Your home is likely to be the most valuable asset you own so why would you use anyone other than the best agent to sell your property?
Here are some top tips on how to find the right estate agent:
Do your research.
Get recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues. If you know anyone who has recently bought or sold a property nearby, ask them for recommendations. Check out online reviews on Trustpilot Google and Facebook.
If you have agents in mind speak to them. Once you've narrowed down your choices, it's important to speak to the agents to see who you feel most comfortable with. Ask them about their experience, their fees, and their marketing strategy. Equally, they should be interested in finding out about your situation – why are you selling, what are you hoping to achieve from your sale, and how quickly you are looking to move.
The top three places to advertise your property are Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket. Monster Moves advertises on all of these portals, but not everyone does. In addition to the top three Monster Moves properties are also advertised on S1Homes, Prime Location and Nestoria, as well as our own website and social media, ensuring your home is seen by as many potential buyers as possible.
A combination of consumer demand and developments in technology have dictated that listing a property has changed considerably in the last few years. Monster Moves has continued to lead the way, using drone photography, 360 tours, videography and providing online viewings – which proved particularly useful during lockdown.
Should I use an Estate Agent or Solicitor?
Would you ask a plumber to replace your windows? Whilst every sale that takes place in Scotland does require the services of a solicitor for conveyancing not every solicitor's firm specialises in the marketing of property, and negotiation of sale, whereas that is exactly what an estate agent does.
Should I choose a local or a national company?
Bigger is always better right? Not necessarily. You’ll want an agent that knows your area well, preferably one that lives locally, that can tell potential buyers about the nearest school, doctors, hospital, gym, walks, best beaches, and shops - your agent should be confident in selling the area just as much as selling your property. By using a local agent you are likely to have a more personable experience, as will any potential buyer, and most importantly your property is likely to be advertised in exactly the same places as those national companies, if not more! Monster Moves prides itself on being a local company with a national audience.
Fixed Fee or Commission?
Monster Moves used to be a fixed-fee agent – not now. We changed because the client is always the most important person to us in the transaction. In order for us to do the very best for our client we need the best team to spend time on each and every property, actively seeking buyers and negotiating the very best prices for our clients. To provide the level of service that we do we needed to increase our prices, because we didn’t want to be forced to cut corners.
Once you've chosen an estate agent, be sure to get everything in writing. This includes the terms of your agreement as well as the fees that will be charged. If you have any questions at all about terms and conditions just ask, your agent should always be happy to explain.
If you are considering selling your property in the north of Scotland you can speak to a member of our friendly team at Monster Moves by calling 01408 525001.
