Article Categories
Choosing a Manchester Estate Agent
- By Dave Matthews
- Published 12/18/2009
- General
Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews is writing on Behalf of Manchester Lettings Agent, Shepherd Gilmour.
View all articles by Dave Matthews
Whether you are moving house or looking to rent a flat somewhere in the North West, the amount of work involved can seem pretty daunting. You will want to make sure that you get the best people to help with the task at hand and with the abundance of estate agents on the market it can be difficult to know which one to choose. So how do you know if you are picking the right person?
When choosing an estate agent it may be a good idea to start by asking the opinion of people you trust who may have had dealings with a local Manchester lettings agent or estate agent. Next it is well worth checking the local Manchester newspapers for the area that you are considering. Are there any adverts from particular estate agents that you find particularly eye-catching? Do prefer the way in which one estate agent presents it's properties over another?
Another good outlet for selecting a potential estate agent is of course the internet. Popular property sites will usually link to the estate agencies which supply them with details of houses and flats. Again, you may notice a trend for certain agents presenting information about their properties in a more useful and informative manner than other agents.
Once you have started to form a short list of potential estate agents you should consider the individual agent's experience and knowledge. The amount of time they may have been involved in the property industry may not be the most critical factor, however it is one that should not be ignored. It may be the case that a particular estate agent has only been working in the industry for a month, but they have been living in the area you are considering for their entire life so their opinion may be invaluable. Some other questions that may be worth asking would be to find out whether they own any investment or rental properties themselves? How well do they know the area? Are they familiar with the surrounding schools and hospitals as well as local transport links and shops? You may also wish to quiz the estate agent themself on their track record for selling property. If they have a history of selling or letting property out with a quick turnaround then that is a good indication of their knowledge of not just the industry but also the local area.
Not only should you investigate the estate agent's history, but it is also very important to factor in whether you actually like them as a person. There is no point in doing business with someone who you dont feel like you can get along with or trust. You should understand that this person is not only earning your respect, but also your check if you decide to buy or rent. The last thing you want to do is waste their time or yours so it is important that you know exactly what you want and are comfortable in expressing it.
When choosing an estate agent it may be a good idea to start by asking the opinion of people you trust who may have had dealings with a local Manchester lettings agent or estate agent. Next it is well worth checking the local Manchester newspapers for the area that you are considering. Are there any adverts from particular estate agents that you find particularly eye-catching? Do prefer the way in which one estate agent presents it's properties over another?
Another good outlet for selecting a potential estate agent is of course the internet. Popular property sites will usually link to the estate agencies which supply them with details of houses and flats. Again, you may notice a trend for certain agents presenting information about their properties in a more useful and informative manner than other agents.
Once you have started to form a short list of potential estate agents you should consider the individual agent's experience and knowledge. The amount of time they may have been involved in the property industry may not be the most critical factor, however it is one that should not be ignored. It may be the case that a particular estate agent has only been working in the industry for a month, but they have been living in the area you are considering for their entire life so their opinion may be invaluable. Some other questions that may be worth asking would be to find out whether they own any investment or rental properties themselves? How well do they know the area? Are they familiar with the surrounding schools and hospitals as well as local transport links and shops? You may also wish to quiz the estate agent themself on their track record for selling property. If they have a history of selling or letting property out with a quick turnaround then that is a good indication of their knowledge of not just the industry but also the local area.
Not only should you investigate the estate agent's history, but it is also very important to factor in whether you actually like them as a person. There is no point in doing business with someone who you dont feel like you can get along with or trust. You should understand that this person is not only earning your respect, but also your check if you decide to buy or rent. The last thing you want to do is waste their time or yours so it is important that you know exactly what you want and are comfortable in expressing it.
