Top 10 questions to ask an estate agent when they’re valuing your home When you invite an agent to value your house, it can be difficult to know what questions to ask them.

To help, we’ve put together a list of 10 important questions that you should always ask an agent.

1.

On average, how long does it take a property to sell?It’s important to be realistic about how long your property may take to sell.

Agents should be able to give you a rough estimate based on the property market at the time of the valuation.

Remember, it’s always better to go with an honest agent, rather than an agent that promises to sell your house in 24 hours just to win your instruction!2.

What can I do to make my property sell quicker?Sometimes slight adjustments to your property can make all the difference.

For example, neutral décor can help viewers of the property to see it as a blank canvas, somewhere they can make their own home.

A good agent will know what makes a property sell faster, so try to be open to constructive criticism.

3.

Have you sold any other properties in the same area recently?Being aware of how many properties have been sold recently in the same area can give you an idea of: 1) how successful the agent is at selling properties, and 2) how desirable the area that you live in actually is.

4.

When will my property be up for sale?It is important to know just how long the agent will take to put your property up for sale.

The sooner it is up for sale, the sooner you will be able to get potential buyers.

5.

How will you market my property?Make sure you choose an agent who is experienced in advertising properties similar to yours and check they use online portals such as Rightmove and OntheMarket.

Chances are that they will already have a large pool of buyers who have enquired about similar homes to yours so enquire as to how they market to these people.

Do they send property alerts and regular e-shots? Do they use social media?6.

When will viewings take place?It’s useful if you know when viewings will take place as it gives you the opportunity to be as involved as you want to be.

The agent should let you know when viewings are taking place so that you are aware of what is happening in your property.

7.

Is the property tied in for minimum amount of time?When you choose an agent, their contract will often include a sole agency tie-in period which means you can’t list your property elsewhere if you become unhappy with their service.

It’s important to check this and make sure you’re happy with the terms.

8.

How can we best stage our homes for viewings?The agent should tell you how best to prepare your property for a viewing and offer different ways to go about it.

Be sure to do a deep clean of the house and make sure everything is in its rightful place, not cluttering the house.

9.

Is it the right time to sell my home?A good agent will know the local and national market really well and be able to advise you on whether or not it’s the right time to sell your home.

They’ll know what buyers in the area are looking for and, in some cases, might already have registered buyers looking for exactly your type of property.

10.

What is my property worth?This is arguably the most important question to ask! It’s often worth getting more than one valuation of your property to ensure you’re getting a true reflection of its market value.

Some agents will overvalue your property in an attempt to win your instruction, so be sure to choose an agent that provides you with an honest valuation, otherwise you could risk your property being on the market for a very long time without any interest!If you have any questions about valuing your property, please call us on 01904 650650.

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