You decide you want to move house and you’re not sure of the value of your home, so you have to get the estate agent(s) in.

Firstly, I’d always recommend you get 3 estate agents in to value the property. I know it’s a bit of drag having to listen to the estate agents drone on about how they can help you and what they will do for you, but it’s worth it!

To try and control the conversation, I have outlined the 5 key questions to ask before you decide to instruct anyone to market your home:

1.) The most important question is the value, but it’s probably not the question you think, which is ‘What is the value of my house?’. No, the most important question you can ask the agent is ‘How did you arrive at the figure you have come up with?’

Any agent can value a house, but they have to be able to justify, with comparable evidence of similar properties that have sold, rather than just pointing their finger in the air and, frankly, hoping. If the agent can’t provide comparable evidence, then you should probably consider another estate agent.

2.) The next question is making sure that they will be able to deal with leads that come in to their business. It’s no good instructing an agent, who goes off and does all this marketing, only for them not to be working on a Sunday, for example, or at least having the ability to capture telephone leads on a Sunday.

3.) Thirdly, I would recommend you ask how they plan to market the property. What is their overall marketing strategy? Is it just Rightmove? Or do they have buyers on a mailing list, will they push it out on social media and will they advertise on Zoopla as well (Zoopla claim that 32% of visitors to their site, don’t visit Rightmove, so it would be sensible to choose an agent who is on with both Rightmove & Zoopla)

4.) Next up comes the question about offer negotiation and sales progression. Is it something they do? Does the agent that’s coming out do all this themselves or do they have direct members of staff working for them in the same location as them, or are they based in a call centre 10 miles away. Either is fine, but it’s good for you to know who you will be dealing with this once a buyer is found.

5.) Finally, the question of fees and contracts. Not necessarily how much they are going to charge you, but find out when they are going to charge you.

The direct question to ask is ‘Will you only charge me when the house sells and not regardless of if the house sells? Agents goals should be aligned with the sellers goals, and that is to sell the house, not just get it on the market.

On the contracts question, ask how long you will be tied in for – any more than 12 weeks seems excessive. And also check the notice period – it shouldn’t be anymore than 1 week!

Agents are generally good people and good at their jobs, but the above questions will give you a flavour as to how they work. 

Ultimately, probably the most important thing is you have to like and trust the estate agent that you’re going to be using, because it’s likely going to be a working relationship for around 6 months, and perhaps longer!