There is no need to hire an agent to market your home, you are able to conduct it on your own, but many sellers opt to use an agent for the sake of ensuring they get the most number of prospective buyers.
It can be complicated as there are many different kinds of agencies operating throughout the UK. They vary from agents that provide listings only and advertise the property online through websites such as Rightmove or Rightmove, all the way to full-service ones where agents will manage viewings and handle the sales process for you from beginning to finish.
The agent will normally:
Give you a property market value and a valuation
Market the property through the channels they choose
Locate potential buyers, arrange and conduct the viewings.
Consider the terms of any prospective deal between you and your prospective buyer
You can consult with your advisor during the entire process to ensure you reach your chosen goal
Help keep the momentum of the transaction moving and help resolve any problems when they arise.
The price of the service will depend on the agent you choose to work with and the kind of service you have chosen but typically they will charge either a fixed fee or a percentage of the sale price, which may range from 0.5 percent to 3% plus VAT.
Many agents employ in a model of business where they only makes a charge if they successfully sell the property, however, upfront charges for marketing properties are becoming well-known due to increased competition for prices and agents looking for fresh ways to work.
If you decide to hire an agent to sell your property, you will need to conclude a contract the agent to carry out the task. More traditional agents often offer two types of contract:
Sole agency – Under this arrangement , you’ll be obligated to promote the property solely to the agents for a minimum duration of time. You will not be able instruct other agents to sell your property. Before signing , make sure you know for certain the duration of your commitment towards the broker, and the procedure of deciding to close the contract end and any costs associated with later decide to sell the property through someone else.
Joint agency – This is where you can hire multiple agents to advertise your property. In general, the cost which is charged is more because with more than one agent working on your property, there’s a greater risk to the agent that somebody else could be selling it. In this scenario, the agent who introduces buyers initially will be the agent that charges the fee but make sure you know what would be charged if two agents were for you to present you to the exact buyer.
There is no requirement to employ an agent to sell your property but some of the benefits of using a Stubbington estate agent are:
They are experienced in the field. A majority of homeowners sell their home each year, but agents handle it day in day out and understand how to tackle the challenges. A good agent is familiar with the intricacies that are local to the market, and will be able to present evidence of the price and the type of homes they have sold locally.
They will give you professional advice on how best to achieve your goals.
They will provide you with their market knowledge and the network of contacts that are interested to buy.
They also have to bear the stress and burden of dealing with potential buyers.
They help take the emotion out of the process. This is crucial when you’re selling your own house as it is so much more personal.
They act as an insurance policy in the event that something goes wrong and guide you through the issues.
You can get your property on portals such as Rightmove for the greatest exposure across the market and the entire country.
They are less likely of making a mistake during the transaction because they are more educated and knowledge.