Last week, a lady called up asking what we charged.  I replied with a very straight answer, asking her if I could explain what that actually included.  She was happy to let me.  I spent a few minutes highlighting our service.  I let her know we only get paid on results, that there were no hidden costs and certainly no lengthy tie in period.  She would not find anything alarming in the small print.  We are in fact what I like to call a no-risk estate agent!  Having had this conversation, I asked if she would like a free home consultation with me.  She replied yes, that would be very helpful indeed.  She thanked me for my clear response, letting me know, I was the only agent who offered her a direct and clear answer.  This lady is now a client of JDG.

Her issue with estate agents being unwilling to disclose their fees got me thinking.  The conversation we had about the value for money different estate agents offered played on my mind.  This lady wasn’t looking for the cheapest estate agent out there.  Nor was she looking for the one who valued her home the highest.  She was looking for one which she felt she could trust, one she felt she had confidence in and one who could demonstrate how they were going to do it.  We refer to this as the selling process.

Does your estate agent offer value?

There is no denying that estate agents fees differ greatly.  I’ve found locally they seem to vary from £795 up to 2% + vat.  The question is what are you actually getting (or not getting) for the fee they charge.  Estate Agents may like to tell you we are all the same, however, I must stress we are not!  What is important to you?  Getting the best price for your home or simply paying the cheapest fee?  Do you want to work with a motivated estate agent or one who is paid minimum wage and therefore possibly won’t have the interest in your home or even you, that they should have?   Estate Agents which charge more, generally do so for reason.   They are often spending more on marketing your home.   They are creating more opportunities for you.  They often sell your home quicker.   Often for a higher price.   Everybody wants to feel valued.   Everybody wants value.   We want it too.

A true story

This is a true story of two houses on the same street.  They were both for sale last year.  They were very similar in terms of size, presentation and what they offered.  The biggest difference I can see looking at the photos would be classed as personal taste.  Let’s call them house A and house B.

House A went up for sale for £160,000.  We believe this agent charged 1% +vat
House B went up for sale for £155,000.  This agent charged 1.5% + vat
House A sold for just £140,000.
House B sold for £152,000

*information regarding asking and sold prices are taken from data on Rightmove

Using basic maths, which agent do you think did the best?  Which client received the best service? Who was financially better off?  We don’t know the personal circumstances of the owners regarding House A.  Maybe the house had survey issues.  Maybe they were happy accepting a low offer! This difference does however seem huge.  We do know about house B though, as we were the agent which sold it!

A great deal

We all want the best deal.  However, when it comes to choosing an estate that will be responsible for selling your biggest tax-free asset, you need to pick the best you can afford.  When choosing, ignore the fee for a moment.  Who would you choose if they all charged the same?  Who is the best estate agent for your home?

My name is Michelle.  I am a director at JDG Estate Agents.   We are here to help you achieve the best price for your home.  Can we help you?  For a free no-obligation chat, call us on 01524 843322  or email me at michelle@jdg.co.uk