the PDF

Choosing a Reputable Agent
www.studentholmes.net
These are Adams Estates tips to
avoiding cowboy estate agencies:
business is run so first impressions
really do count!
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Play web detective
Standing out from the crowd
What are they marketing
Test the agent
Don’t be afraid to ask
First impressions really do
count
• Avoid hidden charges at all cost
• Lettings retention on and
renewals
• How do they manage?
Play web detective
Take the time to play web detective
and fully research the agent’s
website. It is a good start to see if
they are members of any professional
associations, if they have won any
awards and whether the information
is easily navigable, up to date and
accurate.
Standing out from the crowd
With more than 80% of house
hunters turning to the web for their
property search, online marketing
has never been more important, but
it takes more than just signing up to
the property portals to keep ahead of
the competition. Does the agent use
twitter or facebook to share property
with a wider audience and do they
advertise directly online or is your
property left languishing, lost on the
portals?
What are they marketing
Agents listing properties similar to
yours should have a clear idea about
rental and sale values, a greater
understanding of the local area, and
potentially a long line of registered
applicants already seeking property
in comparable areas and price
brackets!
Test the agent
A quick way of testing if an agent
is worth their salt is simply asking
them about Energy Performance
Certificates, Gas Safety Certificates
and Tenant Deposit Protection. A
good agent should be able to talk
about these confidently and explain
your legal obligations when selling or
letting.
Don’t be afraid to ask!
Prepare a checklist of questions;
make sure the agent is knowledgeable
about the market, questioning
them specifically about any local
amenities the area has to offer, the
demographics of the target market
and how well your property would
fit into this. You’ll also want to check
what the demand is likely to be and
how quickly they think they can sell
or rent your property.
First impressions really do count
Is the agent responsive and do
they follow up your enquiry with
an informed answer? Their initial
contact could well be indicative of
their professionalism and how the
Avoid hidden charges at all cost
Avoid getting stung by hidden
costs; any reputable agent should
be transparent and upfront about
their fees from the beginning. Don’t
be tempted to go for the cheapest
agent you come across; make sure
you are clear on the charges and
investigate the full range of services
and the quality of service they offer.
Lettings retention and renewals
If looking for a lettings agent, do the
tenants generally stay for the duration
and how many tend to renew their
tenancy? In terms of renewals,
remember, the agent should be
negotiating on your behalf to achieve
the best possible rental and aim to
avoid renewals coming at a point in
the year when demand is low (e.g.
close to Christmas).
How do they manage?
Any letting agent with a strong
property management team should
have reliable contractors to relieve
any potential headaches. Are their
maintenance firms members of
any professional bodies. Ask them
to advise on the cost of typical
maintenance jobs and how soon
they would expect to have someone
on site after a reported problem.
140 Wokingham Road, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1JL, 181 Wokingham Road, Reading Berkshire RG6 1LT. Telephone: 0118 935 1616 | Email: info@studentholmes.net