How to find the right estate agent to sell your home

Choosing an estate agent is one of the more consequential decisions you'll make in a property sale. The right agent shortens your time on market and negotiates a better outcome. The wrong one can leave you stuck at a wrong price for months. Here's how to approach it with clear eyes.

Start with the local market, not the brand

Name recognition doesn't win sales. Local knowledge does. Before you approach any agent, spend a few minutes on house prices to see what's sold in your street or postcode in the last six to twelve months. Look for which agents have their boards up locally, and notice which properties have moved quickly versus which have sat and been reduced.

This gives you a live picture of who's active in your specific market before any conversation starts. Home tracks 1,249,531 live UK listings, so check what's currently on the market nearby too, not just what's sold. A comparable such as this 3-bed house in Fringford, Oxfordshire gives you something concrete to test an agent's valuation against.

Approach more than one

Invite at least two or three agents to value your home. This isn't just about getting a range of figures: it's a chance to assess how each agent thinks, communicates, and handles the listing process. A good agent will ask you questions as well as answer yours. They'll be direct about what comparable properties suggest for your price rather than just pitching a number to win your instruction.

Be cautious of any agent who gives you a substantially higher valuation than the others without being able to point to specific comparable sales. High initial valuations that lead to reductions mid-campaign are one of the most common frustrations in UK property sales.

What to ask at the valuation

A few questions to put to every agent you meet:

• What comparable properties support this price? Ask to see them, not just hear about them.
• What's your average time to sell in this area? Compare this across agents; our own data on how long properties take to sell shows the range between agents in the same postcode can be wider than most sellers expect.
• What's your sale-through rate? How many of the properties they list do they sell (versus withdrawals and price reductions)?
• How will you market the property? Which portals, what photography, how quickly will it go live?
• What's your fee, and when is it due? Most agents work on a no-sale no-fee basis, but check the contract terms carefully. Notice periods vary.

Look at verified reviews

Reviews matter, but only if they're verified. Unverified reviews on some sites can be curated or left selectively. On Home, agent reviews are verified against completed transactions, a system we opened up to buyers directly rather than leaving it to agents to curate their own testimonials. Read the comments as much as the scores: patterns in what past clients say tell you more than an aggregate number.

What the contract should say

Once you've chosen, read the agency agreement before you sign. Key things to check: the fee percentage, whether it's sole or multi-agency, the notice period if you want to change agents, and whether there's a lock-in period. A sole agency instruction typically carries a lower fee than multi-agency, but means you're committed to one firm for the duration of the agreement.

You don't need to rush this decision. A clear-headed choice at the start saves a great deal of frustration later.

Search for agents in your area to start comparing local options.

Further reading: Propertymark, the UK estate agent standards body.