We’re often asked in an initial consultation, “which agent would you recommend?” There are two answers to this question, and neither is what the homeowner is hoping for! Firstly, we don’t yet know without conducting a considerable amount of investigation and research, and secondly, that information is privileged: only once a client engages our services do we share with them information on which agent is the right one for them.
There are 15,000 agents in the UK, and selecting the right one can be like finding the proverbial needle! So how do we choose our ‘preferred agents’? We only allow around a dozen agents to work with us, so you might describe us as ‘picky’! At the very least we expect an agent to fulfill the following basic criteria:
- Track record – whenever possible, we prefer to work with agents we know and trust, and that we have had past success with.
- High level accountability – if something goes wrong in your local branch, I need to know that I can take the issue up the chain, to a senior executive. With most of our preferred agents, this contact is a managing director or partner; in this way, I am confident we will achieve the very best service for our clients.
- 21st Century marketing techniques – the brochure, photography and online marketing conducted by an agent is scrutinized by us to make sure it is of the highest quality, and that it successfully targets the right type of buyer.
- The right attitude – our preferred agents all understand the value of what HomeTruths do, and that we’re all trying to achieve the same result – to sell the house for the price our clients want. These agents encourage and welcome our involvement, listen to feedback, and continually monitor their marketing activity to ensure it remains fresh and relevant.
This collaboration really works! In the past twelve months, over 80% of HomeTruths’ clients sold within 6 months – including one poor seller who had been trying to sell his beautiful Georgian home for 6 years! Was it too expensive? His agent thought so, but I didn’t – we helped him sell for £40,000 over his asking price in 6 weeks.
A word to the wise: choose your agent as carefully as you choose your friends, and you will have a better chance of keeping him onside, and selling your home for the price you want.
If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.
