The High Street Agent vs Online
Over the last ten years in estate agency, we have witnessed a large increase in the technology available to us to run the day to day business. The choice is endless whether we are investing in social media or the way we present our property details for our clients.
The choice is endless also for anyone looking to sell or let their property. Many years ago, people would wait for the local newspaper to land on their doormat or perhaps take a stroll down their local High Street whilst out shopping and speak face to face with an estate agent. (Yes, that used to happen all the time!)
Now, you can spend hours and hours scrolling through the Internet in the warmth and comfort of their own home. With the rise of the online property portals, you can save a shortlist of properties, view full details and spend time looking through photos without even starting the car or putting on your shoes.
Life online is great, and you can even now sell your property with an online estate agent. The important factor here is that the choice is 100% yours. But what is the right choice? That depends on what you are looking for in an estate agent.
The Online Option
One of the key benefits of selling your property with an online estate agent is often the fee. This tends to be a flat fee which could be at least a third of the price for selling with a traditional High Street agent. Saving money is great and people often like to not have to pay the full price for something.
Your property is very much likely to go on the main property portals like Rightmove, Zoopla and On The Market. It will also be placed on the agent’s website too.
So, saving money is perfect and especially if you are moving due to financial reasons.
But is this method ‘selling’ or simply ‘advertising’ your property?!
When it comes to handling the biggest asset, you are likely to own, do you want a full service or just a cheaper option.
The High Street Option
Before we go into more detail about the benefits of selling your property with a traditional High Street estate agent (like ourselves), we would like to point out that we respect any decision a client makes when it comes to choosing which type of agent to use.
However, we always like to ensure that we highlight the benefits of using an agent that has more than just an online presence. When you are instructing Belvoir, you will get the online coverage as featured above. You will also get the full service from our team in the Swansea and Mumbles office. This means that we have a database of applicants who are already looking in your area ready to be contacted to advise that your property is for sale.
We will accompany viewings, even in the evening and at the weekends. We will work for you (and work hard for our fee) to help you with any negotiation process because this requires experience and the confidence to handle any confrontation that you may encounter.
Not only that but we have an incentive to sell your property. We are not just advertising your home for sale and taking an upfront payment. We strive to get you best price possible. We are marketing and selling your property from day one of instructions.
What Happens Once The Property Is Sold?
This is an important part of the process in our opinion.
Once a sale is agreed, we will manage your sale until a successful exchange of contracts and completion. We will liaise with all the necessary parties which may include solicitors, mortgage advisors and other agents who may be involved in the chain.
We will keep you up to date with all progress because you are our client. Remember, we have a big incentive to ensure that we are successful in managing this process because we do not get paid until the day you move. We have not taken an upfront fee. We have not just advertised your property. We have not asked you to do most of the selling.
There is a still a place for the traditional High Street estate agent where you can come in and meet us face to face to discuss your sale.
If you would like to know more about the services we offer here at Belvoir, please do not hesitate to drop in an see us. We are on the High Street (and online!)
