YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
WHY CHOOSE JACKSON-STOPS?
We are an established national estate agent with excellent regional coverage, London presence, strong marketing capability and dedicated local teams providing a superior personal service.
With Jackson-Stops you get the best of both worlds: the strength of a national agent, with all the marketing power, connections and shared experiences that brings with it; as well as the personal service and expertise you would expect from a local independent agent. Many of our staff have worked at both ends of the spectrum and know the limitations that apply to the larger corporate firms and the smaller independents.
Jackson-Stops has over a century of experience in selling quality property, and our success has enabled us to expand throughout the UK. We now have an extensive network of over forty offices, including central London. Our network, online presence and range of expertise means we have contacts in all the right places and a reach far beyond your average estate agent.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Do you like and trust the estate agents you have met? Bearing in mind they will be your primary contact and responsible for negotiating the best price on your behalf, do you feel confident in their ability and enthusiasm?
Can the agent supply consistent positive reviews? (Look at Google reviews or testimonials on the agent’s website, preferably supplied through a verified review company like Trustpilot).
Is the agent a one-person outfit or is there a team who will be working on your behalf? Do you feel confident in that team?
Established in 1910, our heritage and traditional values have stood the test of time. Our local teams have navigated every type of market condition over the years, successfully achieving the best results for our clients.
DO YOU HAVE BUYERS FOR MY PROPERTY?
We have an impressive database of applicants looking for good quality property and we are constantly looking at ways to extend our reach to buyers because we know that in a challenging market pro-active communication is key.
Digital marketing is ever more important and we invest heavily in ensuring our online presence is as prominent as possible. Buyers now have a wealth of information, sometimes not the best or most flattering, at their fingertips and can easily be put off a property or area because of something they have seen or not seen on the internet. The fact that a high proportion of our business comes as a result of referral or recommendation and that we often receive positive feedback from our applicants, is evidence that our efforts are appreciated and rather unique.
Our buyers want us to be their agent. At Jackson-Stops we cannot underline the importance of one-to-one communication enough. We do not wait for buyers to come to us. We have a strong network of strategically located offices spread across the country including a presence in central London. Working together, we have connections to local, regional, London, national and international buyers.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Does the agent know their buyers and build rapport with them?
Do they register applicants fully, know exactly what they are looking for, and whether they have sufficient funds available?
Jackson-Stops’ tailored approach to residential property puts our clients at the centre of all we do. From beginning to end, our knowledge, advice and exceptional service will steer your sale to a successful completion.
WHAT PRICE SHOULD I MARKET MY PROPERTY AT?
Setting the guide price within the correct bracket at the beginning of the marketing effort is vital. Lingering on the market with an over-optimistic price generally doesn’t lead to a satisfactory sale.
Jackson-Stops provide sound market appraisal advice based on experience and factual sales price data. Whilst current available property prices in your immediate area can be useful to plan marketing strategy, they should not be relied upon to gauge the value of your own property, particularly if those properties have been on the market for some time – an indication that buyers are not prepared to offer what is being asked.
Too many agents pitch high on price to win instructions; the result being that properties sit on the market with little or no interest until the price is reduced or someone comes in with a cheeky low offer. Sadly, this means that the majority of properties end up selling below the guide price after a long time on the market.
It is well known that the first two weeks of marketing are your strongest chance of achieving the most interest and the best price. But, if you are over ambitious on the guide price and miss out on that initial reaction and the chance of generating competitive interest, you could be in for a longer and tougher selling experience.
Of course, if you are in no rush and are happy to wait for someone who is willing to pay a premium price, we will not shy away from the challenge! But we do not recommend this course of action.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Does the agent know your property and your area?
Do they have experience in selling your type of property and do they know what other properties in the immediate area have sold for?
Clients return to us time and again for assistance in buying, selling and renting their homes. We are proud of the lasting relationships we forge, based on personal service and sound advice, aimed to deliver maximum value.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR YOUR FEE?
Jackson-Stops may not necessarily be the cheapest agent (although often not the most expensive either) but before you make a decision based on fees alone, we urge you to consider what you are getting for your money.
With the emergence of online agents offering minimal flat rate fees and multiple High Street agents all competing over the same properties, fees are often a deciding factor in the appointment of an estate agent. Whilst other agents may undercut on fees, we do urge you to discuss this with us before making your final decision.
As previously stated, your first launch to the market is your strongest and you don’t want to compromise on this. We do get a lot of clients coming to us the second time around saying that they wish they had come to us first, rather than going for the ‘cheaper’ agent.
One point to bear in mind and where we may differ from other agents, is that often a lot of our work is done once a sale has been agreed. We keep a firm grip on the transaction, liaising with solicitors, mortgage brokers, surveyors and any other estate agents involved, chasing them when appropriate to keep to the agreed timeline and to ensure a successful exchange of contracts.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Do they offer accompanied viewings as standard without extra charge and are the viewing staff competent, local, knowledgeable and enthusiastic people?
Will they assist through the conveyancing process as well as the sales process? In an increasingly litigious environment, it is important to have an agent who will have a firm grip on the solicitors/conveyancers to help push a sale through. Many agents consider their job is done once a sale is agreed, but we know just how much work is involved in keeping a sale together until exchange of contracts.
Do they offer any guidance on how to prepare the house for sale or are they just interested in getting a signed contract and launching without being fully prepared?
Hundreds of reviews on Trust Pilot rate our service as ‘Excellent’ with a score of 4.7 out of 5, with clients returning to us time and again for assistance in buying, selling and renting their homes.
HOW WOULD YOU MARKET MY PROPERTY?
We use the most effective marketing techniques to attract and engage our target audience.
This includes digital campaigns, regular social media posts and advertising in The Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and Country Life. All designed to support and grow our local database of ready buyers.
One of the first estate agents online in the 1990s, we have a strong digital presence including all the leading property portals, our own website attracting thousands of visitors a week and highly engaging social media content with an audience of over 1 million a month.
We have a dedicated press office based in London, who are in constant contact with journalists working for the national papers and property magazines. Journalists are always looking for subject matter and we will strive to get coverage for your property.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Do they have a well thought out marketing plan?
Look at their website and marketing materials. Are their properties wellpresented and do you have to pay more for marketing?
Look at their social media posts - are they impressive and engaging?
Do they achieve editorial coverage in newspapers and magazines and on relevant websites?
THE NATIONAL ESTATE AGENT LOCALS RECOMMEND.
Established in 1910 Jackson-Stops is a national estate agent with excellent regional coverage, London presence, strong marketing capability and dedicated local teams providing a superior personal service.
Whether you are looking to buy or sell, rent or let, invest or develop property or land, we will always provide you with the right advice at the right time so you can make informed decisions.