Top Tips on Choosing the Right Agent to Sell Your Property
Category Property Advice
Selling a house can be a stressful experience, but with the right people in place to help, it can run a lot smoother, and ultimately be rewarding. Chief amongst the people a homeowner needs to get right, of course, is the agent. Few things are more important than ensuring your agent understands your needs and can manage expectations throughout - and beyond - the successful transaction.
Here we explore what you need to know when choosing the right agent for selling your property.
Find the right agent for you
"It is critical to work with the right agent and somebody you trust," says The Agency's Managing Director, Kyle Leigh.
"Transparency and adding value are key for us in creating a partnership with our clients. Today power is gained by sharing knowledge, not hoarding it and trust happens when people are transparent. Adding value beyond the transaction is critical - we strive to give people more than what they expect, and we want to be our clients' Trusted Property Advisor for life."
There are lots of experts in the field, who understand the market, when - and when not to - sell, but choosing an agent is as much about you as it is about your property. Make sure you select the right agent to represent your best interests.
Reputation and Registration
Make sure the agent you go with is credible and a registered property practitioner, as per the new Property Practitioner's Act. The PPA, which came into effect in February this year has been designed to protect the consumer, with one key element being the broadening of what defines a 'property practitioner'.
Further to this, anyone who earns a commission or brokerage from the sale or leasing of property needs a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate, which must be produced on request from a seller or landlord. In addition to the current requirements, it must now include possession of a valid tax clearance and BEE certificate. It is also required that not just the agent/s, but the agency/business and all of its property practitioners must be fully compliant.
The Agency has welcomed this new act as positive move and one that has been designed around transparency within the industry.
"Not only will it better regulate the current processes and structures in the industry, but it will also provide additional consumer protection, which is a huge part of the act itself," says Leigh.
"The introduction of the mandatory disclosure form around a property's condition is creating a lot more transparency between buyers and sellers, which can only be a good thing. And on top of that the regulation of estate agents and their FFCs is a very welcome addition because we want people to know they are dealing with registered agents.
"We have been advocating for this kind of transparency for a long time now, so are very happy to see these regulations being instituted."
The PPA goes a long way in ensuring you're dealing with a reputable agent.
What does the agent/agency offer?
Selling your property is not as simple as putting it on the market and waiting for the offers to flood in. You need to understand the market, what buyers want from a home and how best to price your property. Too high and it could sit, too low and you stand the chance of losing out financially. The right agent will be able to help guide you through all of this and more.
The Agency's Trusted Property Advisors are:
- Knowledgeable of the local market and current trends
- Able to advise on necessary home improvements to maximise value
- Set up to co-ordinate the marketing of your home
- Well-equipped to compare the surrounding property values to your own to ensure yours enters the market at the right price
- Are well supported by The Agency to ensure they are able to operate at maximum capacity throughout the sale of your property
More importantly, they are credible, ethical and offer a hands-on relationship that does not end with the sale of your property and the handing over of the keys.
How do they compare to other agencies?
Are you looking for a full-service agent or do you want more control? It's important to know what level of service you would like before making a call of who you would like to work with. The Agency offers everything you need, and our model challenges the traditional agency model by offering a curated, hands-on experience from start to finish. We are mobile, nimble and our agents are all experts in the areas that they work. We do not employ the scatter-gun approach, but rather insist on a targeted process, meaning our agents focus on the area they know best to ensure we continue to get the best results.
"Choosing the right agent is paramount in order to sell your property for the best possible price, in the shortest amount of time," says The Agency's, Kyle Leigh.
"At The Agency we are not just about the sale, but instead are looking to build relationships with our clients to ensure we are their Trusted Property Advisors for life."
Author: The Agency Property Group
