketing similar properties to the one you want to sell?

The only way to get your property listed for sale on Rightmove, and in front of the UK’s biggest home-moving audience, is by instructing one of the thousands of estate agents that advertises with us.

So have a look at what’s already for sale in your local area.

Selling a house is time consuming and can be quite a complex process. But an agent who’s already selling your neighbours’ houses has expert knowledge of the local property market. Also, an agent who has sold similar homes to your own might already have registered buyers who missed out on a neighbour’s home, and that will give you a running start on finding the right buyer. Instructing an agent with valuable expertise of your area will give you the best chance of selling your home, because they’ve been there and done it.

How do their listings look?

Properties that are well presented on Rightmove attract more interest from buyers. That should mean more offers for you and a better chance of getting a sale over the line.

A good agent should never list a property without photos. An agent should launch your property with at least five photos, to give searchers a flavour for every room and feature of the property. It’s especially important to make a good first impression as the first two weeks are when a new listing will get the most interest. It’s fresh to market and will be sent out in Rightmove’s Instant Alert emails.

We know that the most active home hunters use Rightmove multiple times a day, so check to see if an agent is changing the first photo of a listing at least every two weeks for another chance to grab the attention of regular searchers.

Buyers also expect to see floor plans. They help them to visualise the space and to rule a property in or out, so be sure to find an agent who consistently uses floor plans in their Rightmove listings.

Finally, a good listing will shine a light on the local area. They’ll use the property description to highlight what makes it a great place to live, potentially with a mention of schools and transport links too.

Visit the find an agent page and see what they say

You should choose an estate agent that you feel comfortable dealing with and who you feel has your best interests at heart. To help you make a decision, we would recommend asking prospective agents the following questions:

• How and where will my property will be advertised?
• How does my home compare with similar properties already on the market in terms of price and presentation?
• Can I see examples of your success in selling properties like mine?
• What are the fees involved with selling my property?
• How often can I expect feedback from you while my property is on the market?
• How do you handle sales progression (this is what estate agents call the process of getting your sale to completion once you’ve made an offer)?

Rightmove’s property expert Miles Shipside said: “You want to find an agent who is clear about the price they think your property will achieve.  That will mean you’re less likely to have to reduce your marketing price later on if it doesn’t sell and you’ll also be able to budget for your onward purchase.  Many estate agents use a report provided by Rightmove called the Best Price Guide which gives you all the properties in your area that have sold or are currently being marketed.

“A good agent should help you feel informed and in control throughout the process. If you’ve ever bought or sold a property before, you’ll know that having an agent who is dedicated to chasing up surveyors, solicitors and other estate agents in the chain is worth their weight in gold.  They may handle this part of your transaction themselves or they may have a separate person or department to do the chasing.  Find out how this process will work to make sure your move is as smooth as possible.”

For more information, visit our ‘find an agent’ page.