The simple answer is no, you don’t have to use an estate agent to sell your property, although most sellers do to ensure they attract the best range of potential buyers. Not only that, but selling privately can be extremely time-consuming and often sellers put themselves at risk of non-compliance with real estate legislation. In short, private selling is not for the fainthearted or inexperienced and it’s typically a much safer option to use an estate agent.

Before we look into the benefits of using an estate agent, let’s take a look at what their role involves.

What Is The Role Of An Estate Agent?

1. They Help You Value Your Home

To begin with, an estate agent will draw upon their knowledge to give you a value for your home. This is done by analysing the local property markets as well as sold prices of other local homes like yours from the Land Registry, to give you an accurate picture of what homes like yours are selling for and give you the best valuation possible.

2. They Market Your Home

A big part of an estate agent’s job is to market your property - they will arrange for your property to be professionally photographed, get an accurate floor plan drawn up and write an attractive description of your home to be used in the brochure, its shop window and on the big property portals.

The price of all of this will be included in the estate agent fees for marketing and selling your home.

3. They Arrange Viewings Of Your Home

Once your property is on the market, the estate agent will arrange viewings and act as a guide when showing potential buyers around the property and answer any questions or queries people have about it.

Estate agents often have a list of potential buyers who have expressed an interest in a property like yours that they will call to market your home to. They might also arrange an open house viewing where several interested buyers will visit during a specific time.

4. They Negotiate Prices

A key role of an estate agent is to manage negotiations between the buyer and seller. Offers are made to the estate agent who then passes them on to the owner and, similarly, relays the seller’s response to any offer submitted.

5. They Check the Availability Of Buyer’s Funds

Under the Property Ombudsman Code of Practice, estate agents must take reasonable steps to find out from the buyer the source and availability of their funds for buying the property.

6. They Make Sure Everything Goes Smoothly Until Completion

Once the seller has accepted an offer, it is the estate agent’s duty to make sure that everything keeps moving forward until completion.

Benefits Of Using An Estate Agent

1. Save A Lot of Time

First and foremost, using an estate agent will save you heaps of time. It is their full-time job, so naturally they will be dedicating a lot of their time to selling your property, whereas trying to sell it yourself in your spare time can prove challenging, especially for those who have children to look after, jobs etc.

Your property is also more likely to sell quickly as an established local estate agent will have a large contact of people – their register / database – who are looking to buy a house similar to yours. They are already one step ahead.

At Harris & Birt, we have an extensive database of registered awaiting buyers and a ‘List to Launch’ sales method, where our staff proactively market your property before it even goes live to the internet portals.

2. Local Knowledge and Experience

Estate agents spend all day every day selling property, and as a result, have built up a vast knowledge and expertise in the whole buying and selling process.

The biggest hurdle faced by many homeowners is the law and without an estate agent, sellers who lack relevant knowledge might struggle to understand the legally binding property sale documentation such as sale contracts and closing documents. This lack of experience also leaves private sellers open to exploitation, therefore estate agents will eliminate this risk.

3. Excellent Marketing, Selling and Negotiation Skills

High-quality, targeted property marketing is vital to achieving a sale in today’s competitive market and a good estate agent will have excellent marketing, selling and negotiating skills.

At Harris & Birt, we give our properties exposure to leading property portals including Rightmove, Zoopla, and Relocation Agent Network, and also advertise on various social media channels. Not only that, but we produce eye-catching sale brochures with high-quality professional photography to make your property stand out.

We also take on the stress and hassle of dealing with potential buyers and with over 100 years experience within the residential team, will get the best possible price for your property with our experienced and skilled qualified negotiators working on your behalf.

You can find more information about our marketing sales package on our website.

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We are Harris & Birt - one of Wales’ leading practices of Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents offering professional expertise throughout the residential, commercial and rural property industry across South Wales.

Written by Kate for Harris & Birt.