Selling your home is a big deal, it’s not something to be rushed into.  There is a lot to consider.  What will you gain from a move? were will you move to? what are your key requirements? the list goes on and on. Then you get to the questions about finances.  To work out what you can afford, with or without borrowing, you will need to get and idea of what your own home is worth, but you are not ready to have your home valued in person, because you are still at the research stage and, quite frankly, you know once you invite agents in to value your home, they will be subjecting you to the hard sell, wanting you to get onto the market now, even though you are not yet ready to do so.

What are we afraid of?

Let’s be honest, the image many of us have of an estate agent coming to value our home is not great.  In they come, armed with masses of literature, some to support their valuation and some “to leave with you” explaining why they are the only agent in the land that can sell your home, at that price, faster and smarter than their competition.

Despite when you booked the visit, being assured that they understood you were not ready to put your home on the market, the agent starts with the hard sell.  Explaining why you should sign up today, why now is the right time to be on the market, even being offered a discounted fee if you sign on the dotted line now.

And if you found the strength and energy to resist signing up. Just as you have decluttered all of the agents brochures and Rightmove reports. The phone starts to ring and ring and ring

“have you has any more thoughts around your property sale yet?”

“I wanted to tell you about a great new deal we have on”

“We have a family who are sold, they will buy your home”

Sound familiar?

No wonder people are reluctant to invite agents into their homes until they are ready to go onto the market!

Research, without the hassle

There is no better way to get an indication of what your house is worth than having an in person valuation by a reputable estate agent.  However, there may be many reasons why you are not yet ready to have a face to face valuation yet.  It could be the fear of being in the scenario above.  You may need works done on the property before it’ is ready to value.  You may be clinically vulnerable and worried about having people come into your home with Covid-19 infection rates rising, or you name be very emotionally invested in the property and you just aren’t ready it put it on the market yet.

One solution to getting an indication of what your property is worth, is by using an online valuation tool

Whilst these tools give you an instant idea of what your home may be worth.  They may not be that accurate. As they cannot take into account the finish of your home. Improvements that may appeal to buyers.  Nor can they keep up with a fast market, such as the one we are in now.

A virtual valuation

To get a much better idea, we have our virtual valuation  The virtual valuation is a form that you can complete. It asks for more specifics about your property to enable us to give a more informed valuation. You can even upload photo’s.  Once you have submitted the form, we will call you back within 24 hours with your valuation, which will be followed up with an emailed report.

After you have your valuation and report. We wont call you daily/weekly asking if you are ready to go into the market again.  You can even unsubscribe from our newsletters.

Giving you time and space to make an informed decision on the next chapter of your life

Let us tell you.  Here are our top ten reasons why we think you should use Harrisons Homes estate agents

1. Recommendation

Our number one source of business comes from personal recommendation.  Every agent across the land knows the value of personal recommendation.  Being trusted to handle one of the biggest financial transaction anyone is likely to make. A transaction that is often charged with emotion and stress. Is a very humbling experience.  To know that people value the service we have delivered enough to personally recommend our services, is something we are very proud of.  Check out our reviews to see what people say about us.

2. Award winning

In 2021 alone we have been awarded no less than five industry awards and we have been shortlisted for another.  The categories for these awards are for customer service, our results, our charity work and the work we do within the community.  We been awarded in 2021:

• Agents Giving – Best Fundraising Campaign
• ESTAS – Best Estate Agent – Gold Winner
• ESTAS – Best in County (Kent) 
• Excellent – Sales – Best Estate Agency Guide
• Real Estate Agency of the Year (Swale) – Southern Enterprise Awards 2021

And we have also been shortlisted for Community Champion of the Year – The Negotiator Awards

3. Results

Our results speak for themselves.  We don’t need charts showing what percentage of the market share we have. Or to tell you how many houses we have sold in your postcode over the past year.  We will tell you that it takes us an average of 16 days to agree an offer and sell your home (subject to contract).  We are currently achieving over 102% of the original asking price on sales.  Plus, we have a fall-through rate of just 4% compared to the current national average of 33%.

4. No lengthy contracts

We believe properties can sell within four weeks of coming onto the market.  We are so confident, we wont tie you into lengthy contract periods. If we are confident we can do what we say, why would we need to tie anyone into long term contracts.

5. Sales Progression

Once a sale has been agreed, we deal with the progression of your sale in house by a dedicated and experienced Sales Progressor.  You wont be palmed off with a progression team based it a remote location. Nor will you be dealing with a third party, who has had your sale outsourced to from your agent.  You will have one point of contact, in-house that you can speak to directly if you have and concerns or questions.

6. Security

We recommend reservation agreements on all of our agreed sales, giving both the buyer and the seller peace of mind that their sale is secure.

7. Community

Harrisons are proud to be part of, and support the community in which we live and serve in anyway we can. Whether it being donating laptops to local schools.  Fundraising for local charities (£14K raised to date).  Donating laptops to schools or sponsoring local events.  We try to give back as much as we can, it’s an important part of our business.

8. Innovative

Harrisons are constantly looking for ways to improve our service and how we make sales.  We do not look to what our competitors are doing, we look at new technology and innovation there is available.  By adapting this to fit within our business and come up with innovative marketing techniques.  Such as our “Heads Up! Property Alerts” service, which markets and often sells properties before they hit the property portals and the open market.

9. Qualified Professionals

The fact that estate agents are able to set up in business and deal with what is, for most people, their largest financial transaction without regulation or qualification is something we are very much against.  All of our staff undergo training, along with continual professional development. Plus, Harrisons staff are required to gain industry qualifications.  Harrisons Homes are a member of NAEA Propertymark in the absence of an industry regulator.  This is an organisation that agents can join and adhere to their rules of conduct to ensure they meet the desired standards that members would like to see in a property industry professional. In addition we are the only agent in Swale to be members of the Federation of Independent Agents who are committed to raising the standards and reputation of the industry by pulling together a network of the best independent agents in the UK.

10. Feels like family

We are more than just colleagues, we are a very close team, it feels like family.  Harrisons is nurturing and supportive.  Commission is earned on the team’s achievements rather than the individual’s.  We work together on, helping each other to get the best results for our clients.  Many visitors say, when they walk into our office, that it feels friendly and welcoming.  This is part of the reason why so many people recommend us to their friends and family.

Now you have our top ten reasons Why Use Harrisons Homes estate agent, why not give us a call to get you moving on with the next chapter of your lives 01795 474848

Harrisons Homes have won two ESTAS.  The first being “Best In County” making us officially the Best estate agent in Kent.  We also picked up a Gold  for The Best Estate Agents 2021 Award (South East)  

It is hard to believe, it’s just over a week since we were nervously heading up to London for the ESTAS awards.  This was the first time we had entered the ESTAS.  The awards that are judged on genuine reviews.  To have made it to the shortlist of finalists was amazing. To have made it this far was fantastic.

The ESTAS is a big deal in the world of estate and letting agents.  Think of the Oscars of the property industry, you should get the idea.  The award ceremony is a glitzy affair, held at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.  Hosted by TV’s Phil Spencer.

Not one, but two

Knowing that we were in the running for a bronze, silver or gold award for the The Estate Agents Awards 2021 in the South East region, we hoped to pick something up.  Phil called the gold winners to the stage, and Harrisons Homes name came up on the big screens we couldn’t believe we had won a gold.  Delighted with our trophy, we started to relax.

There was more to come.  Phil started to announce the best in County awards for sales and lettings. We almost didn’t hear him call us to the stage to collect our Best in Kent Award 2021 for Sales.

To say we are over the moon to have picked up two more awards is an understatement. Especially as they have come so quickly after winning The Agents Giving award for Best Fund Raising Campaign for our fund raising for Holding On Letting Go.  We have also been shortlisted for Community Champion of the Year by The Negotiator Awards.  We’ll find out next month if we have won. Lets hope we can make it a hat trick!

If you are thinking of moving, why not choose an award winning estate agent? An agent that is recognised for their charity and community work. Plus awarded Best Estate Agent In Kent. Based on feedback from genuinely happy clients.  Call Harrisons today, to find out how we can get you moving 01795 474848.

We are still buzzing from being awarded Best Fundraising Campaign by Agents Giving at the weekend, so imagine our surprise and excitement to have been shortlisted for a Community Champion of the Year by The Negotiator magazine. Being recognised for our local community and charity work is something we are very proud of.

The Community Champion of the Year Award is one of thirty three categories for awards this year.  To see a full list of categories and the agencies that have been shortlisted, please visit The Negotiator’s website

Winners will be announced at the “big reveal” on 26th November, at Grosvenor House, Park Lane London.  The Harrisons team will be attending to celebrate having made it to the shortlist.  Wish us luck!

To find out more about the work that we do within our community for charity, and why we do it.  Please give us a call on 01795 474848

Since this article was published, Harrisons Homes have been awarded two more awards at The ESTAS Awards. Awarded Best In County and Gold in The Estate Agent Awards 2021.  For more details please read our blog.