Quick Poll: How do you search for the property to buy?

[MiaMamma]

We're about to put our flat to the market but can't choose between two EA! One difference is that one EA has local office (they say it's very important!) but the other one is fairly close and they are more likely to get the costomers for our type of property (young professionals). Both in same borough in London.

So my question is: Does it really matter where the office is based? When I am looking for property I'm doing it online (findaproperty, rightmove,..) and don't even notice which EA sells it. Or is there really lots of people who walk into the office to look for property in same area?
Thanks!

I look online
I would go with whoever is offering the best deal - promotion and %wise
Good luck

Definitely look online. Although if one estate estate agent was very out of the way and another town centre located, and all else was equal between them, I would go for the town centre one.

Rightmove.

It's the best of the online property search websites IMO.

Thanks!
They both offering the same deal! Fees, promotion, have potential client lists... all same. Both big agencies too.. Only thing the local one valued it much lower then the other but they've sold some flats in our building, so i'm thinking their valuation is more realistic. Although really want to go with the high valuation! I just don't know!!

We bought our current house after I walked into a local agent on spec (we were already renting in this area). However for every other move I have just used Rightmove, so I don't think the EA's location is critical.

I think experience of selling properties in your street/building can count for a lot though.

We are currently selling our house, and in the end went with a local agent as they have recently sold several properties on this street, and were the most enthusiastic about the property. They didn't give me the highest valuation (it was the middle of three), but we got an offer within three days for almost the asking price (from first time buyers as well!).

If you think the local EA's valuation might be too low, it may help to get a third valuation if you haven't already.

My views:

It doesn't matter where the office is, as long as they have one near-ish and decent knowledge of the local market/area.

Make sure they are on Rightmove, Globrix, and Primelocation if poss. At least Rightmove.

Ask what viewing hours they do - if you want to appeal to young professionals it's no good if their latest viewing is 5.30pm.

Don't pay too much attention to whether you like the person you meet. It probably won't be the same person who sells your flat.

Try to negotiate on fees ("Can you do anything on the fee... we are struggling to decide between agents and that would swing it for us...")

As for valuations, if the high valuation is from Savills or Foxtons then it is probably too high and you will just end up reducing the price! If not ... might be worth a go.

Don't forget you can go with estate agent A but ask them to price your flat at estate agent B's price.

good luck!

We looked online. Didn't walk into any EAs.

Def negotiate on fees, especially if you can genuinely say to each EA that you have spoken to another one who is offering the same deal and you wonder if they can do anything to beat it. Our EAs lowered their fees practically as soon as we frowned a bit - it was loads easier to get a reduction than I thought it would be!

I've just moved. Didn't go near a single estate agents - we just looked online (rightmove) and phoned the estate agents to make bookings.

If there were other estate agents that were not online, then I remain unaware of them (we moved about 10 miles away).

So I'd say definitely rightmove.

Thanks for your views!
Have decided to go with the second one with highest valuation. They also know the market here and would get buyers we want.
It just really annyed me how the local kept saying that they are so local (5min walk from us) and have sold in our building but really they have more houses and family homes for sale and we can't see them bringing us 'young professionals' who are more likely to buy our flat.
And also we can afford not to sell quickly, just couldn't put it on the market with the lower price than we bought it.
Will wait and see now