After paying for removals, solicitors and your next home, fees can feel like a huge slice of the sale price. But what are you paying for – what should be part of the package?
The majority of what estate agents charge you for goes way beyond just getting your property on Rightmove. A good agent will lead with a local market valuation and pricing strategy backed up by real demand, recent sold prices and buyer sentiment. They will obviously advise on dressing the property so your home translates well onto film and receives the right footfall.
The fee covers a portion of marketing. That generally covers professional photography, floorplan and listing copy as well promotion on every major portal where buyers are searching for property – along with the agent’s own channels. Video tours or premium listings may also come with some packages, but this is often the exception rather than the rule – so inquire if you want. For Gloucester Estate Agents, contact Murdock & Wasley.
And then there is the work they slog through on a day-to-day basis, from answering inquiries and qualifying buyers to scheduling viewings or going out on them. Agents also negotiate offers, check buyer positions (are they mortgage agreed / what is their chain status), and advise on which offer to accept – it’s not just about the highest number.
Gloucester Estate Agents do sales progression too, which is phoning solicitors daily and keeping the chain on track – sorting problems so they don’t bring a deal crashing down after it has been agreed. And this is often the most valuable area of all because delays and fall-throughs are time consuming and costly.
Double check what that goes into writing ie. VAT, contract length, tie in periods, withdrawal fees and whether you will pay for photos/EPC or accompanied viewings.
