We recognise that every seller is different and has different objectives.
Most sellers want:
The best price- The least hassle
- The quickest time
But the list does not end there, we have sold many properties, where the seller is more interested in selling to somebody ‘nice’, passing their family home onto the next generation in safe knowledge that they are going to love the house, or become great neighbours to their friends.
Your home is not just a property, it’s likely to have been a labour of love for you over the years; the place where you have had many memories. Your home has been a huge part of your life and there’s a deep connection with more than just bricks and mortar.
As an independent family estate agent, we understand this. When we meet a potential seller, we want to know what it is that they are looking for from the transaction. You tell us what you want, and we will plan it for you. There is no ‘one-size fits all’, we look at every property and every seller as unique.
At Mark Beaumont we market your property individually. We market your property beautifully and brilliantly. Some agents just place an advert on a property portal and wait for an enquiry. We market your property, digitally to specific to bespoke targeted audiences. We use all of our years of experience to find the right buyer for the right home.
From accepting an offer to handing over keys on completion can be a long process. You will need to be able to depend on the advice of your Estate Agent, you must find an agent that you completely trust. One who has given clear, realistic advice and one who understands your personal situation, the characteristics of your property and, just as importantly, the nature of the housing market, the demands of purchasers and the ever-changing world of new technology, regulation and finance.
Some tips...
- Local knowledge
Choose an agent who really is a local expert who really knows their area (rather than a national chain with token representation on your High Street). A local agent will know who your potential buyers are, they will know who to talk to and how best to market your property.
They have the best chance of meeting your objectives, whether they are price/speed or any other factor. Internet only agents can be ok if you are only looking to save money, but they often struggle to offer local knowledge as they work with reps across the country covering large geographic areas. As you know in your area prices may differ from road to road. Personally, I believe that internet agents often end up underselling property as the vendor is too wedded to the fee not seeing the bigger picture.
- Price it right
A higher valuation is often not a higher sales price
Larger agents often set targets for numbers of property onto ‘the books’. It is therefore common to over-value your property in an attempt to impress you and to get you signed on the dotted line. Unfortunately, this may well come back to haunt you as your property is likely to remain on the market for a long time. The longer your property is on the market, statistically the lower price you will achieve for it.
Interestingly,there are some agents who will under-value your property and whilst this is likely to get you a quick sale. This is particularly common on properties in poor condition, or probate sales. If you have elderly relatives who are selling consider being present at the estate agents appointment.
If you have chosen an agent and feel that you might have been undersold, contact Mark Beaumont directly and ask his advice for free. AskBeaumont
- You get what you pay for
Most people do not deal with estate agents very often so it’s easy to think that you should simply go with the agent with the lowest commission. This is often a huge mistake. It is a bit like buying a car without looking at anything else but the price. A cheaper car may well turn out to be a false economy if you then waste lots of time sorting out problems with it. The same is true of estate agents. A cheaper estate agency may well be using inexperienced negotiators (who won’t be advising you adequately), they may be short staffed (so you won’t always be kept informed about what’s going on with your sale) and they may have very limited cover at weekends (which may result in you missing out on offers from potential buyers).
Also, if an agent will easily reduce their own fees, how much more willing will they be to reduce the price of your house? The amount you end up with in your pocket is surely more important than the percentage fees charged? A reputable, professional and experienced estate agent, will always add value to their vendor – client.
- Picture perfect
Make sure you choose an agent who uses a varied cross-section of media to tell people that your home is for sale. People are today making decisions quicker than ever, it is vital your photographs are impressive and capture your buyers eye, often buyers will only take the time to read the advert once seriously interested. Estate agency marketing is changing at the moment, modern agents have started to embrace targeted digital marketing as the property portals start to decline. Digital marketing is the future.
- Availability
The most preferable times to view a property in the evenings and at weekends, it makes sense to choose an agent that is open outside of normal office hours and is flexible when it comes to accommodate viewing times. Mark Beaumont estate agents offer viewing and valuation appointments in the evenings.
- Viewings
We accompany your viewings. Ideally, we may ask that you leave the property to allow us to do this. A buyer is more likely to be more honest/frank if the property owner is not in. Applicants spend 2 or 3 times longer in your property, getting a feel for it, when the property is vacant.
- Independant
Many agencies are owned by large financial institutions that make more money from selling mortgages than they do from selling properties. This may not be obvious initially so do some checks before giving an agent your business. Mark Beaumont estate agents is a family business, if we do not succeed then we cannot pay our bills.
- After-sales service
Finding a buyer is a significant stage in the selling process but an agent’s job should not stop there. Many sales have fallen through due to poor follow-up or inadequate liaison with surveyors or solicitors. Choose an agent who will be with you throughout the entire process.
- Fees
We charge a ‘fair’ commission plus VAT. We are not the highest and we cannot be the lowest. We are providing value for money and we will always try to add value. We will never undersell your property and we will justify our fee.
- Interested? Here are some things you should know…
There are no hidden charges. We front the risk of standard marketing costs for selling your home and we are paid directly by your solicitor when your sale completes. There is no charge for professional internal photography, our standard marketing package (unless specific additional marketing is pre-agreed) or exit of the contract.