How to choose an estate agent

[MagpiePi]

I am at the very start of the process of selling my house and have started decluttering, but I would like to get an estate agent in to advise on whether it is worth doing more substantial work before putting it on the market. How do I pick one? Or do I just ask a few from the local area?
It is probably obvious but I am feeling very overwhelmed as I am going to have to do all of it by myself.

Ask several to come and look at the house. Do some research about prices of similar houses to yours and the prices they’re asking. We’ve had most success with more locally based agents, not a national chain. You want to know what their percentage fee is and the length of the contract.

It’s not obvious at all, if it’s something you haven’t done before, or for a long time.

Check recent sold prices in your area. They will be a better indicator of what you are likely to achieve and will help you know if an EA is just trying to secure business by giving your house a flattering valuation. It's a common tactic to value high and then quickly get you to reduce when you don't get offers. Better to get it right first time.

If you have a local town/village Facebook group search 'estate agent' or create a post to ask.

People are pretty passionate about who they recommend and who to steer clear of!

Look at houses currently for sale in your price bracket as though you were interested in buying a house like yours. Note which EAs have the best photos, the best blurb, seem to sell a lot of properties in your area. Then invite 2 or 3 to your home to do a valuation and see how professional they are. Don’t just pick the one that gives the highest valuation. Listen to their reasoning behind the valuations, they should be able to show you comparable properties they have sold.

Good advice from PPs

You need a good idea of what a realistic figure is for properties like yours. Be wary of over pricing by EA to get your business. A lot of poor EA s rely on this.

For you that means that your property can get stale on the market while you keep having g to price drop

Read the contract and don’t get tied in for anything more than a month or two. The hallmark of a rubbish agent .

I think small family set ups tend to be more motivated to sell than the national set ups. But that’s just my observation

Thanks for all the advice.
The last time I was involved in buying and selling a house was nearly 30 years ago and I can't remember any of the details. I had no idea about limiting the length of contract or things like that.

I just need to gird my loins and get on with it!