The estate agent you choose affects how much your home sells for, how fast, and how smoothly it all goes. Here’s how to pick the right one — what to look for, the questions to ask, and how to read the fees and contract before you sign.
What to look for
- A track record on homes like yours, nearby. Local agents who regularly sell your type of property know the right buyers and the right price.
- A realistic valuation — not just the highest. Some agents quote an inflated figure to win your instruction, then push for reductions later. Ask every agent to back up their number with recent, comparable local sales.
- A clear fee, and contract terms you understand. More on both below.
- Good communication and marketing. Professional photos, a strong property-portal presence, and an agent who actually returns calls.
Questions to ask estate agents
Get two or three agents round to value your home, and ask each the same things:
- What have you sold like mine nearby recently, and for how much against the asking price?
- What’s your fee, and is it sole agency or multi-agency?
- What’s the tie-in period, and how much notice do I give to leave?
- Who’ll handle my sale day to day — you, or a separate case handler?
- How will you market it, and how do you qualify buyers before viewings?
Their answers tell you as much as the valuation does.
Fees and contracts
Estate agent fees are usually a percentage of the sale price (commonly around 1–3% plus VAT) or a flat fee. Whatever the model, read the contract for:
- The type of agreement. Sole agency means one agent for a set period. Sole selling rights is stricter — you pay the agent even if you find the buyer yourself, so avoid it unless you fully understand the catch. Multi-agency lets several agents compete, usually at a higher fee.
- The tie-in period and notice. A long tie-in (say 12–16 weeks) locks you in even if the agent underperforms. Shorter is safer, and it’s negotiable.
For the full breakdown of what selling costs, see how much it costs to sell a house.
High street, online, or flat-fee?
High-street agents offer local presence and hands-on service; online and flat-fee agents charge far less but vary in how much they actually do for you. The right choice comes down to how much support you want versus how price-sensitive you are — see online estate agents vs high-street for a full comparison. Woosh charges a flat £999 on a successful sale — no upfront cost and no percentage — while still handling the listing, photography, and verified buyers.
Watch the warning signs
The biggest trap is the agent who over-values to win your business, then leans on you to drop the price. For the full list of red flags — and the signs of an agent genuinely working for you — see how to spot a good (and bad) estate agent.
The bottom line
Pick on evidence, not on the highest valuation or the smoothest pitch. Get three agents in, ask them all the same questions, compare their track record and fees, and read the tie-in before you sign. The right agent is the one who can prove they’ll sell your home for the best price, in good time, on terms you’re comfortable with.
Common questions
How do I choose the right estate agent?
Get two or three agents to value your home, then compare them on evidence — their track record selling similar homes nearby, their fee, the contract terms, and how well they communicate. Don't just pick the highest valuation; some agents inflate it to win your instruction.
What questions should I ask an estate agent?
Ask what they've sold like yours nearby and for how much against asking, what their fee is and whether it's sole or multi-agency, the tie-in period and notice, who handles your sale day to day, and how they market it and qualify buyers.
What's the difference between sole agency and sole selling rights?
Sole agency means one agent handles the sale for a set period. Sole selling rights is stricter: you pay the agent's fee even if you find the buyer yourself — so avoid it unless you fully understand the terms. Multi-agency lets several agents compete, usually at a higher fee.
How long should an estate agent tie-in period be?
Shorter is safer. A long tie-in (12–16 weeks) locks you in even if the agent underperforms. Tie-in periods are negotiable, so push to shorten it before you sign.
Woosh gives sellers a flat £999 fee on a successful sale and a shared timeline everyone works from — so you get the marketing and support of a full-service agent without the percentage commission.
See pricing
