So you have decided to move home.  This is an exciting new chapter of your life and you want to get on with it.  But first you need to sell your home, to do that you need to select an estate agent. With so many agents out there, all eager for your business, you may well be wondering, how to compare estate agents?

There are many ways to compare agents, but they are all based on the idea that you are comparing like for like.  The truth is that agents can vary wildly, in terms of  marketing your home, results, customer service and of course, fees.  The best way to research and compare agents is to use a selection of the options listed below, make a shortlist and invite two or three agents out to value your home and select the one that you believe is best placed to sell your home.  We will come back to the valuation process later on.

How to find an estate agent near me?

Just because you live in any given area it doesn’t mean you’ll have heard of the best estate agents locally. Gone are the days of the typical estate agent with a shop front on your local high street.  Many now work from home, out of offices, or are 100% online.  So before you compare agents, you need to find out who is performing well in your local market.  There are a couple of ways in which you can do this:

Ask around

Without a shadow of a doubt, asking friends and neighbours in your local community is the best place to start when looking for an estate agent.  Chances are, most people you talk to will have either used an agent or will know someone that has.  Ask them for a recommendation and for tips as to what they would have done differently when they sold. It’s also worth asking on social media.  This will certainly give you a sense of which agents are respected locally (and probably which ones are not)

Do a board count

The majority of homes that come up for sale will have a board outside saying they are on the market.  Visit local streets with properties that are comparable to yours.  Count up the sold board (don’t include the for sale ones, you are looking for an agent that can sell your home, not win your listing).  Which estate agents have the most sold boards?

Online comparison tools

Type into Google “How to compare estate agents?” and you will find ad after ad for online agent comparisons tools.  These are great to use and give you an idea of how agents in your area are performing. However, this shouldn’t be taken literally. These comparisons services need to pay for themselves.  Their main service is to direct business to an estate agent in order to get a share of the agents fee.  In addition, some comparison sites charge estate agent to be on them, so you may not get a true picture of how agents perform locally.

How to compare estate agents on my shortlist?

Now you have a shortlist of agents, it’s time to invite them out to value your home and listen to their pitch for your business.  Before you do, it’s probably a good idea to understand some of the key points that agents will raise during their visit.

How an agent will sell your home

This is a tricky one, and probably the one that you will find the most trickiest to navigate through.  As any agent that turns up to value your house will want to tell you how they sell faster, higher, better and cheaper (!) Than any other competitor and will probably come armed with a wealth of documented proof to show you.  Unless you have a masters degree in statistics, these probably are not where you should be focusing your attention.

Portals

Up until the last few years, it was generally accepted by both the public and by agents that portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, etc.  Mattered in the property market.  The wealth of new portals that have been added to the list would at first glance appear to confirm this.  So agents valuing your property will tell you that they are listed on all the major portals. And they should be.

However, this is not the whole story, especially in a market that is as hot and fast paced as it is in Kent right now.  And the market is showing no sign of slowing anytime soon.

So rather than asking the question, “which portals are you listed on?”  you need to ask the question “How do you market my home before it is listed online?”

Pre-qualifying buyers

This is very important.  You don’t want to waste time and energy getting your house ready for multiple viewing only to discover they aren’t able to make an offer. It may be they have a house to sell, they don’t have a mortgage in place or worst still, they just like having a look round houses at the weekend.  Ensure that any agent you are considering using is able to explain how the pre-qualify potential buyers.  This is especially relevant now, as we adapt to living with Covid-19.

High Valuations

You may find that one agent values your home much higher than the others.  This can be very flattering. It could mean that you may be able to buy something better than you had hoped.  But beware, ask the agent how they have arrived at that figure.  Ask also for examples of comparable houses that have sold for this kind of money.  Sadly, some agents will value your property at the top end just to get your business, as they are targeted for bonuses based on the amount of homes they list, not sell.

Low Fees

We all want a bargain, but a lower fee doesn’t mean that you are necessarily getting a bargain.  An estate agents job, is to negotiate with both the buyers and the sellers to get the best possible price for you home, in the current market conditions.  If an agent is prepared to drop their fees (and reduce their income) to win you business. Can you be sure that they are doing to work hard to negotiate the best price on your property sale?

Who will progress my sale?

Currently in the UK, one in three (33%) of house sales fall through.  There are a number of reasons for this. One of the best ways to keep your sale on track is by having an experience sales progressor in house. Very often this important part of the sales process is either passed to a central call centre outside of the local agent’s branch. Or outsourced to a separate company, where the agent has little control.

We’ve also put together a list of questions to ask your estate agent, which you may find useful here

Securing Sales

Once you have agreed an offer on your home, we recommend having a reservation agreement in place, that allows buyers and sellers to commit to each other and make sure the sale is safe and less likely to fall through.

Contact terms

Don’t forget to as how long the contract period is. This is a very important part of how to compare estate agents.  Agents that are confident they can sell your home with not tie you into, long contract periods.  With properties selling so quickly. Contract lengths of 4-6 weeks should be more than enough time for you to find a buyer and agree an offer.

Why you should consider Harrisons Homes

Harrisons Homes have recently been awarded Gold and the title of Best Estate Agent (Sales) in Kent. By the prestigious ESTAS awards, due to our outstanding customer feedback. If you would like to know more about us, or why we believe we are the best placed agent locally to sell your home. Please call our team on 01795 474848

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

You may well have seen we offer a heads up property alert service, you may think it sounds a bit of a gimmick. Or think it’s just a group on facebook where Harrisons list properties online before they hit the portals.

It’s none of the above. (though we do have a Facebook group). This is unique and incredibly useful way for buyers to find their next next home. One that lets you stay in complete control of your property search.

In Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey we are finding the same thing. Many properties are being sold long before they are listed on the property portals.  Whilst this is great for sellers, it’s very frustrating for buyers. Who constantly have to chase estate agents for anything coming up that may fit their criteria. Knowing that when they do call in, the chances are they will have to endure the hard sell of a property that doesn’t match their  requirements, being told “why not view it? we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised”

Sound familiar?

Here at Harrisons we understand that your time is precious, you do not want to be chasing agents weekly to see what properties are coming up. Nor do you want to be receiving calls from agents telling you about a completely unsuitable home for you that’s coming onto the market pressuring you to view.  And you certainly do not want to be giving up your spare time viewing properties you have no intention of buying.

We also understand that, for many buyers, the house that they think they are going to buy at the start of their property search, is not necessarily the house they end up buying, once they have started to think about how they will live in it and how a property will meet their needs.

What is the Heads Up Property Alerts service?

This is why we have developed the Heads Up Property Alerts system. It gives you full control of your property search.  You can create your own profile,  and specify your property search criteria. Once done you will be notified of properties that are coming onto the market, before they are listed anywhere else.  You can modify your search, or unsubscribe at any time.

We’ve put together a short video to explain the system in more detail.

So, if your are looking to buy a property in Sittingbourne, Faversham or Sheppey. Take advantage of our unique new service and find out whats new to the market before anyone else. Sign up for heads up property alerts here: https://bit.ly/353SZpS

The damaged caused when your home doesn’t sell quickly can be costly, both emotionally and financially. In this article we explain the why it’s not great news when your home doesn’t sell quickly. And how to ensure your house sells within four weeks of going onto the market.

What a year it has been for the Sittingbourne property market: the Stamp Duty holiday causing a frenzy, the pandemic changing people’s perspectives on what they want from a home, and a constant lack of properties coming onto the market. With buyer demand still high, the prospect of your home not selling fast has probably not crossed your mind, especially when you see homes in your area come on the market one day and sold the next. But what damage is caused when your home doesn’t sell quickly?

The first 4 weeks

As you know, many homes in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey are selling well within the first four weeks of being placed on the market, but did you know how crucial these first four weeks are?  This is the period when your home is launched by your estate agent, buyers become aware and viewings are abundant.  Your expectations will be high, and your estate agent should be working tirelessly to market your home effectively in a variety of ways. They know that what they do within this first few weeks can impact the speed of your sale.  It’s the optimum time to make things happen.

What happens after four weeks?

After four weeks a property starts to become stale, and you could see enquiries and viewings dwindle. A good agent will be constantly reviewing their marketing and looking for new opportunities to attract potential buyers.  They will also be having an honest conversation with you on why they feel that your property is not appealing to buyers.

But does the fault lie with you or your agent?

A buyer’s perspective

Homebuyers are savvy, they know all the tools to help them find their next home. They will no doubt have alerts on property websites so they are informed as soon as a new property in Swale hits the market.  When they start to look they will be doing their research, and one thing they will always note is how long a property has been on the market.

What would you think if a house was still not under offer after four weeks or more?  Like most people, you will no doubt be wondering what is wrong with the property if it hasn’t been sold yet.  You may decide to view the home, but even before you have walked through the door you will already be in the mindset of making a low offer, because there must not be any real interest.

Price

We can not stress enough how price can have such an effect on the attractiveness of your home to buyers.  Your home, as soon as it is listed, will be compared with other houses within a similar price bracket, and if your home seems overpriced it will be noticed instantly. Of course it is alluring to have an estate agent tell you they can sell your home for a wonderfully high figure.  But is that an actual fact based on their ability with recently sold properties in the area? Could be. Or is it a tactic to try to win your business?

At Harrisons Homes we are not here to list properties, we sell homes. We use our experience in the local property market, understanding which streets are on the up, and those areas that are falling out of favour. When we appraise your home we take so many factors into account. Including condition, presentation, location and up-to-the minute data. We always aim to achieve the highest possible price for your property, and we will not inflate that to win your business.

Overpriced homes will sit on the market longer; you will probably find yourself frustrated when the agent requests you lower the price a few weeks later.  More reductions could follow. The quality of the offers you receive could be a lot lower than you had ever expected. Choose an agent who can back up their figures with their actions – do your research to find the right fit for you and your property.

Presentation – do the work

If you have been browsing property websites in the search for your next home, you will notice those sellers who have put in the work to ensure that their property is looking its best for potential buyers. You will also notice those who haven’t. Often there could be something off-putting.  Such as a cluttered room, an untidy bedroom, a unloved garden, that can put you off going to view.

Unless your house is a project you need to make sure it is presented properly using home staging methods. Ensuring your home is clean and organised is a great start. However, it isn’t just about having an immaculate home but projecting the lifestyle that your home gives.  You only have to watch house programmes, or flick through home magazines to see home staging in action. A loaf and breadknife stylishly placed on the kitchen work surface, a thoughtfully placed throw on a bed with a book at its side; these little touches add warmth and personality to your home.

Having the mindset ‘buyers will see past …’ will never win. They may view your rooms as small due to the amount of stuff inside them. ‘Too much work to do’, could be another view point if the décor is tired, and a couple of odd jobs are spotted.  And these views, and more, are made whilst looking at your property online. Why place your property in a challenging position when with some work, you can attract buyers easily.

Get it right from the start

You need to get everything right when placing your home on the market. The price, the presentation and also your choice of agent. The damaged caused if your home isn’t under offer in the first four weeks is hard to repair. We are often contacted by sellers who have had struggles selling previously, and come to us for a fresh approach. Get it right from the start by calling us on 01795 474848 today.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also find these interesting.

How to reduce the risk of my house sale falling through

Is my house priced correctly?

Or, you can sign up to our new property alerts service