An Estate Agent is a real estate salesperson who helps people buy and sell properties. Their duties include assessing properties for sale, negotiating the terms of sale and preparing contracts. They are responsible for obtaining the best possible price for properties and ensuring they are sold legally.
Estate agents work for large property firms, local estate agencies and lettings companies. Most estate agents earn a salary and commission from their sales.
The minimum experience requirements for estate agents vary, but employers tend to prefer candidates who have worked in the real estate industry for at least a few years. They also prefer candidates with sales or customer care experience.
Working hours for estate agents are usually between 9.00 am and 5.30 pm, with some employers requiring staff to work weekends. This is because they have to travel to see their clients and attend viewings.
Choosing the right estate agent is crucial for selling your home quickly and at a good price. Make sure you research all the agents on your shortlist, finding one that suits your budget and your needs.
Asking references from previous buyers is a great way to find out about an estate agent’s track record. Don’t simply ask for a list of references – ask to talk to the buyers themselves, to learn how the agent dealt with them and what they liked about the service.
A good estate agent will have a wide range of contacts in the area, so they can get your property in front of potential buyers immediately. They should have lots of photographs and information about your property, so they can market it effectively to the right audience.
They should arrange for your property to be professionally photographed, with a floor plan drawn up and an accurate description written so it can appear in their shop window, in their brochures and on the big property portals. They should also arrange for your details to be entered in the property registers, which are used by mortgage lenders to verify ownership.
The fees charged by estate agents are a key factor in deciding which ones to use, and they can vary a lot depending on the agency. Typically, the fee is a percentage of the selling price. It’s best to be aware of this upfront and to check whether it includes VAT, if any.
If you’re looking to sell your property, it’s a good idea to look for an estate agent who works as part of a team. This will help to ensure that you’re not dealing with a solo individual who may be less responsive than you need.
In addition, you should consider how much experience the agent has in selling your type of property. This is especially important if you’re in a competitive market, where bidding wars are likely to happen.
Having an understanding of your local market will also help you to choose the right agent, as they will have an in-depth knowledge of the area and its property prices. They should be able to tell you what’s going on in the area, where there are gaps in the market and which properties are not selling as quickly as they should.
