If you are looking to sell your home in Liverpool, it’s always a good idea to work with an estate agent. Working with an estate agent takes a lot of pressure off the selling process and helps match your property with the right buyer.
Selling your house can be a stressful endeavour, but when you choose the right estate agent, it doesn’t have to be. Selling a house in Liverpool can have its ups and downs: while there are plenty of potential buyers, there are also many houses on the market, adding competition to what can already be a stressful task.
At Lyons Estates, we have supported countless buyers and sellers in Liverpool, and we know exactly what sellers should look for when choosing an estate agent.
Keep reading to find out more.
Why Your Choice of Estate Agent Matters
Choosing the right estate agent is a crucial step in selling a property. While it may be tempting to select the first agent that appears in your Google search, partnering with the most reputable and experienced estate agents in Liverpool can significantly affect your outcome.
The best agents have local market insight, negotiation skills, and a proven track record of securing the highest possible price and attracting qualified buyers. Making an informed choice helps you maximise your property’s value and streamline the selling process, helping you avoid unnecessary stress and achieve your desired price.
How to Choose an Estate Agent
Here are some of the things you should be looking for when choosing an estate agent.
Local Knowledge and Coverage
When choosing an estate agent, look for one with strong local knowledge. Local knowledge is key, as it means an estate agent genuinely understands your area, the schools, and local buyer demand. Local knowledge means that your estate agent knows exactly how to angle your property to ensure it appeals to local buyers and those wanting to move into your area.
For example, say you live in the Lark Lane area, and you want to sell your property. A good estate agent would understand the area’s biggest selling points and ensure they are covered in your property’s marketing, highlighting key features like proximity to Sefton Park and great public transport links.
Estate agents who understand your area are a cut above the rest when it comes to knowing what buyers are looking for, whereas if you don’t put much thought into picking your estate agent, they might take a more general approach to selling.
Track Record and Reviews
Not every estate agent is good at what they do; much like in any industry, you’ll find estate agents who have a real passion for the job and others who put in minimal effort. When choosing an estate agent, don’t be afraid to review their track record, check Google reviews, or ask for recent examples of properties they have sold.
Reviews are the best way to gauge their skills as a seller, as people don’t hold back when they’re writing a review, especially if an estate agent has done a poor job.
We’d always recommend working with established or family-run agencies, as they have usually built a strong reputation and developed expertise that will benefit you.
Communication Style
Many people overlook communication style when selecting an estate agent. When you’re selling a house, you need to make sure that each link in the property chain is on the same page, and if you work with an estate agent that has a poor communication style, you may encounter delays in the selling process.
Before you decide to work with an estate agent, ask about their communication style and how they’ll keep you updated during a sale. As an independent, family-run estate agent, we’ve found that sellers are more likely to get better communication from agents like us, as bigger, franchised estate agents often require you to go through automated call centres or AI bots to get in touch, which can be frustrating.
Marketing Exposure
An effective marketing strategy is crucial to attracting potential buyers. Assess how the estate agent plans to market your home. This includes property portal listings, social media outreach, and the quality of photography and floor plans. Look at the agent’s other listings and see whether the photography feels like it will sell the property.
We have seen many agents use poor-quality imagery in their listings to sell properties, but if a buyer can’t get a clear picture of a property, they won’t be interested.
The wider the exposure your property receives, the faster and better-priced it is likely to sell. An agent with a well-thought-out marketing approach will have access to a comprehensive range of tools and methods to ensure maximum visibility for your property, increasing the chances of attracting qualified buyers.
Get Multiple Valuations
One of the biggest ways that estate agents help you is by providing an accurate valuation of your property before you take it to market, but what you’ll find is that estate agents will price a property at a different price. Some may value your property beyond what it’s really worth, which may feel like a great idea, with the prospect of more cash, but it can make it incredibly difficult to sell the property.
It is especially important to get a range of property valuations in Liverpool, as properties in the city vary widely; accurate valuations require expertise across all property types, so understanding Liverpool’s house prices is important.Â
You don’t want an idealistic valuation for your property; you want a realistic one that will actually help your home sell. Surveyors give the most accurate valuation of your property price, and if an agent’s estimation is similar to this, then it is a good indication that you can trust their valuation.
Meet Face to Face
Communicating with an estate agent over email and the phone isn’t a good way to get a good picture of their character and work ethic. Remember, you will be working closely with your estate agent until your property sells, so meeting them in person matters, as they will play a big role in selling your house. It gives you a feel for how well they know the local market and whether they’re genuinely listening to what you want from the sale, rather than just telling you what you want to hear.
You should always trust your instincts, and you can’t get a feel for someone without meeting them.
Ensure You’re Happy With Their Commission and Terms
Estate agent fees vary considerably, so it’s worth understanding exactly what you’re being charged before signing anything. Commission is usually a percentage of the sale price, but this can range from around 1% to 3% or more, and it’s worth checking whether VAT is included in the figure you’re quoted.
It’s also important to look beyond the percentage itself. Sole agency, sole selling rights, and multi-agency contracts all come with different obligations, and some agreements include long tie-in periods or fees for early exit. Know the notice period if you want to end things, and don’t be afraid to negotiate. The cheapest option isn’t always the best one if the service doesn’t match up.
Work With Lyons Estates Today
Through this guide, you should now have a better understanding of how to find the best estate agent when selling your house. At Lyons Estates, we’ve seen the consequences of sellers partnering with the wrong estate agents, and we have also seen how successful a sale can be when a seller works with the right estate agent.
Are you looking to sell your property and want to work with a real estate agent with a proven track record that you can trust? Get in touch today.
