Choosing an Estate Agent

When one thinks of estate agents it is rarely fondly. Most people have been disappointed with their service or feel disadvantaged. But are all estate agents the same? If you are looking for a new home, and are contacting estate agents to help you with your search it might be a good idea to first conduct some research on the agencies themselves in order to choose the best estate agent for you. Thus a good place to start is their portfolio and look at what kind of houses for sale and rent they offer. Estate Agents usually differ in their area of expertise, most specialise in the buying market with fewer focusing on rental properties.

Larger estate agents may have offices in many different regions across the country but as a prospective buyer or tenant their knowledge of the local area you’re looking at is more important. You might wish to check if they are keeping up to date with new property developments and town planning as well as knowing about good schools, transport links and if for example the neighbourhood is child friendly etc.

Many estate agents will also be able to help you with mortgage calculations and arrange inventories; sometimes they will take on full property management duties if the landlord is absent. Especially when you are thinking of renting a property it is important to check what services the managing agent offers, as you will have to deal with them throughout the tenancy.

Usually after having contacted various agencies and having gained an insight in their marketing and managing strategies it will become clear that not all estate agents are the same.

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