Picking your team

Getting the right man for the job
Getting the right professional to deal with the legal and statutory details of selling your home is vitally important. Moving is stressful at the best of times, but hiring the right team could be the difference between a stress-free sale and lots of sleepless nights.

Although there are some people who sell their homes privately without the help of a selling agent, most of us need the expert help and marketing power that they provide.

Often it's once the deal has been agreed that the agent comes into his own in smoothing out the road to final completion.

A good selling agent should keep you appraised of the market, keep you informed of people who have expressed interest and deal with some of the negotiation on your behalf.

What should I be looking for?

• Ask your friends. Who did they use? Did they get good service? Did their property sell quickly with limited fuss?
• Which firm has lots of "sold" boards in the area? A firm with a successful record of sales should indicate some degree of quality.
• Meet a few different agents and see which one you trust. Maybe the most persuasive person will be able to get you the best price.
• Remember small is sometimes beautiful. For some properties a higher level of personal service is required rather than being 'just' another client for one of the bigger agencies.

The four essential questions

1. "Why should I give you the chance to sell my home?" Be aware of their answer. Do you think that they can argue their corner sufficiently?
   
   
2. "What are they going to charge me?" A good agent will be up front about their cut of the deal. If they try and bombard you with figures and percentages, ask them what it will cost in real terms.
   
   
3. "Do I get on with the agent now?" If you really dislike or feel uneasy at this stage of negotiations, how do you think you'll feel when the pressure's on?
   
   
4. "Has the agent got a list of every house that has sold in my street?"
   If they are not on top of the game then it might be worth looking elsewhere.

At the end of the day, your home is the most expensive asset you own and making the right choice is vital. Remember agents want your business, so shop around and be comfortable with your choice.

Do it yourself
There is no legal requirement for you to use a selling agent to deal with the sale of your house - you could do it yourself. But is doing a DIY sale a way to save expensive agents' fees or a path laden with potential pitfalls?

Selling agent fees can be anything from a couple of hundred pounds to a few thousand. This could be a real incentive to attempt to sell your own home yourself.

You will still need a lawyer to deal with the missives and the final sale process but the actual business of getting a buyer to agree to buy your house is achievable without the need for a selling agent.

Some advantages

• You have control - you remain in complete control of the sale of your home throughout the entire process. And more importantly, you'll know exactly what is going on.
  
  
• You save money - for only a few hours of work, you could sell your property yourself without paying commission fees.
  
  
• Direct contact - By being involved directly with all parties concerned, you deal personally with any eventuality that arises without going through a third party. Potential difficulties can often be dealt with far more quickly if the confusing effect of having too many people involved is removed.
  
  
• Security - You choose who to let into your home and can book viewings at your convenience. No more getting up at 7.30am on a Sunday to get ready for a 9am appointment which doesn't turn up, or keeping the house and kids in an unnaturally clean condition for weeks on end.
  
  
• Insider knowledge - we maintain that nobody knows a property like the person who lives in it. The house's features, the local area and any nearby facilities are individual to every home - and the seller knows them far better than any agent. Who better, then, to sell a home than the owner?

 

But first things first...

Do some research
You probably already have a rough idea of the value of your home, but in any case, start making a note of house prices in your area.

Visit a few selling agents, look in their windows and make some comparisons. Ask if they have any details of properties on the market in your road. This will give you an idea of how much agents are recommending as an asking price for a property similar to your own.

Look through the local property newspapers - this should give you a rough idea of the prices similar properties are fetching in your area.

If there are any 'For Sale' boards nearby, ring the agent concerned to get the price of the property. Ask the neighbours, or even look for 'Sold' signs and make enquiries through the selling agent.

This should give you an idea of the price the property sold for - which need not necessarily match the asking price.

Make a For Sale board
It may appear obvious, but having a well-designed professional-looking 'For Sale' board can attract willing buyers. Many people will drive around an area that they want to move to before speaking to selling agents. If you can capture people's attention then you have a good chance of selling.

But what happens if you get no interest in your home?
Selling agents have a ready supply of potential purchasers turning up at their doors every day. They also have deals with newspapers and other advertisers and provide marketing muscle.

They have - in most cases - been doing the job for a number of years and know how to instruct lawyers, deal with advertisers and arrange for viewings.

If your time is short then an agent can take care of the entire organisational project and give you time to search for the home that you want to buy.