What do you pay an estate agent for?
Text from 2020. Laws, rates and prices may have changed since then. Ask an agent
Many people who want to buy or sell a flat choose to work with an estate agent. These days, this is a very advantageous solution. A good agent will not only help you find the ideal home or the best buyer, but will also guide you through the entire transaction, saving you time, energy and, contrary to appearances, money. An estate agent's services are by no means among the most expensive, and hiring an agent can bring nothing but benefits and will considerably speed up finding your dream property or selling your current one.
An estate agent's comprehensive services
Many of us think that an estate agent merely shows flats to potential buyers. Of course this is also part of their duties, but they do much more besides. Their work begins right at the start, when the listing itself is put together. And it should be stressed that a good description and photos are the foundation of successfully selling a property. Moreover, if you are looking for a flat to buy, the agent will select for you the best listings, ones that perfectly meet your requirements.
Working with an estate agent will also protect you from unpleasant surprises. The right specialist will check the legal status and technical condition of your prospective flat for you. And if you are planning to sell a property at a profit, the agent will advise you on what to do so that the flat makes a stunning first impression.
A good estate agent will negotiate the price on your behalf. When selling your flat, they will fight for the highest price, and if you are looking for a property to buy, they will secure the lowest possible price for you.
The agent will also guide you through all the formalities when it comes to finalising the transaction. They will take care of every detail of the sale and purchase agreement, recommend a reliable notary and explain all the legal nuances. In addition, they will see to checking the neighbourhood and the condition of the building.
It is worth remembering that buying or selling a flat is a long process involving many aspects. Without experience, we may get stuck at one of the stages or fail to find a buyer willing to pay the amount we are asking. People who decide to sell a property on their own often struggle with this for several months or even a year or more. Looking for a property to buy on your own, in turn, may end in a poor purchase, whose drawbacks, invisible before, are revealed only once you move in.
By choosing to work with an estate agent, we can avoid all of these difficulties. The agent will do everything possible to guide us through the entire process of buying or selling a flat, taking care of every detail of the transaction. Let us remember that thanks to their commitment we gain certainty, peace of mind and time, and that is worth every penny. Especially since, when working with an estate agent, we pay only after the service has been properly performed, which is all the more reason to make use of their help.
