Estate agents sometimes have negative associations, usually unfairly it must be said, but all the same, you may be wary about instructing one to sell or let your property. If you’re looking for estate agents in York, here are some points you should consider or be aware of to ensure you have a happy and successful working relationship.
1. Estate agents have to follow rules too.The Estate Agents Act 1979 details the legislation which governs how estate agents should act. This includes preventing them from making up offers in order to negotiate a higher price with another buyer.
2. Estate agents have to answer questions correctly.
While an agent will obviously have a vested interest in getting someone to buy or let your property, what you should know is that they do have to answer specific or direct questions with accuracy. This doesn’t mean that all York estate agents are going to walk around your property pointing out every defect and flaw to a buyer, but it does mean is that if someone asks them ‘Is that damp in that corner?’, they will have to respond honestly.
3. Estate agents can negotiate both ways.
Agents are used to negotiating with buyers on the price of the property in order to get you the best price possible. This is understandable, as they’ll be getting a percentage of whatever the final price is. However, you can also negotiate as a seller too. Shop around and find out what the competitors’ fees are, then use these to haggle on the fee you pay your chosen agent.