Q: I AM thinking of selling a property that I have recently refurbished and I am strongly considering selling it privately without using an Estate Agent.

A friend of mine mentioned that I should try it.

What are the benefits of using an Estate Agent?

Surly it’s easy to do it myself?

Mr M, Uplands.

A: The vast majority of people use an estate agent to sell their home rather than sell it privately and there are plenty of reasons for doing so, whether you’re selling a house, flat, cottage, bungalow or studio apartment.

Despite having to pay the Estate Agent a fee, good ones can be worth their weight in gold.

So, what do estate agents offer you if you are looking to sell your home?

• Knowledge of the local market: An estate agent’s knowledge of the local area, the type of properties for sale within it and the potential demand will allow them to calculate your property’s value accurately and realistically for sale.

They should be able to substantiate why your home will sell, the kind of buyers that might be interested in it and how best to present and promote the property to that target market.

• A database full of potential buyers: An estate agent will already be in contact with a substantial number of potential buyers on their database, buyers who have listed their criteria with the agent and who are searching for property, ready to start viewing homes for sale immediately.

• Marketing expertise and power: It is unlikely that any other organisation will be able to market your property like an estate agent can.

In today’s market, estate agents invest heavily in maximising the potential reach of their audience to give them, and you, the best possible chance of finding the right buyer for your property at the best possible sale price.

• Your property is likely to be advertised through a number of channels:

o On the Internet, via their own websites and property portals like Rightmove and OnTheMarket.com.

o ‘For sale’ board at your property

o At their local branch or branches

o Through the post

o Mobile phone and email alerts

o In local or national newspapers and magazines.

In short, estate agents have the capacity to make sure your property is seen by the right buyers, wherever they might be.

• Managing and conducting viewings:

Your estate agent will liaise between the potential buyers and you to arrange viewings of your property.

The majority will also be present at the viewing to ‘sell’ your home to the interested parties, as well as being on hand to answer questions that may arise.

After a viewing has taken place, the estate agent should contact you with an update of how the viewing went and give you any useful feedback.

For security, your agent will also be able to ask several questions and find out more about you viewer before letting them into your home.

Many applicants can also feel uncomfortable when being shown around by the owner.

• Advice and guidance:

Should any difficulties or problems arise throughout the selling process; your estate agent will provide you with advice for the best course of action and guidance to overcome any obstacles that may be blocking a quick sale of your property.

• Managing the sales process:

A good estate agent will regularly check up and down the property chain, and with the solicitors, to make sure everything is running smoothly for the sale of your property.

By instructing an estate agent to sell your home, you are employing a company to manage as much of the process as you are comfortable with, taking away many of the stresses and strains of the task.

• Negotiating with the buyer:

One particular advantage of using an estate agent is that you don’t have to negotiate directly with the buyers, which may cause embarrassment and awkwardness for the more faint-hearted and may weaken your bargaining position.

Your estate agent will be well equipped to manage the negotiation on your behalf and will make sure you get the best deal possible.

The vast majority of people are ultimately trying to achieve one thing when selling – the ability to move!

Of course they want to do well financially, but most people simply want to move to their new home in a calm, confident and reassured fashion.

In my experience, most people are prepared to pay a little extra for peace of mind, and the enhanced probability of it actually happening.

Realistically this is far more likely to happen in the hands of a local property professional.

We know what we are doing, and take a pride in what we do, this is where the no sale – no fee comes in!

Continue to email me on clive@sawyersestateagents.co.uk with your property related questions.