What’s the Latest with Estate Agent’s fees etc

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As per the title, what’s the latest with estate agents with regards to their charges (looking to purchase)? Can you ask for a reduction of fees? Which, in your opinion, is the best estate agency? Anything I need to be on the lookout for?

If you are buying, you don’t pay the estate agent.

Are you selling too?

Agree with above you pay nothing to the estate agents
If your buying the best estate agents will be the one selling the house you want to buy

If your a first time buyer you will likely need your mortgage agreement in principle before you can put an offer in.

Lastly do no use the mortgage broker or solicitors the estate agent tells you to. Find your own. If using a mortgage broker again you should not need to pay they get there fee from the mortgage company and should be up front and honest about what this is.

Sorry, yes, I’m selling which is what I meant to say - also buying too, but as said, no fees for that.

So it’s the selling bit for estate agents I need to know please.

Get at least three local agents round to give a valuation - we ask what they think a house will sell for as they all tend to value higher in order to flatter you and get your business. Ask them for evidence of their valuation - this is usually demonstrated by comparables they've sold in the local area. Find out what percentage they charge and whether they have a tie in period during which you are stuck with them. Ask who does the sales progression once you agree a sale. We rejected one EA who had a call centre for this - we wanted someone who knew the house as a single point of contact. You're paying them so you want to be sure they'll work effectively for you. Ask to approve the listing and photos before they go on Rightmove too. I got some photos changed and irrelevant blurb removed. A lot of them are not as good as they should be when you consider the vast amounts of money they charge.

Don’t sign up for months and months.

Do negotiate the fee.
Do buy copious amounts of wine as you’ll need it!
Don’t necessarily use their mortgage brokers or solicitors - they get a cut and could be crap.

Look at the contract very carefully. Some of them have a clause that means you have to have them for longer than you expect if you want to change agents. Which is a pain if you aren’t happy with them. I’d go with a smaller local agent with a few branches. The national ones have little local knowledge and are less invested in doing a good job in my experience.

Thank you all, some very good points which I would never have thought of. Much appreciated.

I put my house up last week, fees are 2k and then about £900 for conveyor, my mortgage is portable so don’t need to worry about that. I have to be with them 16 weeks before I can change if I am not happy with them. Mine is a fairly local estate agents.
We looked at purple bricks who charge £1000 but this is a flat fee and you owe it after 10 months whether they sell your property or not!