How to choose a good estate agency?

No, this will not be self-promotion. In today's article I want to help you find a good estate agency that will sell your flat or house effectively and painlessly. I have written many times that the help of a specialist is essential, so it is time for the next step: choosing a good estate agency. A very difficult challenge awaits us, so we must be properly prepared. Let's get to work!

Honest, experienced, conscientious, committed, professional… You could list a whole series of qualities you would attribute to the ideal estate agent. Finding the right one will probably take a lot of time, but – take my word for it – it is really worth it. All satisfied clients say so. It certainly takes a lot of effort, but afterwards you can sit back comfortably in your armchair and wait for offers from potential buyers. You get a guarantee of peace of mind.

Check the estate agency's credibility

The internet is a treasure trove of knowledge. Thanks to this enormous database we can check opinions about any product. It is no different with estate agency services. If we come across a few isolated unfavourable opinions – no need to worry. Those always turn up. It is therefore a good idea to consult people we know. This is not always easy, because our closest friends do not necessarily have experience of selling property, but perhaps those friends have other friends and could ask around…?

Look into the agency's methods, its client base and its greatest successes. It is the work done that proves an agent's skills, not their fine words and promises.

Assessing the staff's skills

Before you decide on a particular firm, I recommend first looking at the agency's structure and the competences and qualifications of its staff. If it holds the appropriate estate agents' licences, such an agency may be worth considering. Our trust will grow if we are dealing with experienced professionals who have worked on the property market for many years. Before they could call themselves that, they had to absorb piles of books from many disciplines. Working in the property industry requires interdisciplinary knowledge of the highest order.

Comprehensiveness

Let's not look for agents who need… more agents. The more services an agency is able to offer us, the greater the chance that our wallet will not suffer excessively. That is why an important concept is “comprehensiveness”. An estate agency should not only present the flat to interested parties, but also take promotional steps, obtain the documents needed to finalise the transaction, and provide legal advice on an ongoing basis. The less involvement is required from you, the higher the rating for the agent.