In the current market, we understand it’s difficult to try and choose the right estate agent, one that is going to support you and offer the best service. This guide is designed to help you look for the important aspects that make a good estate agent. However, ultimately, it can be as simple as how you felt on the valuation when you met the agents. Were they knowledgeable, well prepared, approachable and personable?
Sometimes you can have an instant bond with an estate agent, and you can tell that they are open, honest and really do inspire confidence. An estate agent who is abrupt, pushy and attempts to get you to sign a contract there and then should raise concern. That’s why it’s best to get at least two or three agents in to value your home, firstly because it provides you with a good range of valuations, and secondly because it allows you to make a more informed choice in who you want to represent you.
What else to look out for:
Propertymark Accreditation
Is the agent Propertymark accredited, as this is the leading professional body for the property sector, and its members are the best in class and qualified. Does your agent prove their quality and professionalism by being a member? Accredited estate agents also offer you the highest levels of protection for homeowners.
For peace of mind, look for the green Propertymark logo
Buying, selling or letting a home comes with legal hurdles, financial pressures, and plenty of confusing advice—so it matters who’s by your side. In England and Northern Ireland, anyone can call themselves a property agent with no licence, regulation, or oversight.
Whilst measures exist in Scotland and Wales, choosing a Certified and Accredited Propertymark member remains essential. As the professional body for estate agents and letting agents, Propertymark ensures members are trained, audited, and bound by a strict code of conduct. This means fewer risks and greater confidence for you. Look for the Propertymark logo—the mark of professionalism and trust.
Statistics
Rightmove and Zoopla provide detailed statistics which show an agent’s performance, which is a handy tool as the statistics never lie, but agents can! There are various statistics which could be helpful when choosing an estate agent, including but not limited to:
- Sales Agreed
- Time On Market
- Property Views
The biggest statistic for an estate agent’s performance is obviously ‘Sales Agreed’, which is the number of properties that the agent has sold within a given time frame.
Marketing
Another very important aspect of selling a home is marketing, and this includes ensuring an estate agent uses professional photography, in-depth descriptions and then how that media and information is used.
Professional photography is a must these days, with so many agents competing to take the best images. This involves a photographer who knows what they are doing and who has the right equipment, including a tripod, a professional-grade camera and editing software. The days of using a phone camera or a cheap camera are gone. Things to look out for on an agent’s images, which means they are not professional, are over exposure, whited-out windows, images not straight, incorrect angles, untidy images and more.
Social media is also an important aspect, so check how your agent uses social media and the reach they have with followers and non-followers. Ultimately, Rightmove and Zoopla sell the property, but social media can help. Also, look out for agents who have bought their followers, and this can be seen from an unnatural amount of followers, meaning that their followers are not organic and so are useless. Check out the agent’s social media and see if their style and artistic flow are similar to your own.
In terms of marketing, then if you have the best images complemented by detailed descriptions, a good floorplan and an agent that can put all this together and showcase your property in the best light, then you are onto a winner.
Summary
We know it’s hard choosing an estate agent to sell your home, and this is why we always use an honest and transparent approach when meeting new clients. We suggest having multiple valuations and spending time with each prospective agent to see who you bond with most. Also, don’t forget to check whether they are Propertymark protected and what their images and marketing are like. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a printout of statistics so you can see for yourself how an agent is performing.
We hope this article helps, and if you would like any further advice or guidance, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our award-winning team.