When it comes to selling your home, choosing the right estate agent can make or break the experience. But here’s the challenge: from the outside, many agents sound the same. They’ll all tell you they’re local, experienced, and proactive.
But once the board goes up and the viewings start, that’s when the truth starts to show.
We’ve helped hundreds of sellers across Essex and East London, and we often hear from people frustrated by a previous experience. Over time, we’ve come to realise that most agents fall into one of three categories:
- The “List it and Leave it” Agent
These agents are focused purely on getting your instruction. They’ll promise the earth, give you a high valuation, and once the paperwork’s signed, it’s radio silence. No updates, little advice, and minimal effort to adjust the strategy when things slow down. Their priority? Just keeping your listing so they look busy.
Red flag: They’re vague about their plan and don’t seem to know your buyer audience well.
- The “Yes” Agent
This type will agree with everything you say. Want £50K over market value? No problem. Not ready for photos for three weeks? Sure. They’re lovely, but they avoid hard conversations that can cost you time and money. A good agent needs to give honest, helpful advice and not just nod along.
Red flag: They rarely challenge you on price or presentation.
- The Trusted Advisor
This is who you want. A great agent listens, guides, challenges, and supports you every step of the way. They’ll advise you honestly on pricing, preparing your home, marketing and how to stand out online. They will create a tailored marketing plan to suit your timeline and requirements. More importantly, they’ll follow up with every buyer, chase feedback, and keep you updated as they know the real value is in the follow-through.
Green flag: They offer insight before instruction and keep communication high throughout.
So how do you know which one you’ve got?
Ask about their marketing plan, what do they do if you’re not under offer within the first 4 weeks, how they handle feedback and test their service. Book an in person valuation and see how they behave before they’ve got your instruction to sell.
If you’re looking for a no-pressure conversation about your next move, we’d love to help and even if you’re not quite ready to go live, we work around your timeline and goals.
No jargon. No pushy sales. Just honest advice from people who care.
Send an email to salesteam@brookings.co.uk or give us a call at 020 8591 9088 to book a free in-person valuation.
