When you’re selling your home or investment property it’s vital to choose an agent you are happy to work with. It’s extremely important to look for someone who is experienced, enthusiastic and helpful.

Before placing your home on the market, our suggestion is to meet at least two or three agents you are familiar with in your area, or who have been recommended to you by your family, friends or colleagues.

Getting a sense of an agent’s market knowledge: the research they have carried out to determine the value on your property and their overall communication and presentation skills, are all important factors in making your decision. The agent’s sales fees and their property valuation are also two important questions you will want the answers to.

It might be appealing to choose the agent who’s given you the highest valuation but this may not always be the best decision, or result in the best outcome for you; a high valuation can make the property more difficult to sell.

If a property is overvalued and is slow to sell, buyers might assume there’s a problem with the property and end up feeling apprehensive about expressing an interest. Sometimes the property can end up being sold for less than if it had been realistically priced in the initial stages.

You can avoid falling into this trap by interviewing a small selection of agents. This will help you gauge a realistic asking price that could help your home to sell more quickly.

Finally, over the course of the sale you will be in regular contact with your chosen agent, and hopefully, you’ll develop a strong, positive and productive working relationship with them, resulting in the successful sale of their property. When making the final decision, we recommend considering everything above and also, to listen to your ‘gut feeling’. Go with the agent you feel you’ll work best with and the agent you feel will ultimately work the hardest on your behalf.