At Barrows & Forrester we understand how important it is to pick the right estate agent, as it can make all the difference when it comes to selling your home.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, we’ve put together 10 tips for picking the right estate agent to help make the process as straightforward and hassle free as possible

1. What is their knowledge of the local market?

Before picking an estate agent, take a look at their website – how knowledgeable about the local market do they seem? For example, do they regularly maintain it with local industry news and a blog? This can show they have a real feel for the area where you live like our area guides.

2. Do they seem trustworthy?

It’s always a good idea to arrange to meet a potential estate agent face-to-face before deciding to sell your property with them, in order to get a clear idea of how they work.  As part of this, how did they welcome you? Did you find them helpful? Remember, your home is probably your most expensive and important asset, so working with a trustworthy estate agent is key!

3.How professional do they seem?

Another good thing to look out for when meeting a potential estate agent is how professional they seem. Were they punctual and polite and do you think they’ll represent your property in the best possible way?

4. Will you be able to get hold of them whenever you need to?

Being able to contact your estate agent whenever you need to and having good communication is key. By choosing a traditional high street estate agent, compared to an online one, you will not only be able to visit their office but also be able to speak to them on the phone or via email during office hours.

5.How often will they keep you up to date?

Make sure you ask how often the estate agent will keep you updated about your property, including the number of enquiries and website/RightMove views.

6.What’s their reputation like in the local area?

Do you have any friends, neighbours or family that live locally that have used the same estate agent in the past? It would be a good idea to ask and find out their experiences!

7.Do they have good reviews online?

It’s also a good idea to check their reviews on Google or Get A Agent to get a feel for the experiences of other buyers and sellers too. See our online reviews at the bottom of our homepage.

8.How will they market your property?

Make sure you ask for the different ways the estate agents will market your property. For example do they use RightMove, e-newsletters and social media? Are you getting things like 360 tours and videos of your property included in the service - see examples here. 

9. Do they have many properties for sale locally?

Looking for another good way to gauge how successful and respectable an estate agent is? Take a walk round where you live and spot how many of their For Sale signs you can see!

10. Will they try and achieve the best price for you?

During your valuation appointment, ask the estate agent to justify their opinion by showing you examples of nearby properties that are on the market and similar to yours. Do you get a sense that they think the price is fair and that they will work to achieve this for you?

If you are looking to sell your propert