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Reputation

The Estate Agent Magazine Helping sellers & landlords choose the right estate agent

Tips on ‘Pricing it Right’

MEET

How View Agents can help you find an estate agent

Hannah Musk

What are the qualities of a successful estate agent?

Estate agent interview

Preparing your home for sale/letting

The role of a seller

Get an insight into the thoughts and views of a successful estate agent

Every home is unique Check out some tips in getting your home ready for viewings

Get some tips of what your role is as a home seller or landlord

Reputation The Estate Agent Magazine - 2022

PRICING IT RIGHT

Do your own research Use a property portal and try and nd some comparable properties on the market or recently sold/ let. However, this is ONLY a guide, as market conditions vary and no two homes are identical. You will also need to take into account that the ‘asking price’ is not the ‘sold/let price’.

Pro Tip Call in an expert This is the best option. Agents sell/let homes for a living. An experienced local estate agent will be able to guide you on a price range & should back that up with comparable sales/lettings.

Priced too high? You may not attract as many buyers/tenant viewings and may stay on the market longer, this may lead to potential buyers/tenants thinking there’s something wrong. On rare occasions, you might nd a buyer or tenant who really wants it. You also have more room to negotiate.

Priced too low? You may sell/let it faster but your goal would be to get as much as you can. Look for a happy medium. There is a misconception that if you receive an asking price offer early on, that you’ve priced it too low. In many cases, it simply means you priced it right. Remember, the right estate has the skills to negotiate the highest price for your home. If you require help choosing an estate agent, you can use our free concierge service, contact us at valuations@viewagents.com and we’ll help you choose an estate agent

2 - Reputation The Estate Agent Magazine - Feb/Mar 22

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Contents 2 Pricing it right 4 Meet Hannah Musk 6 Preparing your home

Meet

8 Role of a seller

Hannah Musk

9 Social Network 10 Choosing an estate agent

4 Preparing your home for sale/letting

From the CEO We are excited to bring you this edition of View Agents Reputation Magazine. We hope we can offer home sellers and landlords some additional information in helping them select their next estate agent.

Domenic Versace

Human VS Technology. Prop Tech expert, Simon Whale, delivers a very insightful perspective on how technology is shaping the real estate industry

The role of a seller

CEO View Agents

What is View Agents? For home sellers & landlords We help sellers and landlords search and choose an estate agent to sell, let or manage their home. Visit viewagents.com For Estate Agents View Agents is a reputation management platform speci cally for estate agents. Helping estate agents Collect, Manage & Promote reviews & reputation. Our goal is to help agents grow their business and improve their online reputation.

CHOOSING the right estate agent

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ARE YOU AN E S TAT E A G E N T ?

kerfuffle.com CONTRIBUTORS

Interested in your own reputation magazine?

Get in touch sales@viewagents.com

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“All

Manchester Durrman 19-21 Limps eld Road, Sanderstead, CR2 9LA 020 8657 5599 www.manchesterdurman.com What makes your estate agency di erent from your competitors: We are the sole member of the Guild of Property Professionals for South Croydon which is an accolade to our working ethos. We are a hard-working team of local people so know a lot about the local area and all it has to o er. I have found that we are selling an area as much as selling a home so all the vital local knowledge is bene cial. We have our very own in-house Solicitors who provide a conveyancing service which helps massively with sales progression as it is all under one roof. We also o er a discount on this service in exchange for entrusting your home to us.

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Hannah Being a good Musk “listener is essential. What is the best thing about being an Agent?

Sanderstead

South Croydon Having a young family, I have immersed myself in the local community through clubs, local events and sporting activities. I enjoy a variety of sports, especially running, football, rugby and outdoor time with the family, making the most of the vast amount of woodland and outdoor space in the area. For some relaxing time, there is nothing better than pottering around the garden, in the veggie patch or with my chickens.

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What qualities do you need to be a successful estate agent & why? Being honest and trustworthy are the two main qualities that are needed. A good agent needs to build their career on reputation so it is important that you put the client rst and always do what you have said that you will do. Being a good listener is essential too so as to really grasp the client’s needs and objectives from the outset. Good preparation and the ability to analyse the market or the present situation. Con dence, good initiative, and enthusiasm for the task at hand are traits that all vendors instinctively seek as vendors want a strong ally for selling.

How important is having a good reputation in this industry & why?

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Hannah Musk Sales Manager sales@manchesterdurman.com 20 years management experience

It is a fast-paced job in which I thrive on. I love being busy and as a ‘people person’ I really enjoy getting to meet lots of people on a daily basis. I have always had an interest in property so getting to work in this environment where I see lots of homes is a great bonus, not to mention it satis es my nosiness! My favourite part of the job is handing over keys to the new owners on completion, the happiness and excitement are apparent, knowing that a new chapter of their lives is just about to start.

A good agent needs to build their career on reputation.

How did you get into real estate? I have always been interested in property and when looking for a complete career change, I knew where I wanted to be! The opportunity arose for me and I jumped at it as I loved the fact that Manchester Durman was an independent estate agent which has kept hold of its traditional values and really puts its customers rst. I only wanted to be part of an estate agent like that as these values are very important to me.

A good reputation takes a long time to build and comes from consistently working hard to give a good service to the buyer and the seller alike. It is incredibly important to build up a good reputation within this industry as you are being trusted with a person’s most valuable asset and they need to be assured of the service that they are going to receive.

What is the best way of valuing a home? This is the perfect question for me with my background in analytics. There are no short-cuts and I am lucky to have fast access to historic prices, property listings past and present, our own in-house solicitors’ observations of mortgage trends and regional prices, and several algorithmic pro les which o er suggestions but nothing beats the human brain on this one because the ‘perfect pricing formula’ requires essential and in-depth knowledge of what potential buyers are seeking and are prepared to pay. Again, the slogan ‘people, not property’ applies. I nd it fascinating.

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A lot of thinking and re ection goes into the role of a sales manager, from approaching a property’s market launch to monitoring how that develops and can be safely and successfully concluded. It is only possible for me to have the essential thinking time to do that with a team who can deal with all the arguably less exciting but vital support roles such as, registering applicants and getting to know their position, coordinating viewings and checking our database for new registrants and calling them to verify and clarify. The greater the stock the more hands that are needed. From our experience, each property absorbs on average ten hours of support time in the rst week of marketing. My team of ve has surplus capacity for the stock we typically have, I am pleased to tell our sellers. I do wonder how estate agents with the same support or less can properly and adequately service as many properties as some typically take on to sell. Manchester Durman ran a successful lettings agency for 17 years but decided in the tumultuous 2020 to concentrate just on sales out of a sense of duty to its property sellers.

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Being honest & trustworthy.

How do you deal with the after-sales?

This is where Manchester Durman and I are uniquely placed to assist. As good sales managers will be rst to say, ‘ nding a buyer is only half the job’. Apart from my fabulous estate agency team, I have a property solicitor team at my disposal for those sellers of mine who opt to use them. How many sales managers can say that? The chronology of key after sales events on manchesterdurman.com outlines the process, but where there are unexpected bumps in the road it takes that special human touch and much diplomacy to deal with them, and the partners, I am proud to say, recognise that ability in me in their reviews/feedback.

We are a hardworking team of local people.

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Do you like sellers to be home on viewings?

This depends on the seller. I will always speak my mind. I sometimes identify in a vendor, a natural salesperson or ‘sales asset’ and so will encourage them to be present at a viewing if they wish, but sometimes the opposite is true. Having a seller present increases the likelihood that a more speci c or subjective viewer’s question will be answered and helps with the ‘viewing momentum’.

What are the key aspects when negotiating a house sale? Do look up our website where you can nd the typical chronology of events for marketing under “latest news” and our in-house property lawyers have a similar chronology for the legal process under the “legal/property” tab. Clients have commented how useful that is! What are some important questions a seller should ask you on a listing presentation? An owner should never be shy or wary of asking an agent what simple things might be done to stage a home at its best. A good agent will volunteer that information without being asked. This is important and there are experts who make a living from promoting home staging tips and I’m always keen to read about them and add to my knowledge about them. The experts on this really approach it like a science.

How do you manage sellers’ expectations? This starts with the rst meeting and listening to nd out what the seller wants to achieve as this will vary depending on their circumstances. For instance, a seller who is relocating and found the ideal new home may not thank me if I embark on a marketing strategy that does not suit. For example, it may be better for them to choose a chain-free cash buyer than wait for a buyer with a higher o er who is in a long chain which might break down. With the help of our in-house property solicitors, I try to spot chain weaknesses for example a house which may not be habitable in a lender’s eyes or a at with a poor lease.

What do you recommend that a seller should do prior to calling in an estate agent for a valuation? I do my best to keep an open mind and sellers must not worry if their house is cluttered or not looking its best. All I ask is that it’s safe enough to view and show to potential buyers. If there are dangers to avoid do let me know. With my contacts, I may even be able to point an owner in the right direction to address them. I must say that a new inexpensive carpet particularly in the entrance hall can work wonders and clean your windows, make the beds and put food away! First impressions for the senses! I also think that making arrangements to take pets out for a walk during a viewing is a good idea.

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How much of a team e ort is it selling a home?

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A FREE PROPERTY VALUATION

top tips to 8 prepare your home for selling/letting

Your home needs to be well presented, ideally, look better than the competition, and have a neutral theme to appeal to more buyers/tenants tastes ‘Your goal is to present a tidy house that’s lled with natural light, feel spacious and practical' In fact, in most cases, to make your home appealing, you don’t need to spend loads of money. Some simple changes can make a big difference between your home sitting unsold until you eventually reduce the asking price or your home selling almost immediately for the full asking price.

5. Smells sells! Research suggests that smells in uence buyers, therefore use this to your advantage. Placing fresh owers in the kitchen and/or scented candles such as vanilla or cinnamon and even ‘cake baking’ smells have an impact. However strong or over-powering smells will put off potential buyers such as: pets, bins, cooking & smoking. Remember to air the house before each viewing.

PRO TIP

6. Back to basics Buyers want to visualise your home as their home. The function of some rooms can change; a spare room used for storage can become the of ce or a second TV room. Certain rooms hold a greater perceived value, think about converting rooms back to their original use. Remove furniture that looks too big for the room; clutter that isn’t essential to the function of the room will free up valuable space and help make your house looks bigger. Consistent light ttings, ooring and curtains also help.

Think of it as a business transaction, where you are making business decisions.

1. Deep clean the house Make sure it’s done properly, if you do, then you are already a step ahead of your competition. Include dusting, carpets & garden if you can afford it. Try your best to keep it clean & tidy until sold or let!

2. De-Clutter Have a clear-out. This will make your home look larger and a place that buyers or tenants can imagine themselves living in. Make sure there is a clear ow when walking around your home. Try doing a walk-through, as though you were on the viewing.

3. Complete outstanding DIY Small jobs left undone make a huge difference to the potential buyers/ tenants. When they can see you care and look after your home they may offer you more as they can see additional value.

4. First Impressions DO count!

7. Depersonalise your home Think of your home as a show home. These are effective sales tools as they are always anonymous. Buyers/ tenants want to imagine themselves living there, creating their own story. This can be dif cult if overwhelming evidence of you or family are everywhere. Remove some family pictures, trophies, children’s artwork. Your house needs to look lived-in without looking like anyone actually lives there.

8. Neutral tones

Potential buyers/tenants will be judging your house even before they knock on your door! Make sure that the external appearance

Natural light is great, bright rooms appear more spacious than dim/ dark ones. If necessary, use table lamps in rooms that need

is well-maintained and cared for; the outside needs to look as great as the inside. This includes the garden, driveway etc -a tidy, lawns mowed, litter removed and so on. Walk up & down your street and compare it to your neighbours.

a little lift. Colour is personal, it’s best to go with neutral colours instead of highly individualised interiors. Creating a blank canvas helps buyers imagine how they would live in it and it will appeal to more tastes.

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IT’S NOT EVERYDAY YOU SELL YOUR HOME. HERE ARE 3 TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE AS A HOME SELLER

Viewings

Most home buyers will look at several homes before buying one. You will have competition. Ask your estate agent what they think you need to do to your home prior to the rst viewing. Keep it clean and tidy. There may be occasions where the agent will call you at the last minute for a viewing, where possible be exible. As you will be having potential buyers walking through your home, keep all valuables in a safe place and out of view. If you have pets, it would be advisable to keep them outside as there may be buyers who may not feel comfortable around pets, especially if the potential buyers have children with them. If you have kids toys or obstructions around the house, make sure it is safe to walk around.

PRO TIP

Communication

Always keep the agent up to date on any changes. For example, if you go away for the weekend or you go away on a vacation. This will help the agent if there is a last-minute viewing and they’re trying to get a hold of you. In this situation, it may be advisable to leave a spare key with the agent. If you are planning a family event and you do not want the agent to conduct a viewing, try and give the agent plenty of notice. If you make any changes to the property let your agent know. For example, if you install a new boiler or you x a leaking roof. This will help the agent when asked speci c questions by a buyer. The key to any successful sale is open communication

Ask the estate agent whether it’s best you remain in the home whilst they conduct the viewing. If you do remain home, allow the agent to do their job, they are the experts. Unless the agent asks you to, don’t walk around on the viewing with them, it may make buyers uncomfortable.

Negotiating

Most home sellers have an emotional attachment to their homes. Potential buyers won’t have that attachment, to them, your property is seen as a piece of real estate. Therefore, if the agent submits a low offer, don’t take it personally. The negotiation for your home can vary widely. In some cases the negotiation is straight forward or take weeks of back and forth negotiations. Always keep an open mind and remember that an experienced agent will know how to negotiate for you.

The key to any successful sale is open communication 8 - Reputation The Estate Agent Magazine

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Role of a SELLER

IF SOCIAL MEDIA IS YOUR THING

CHECK OUT MANCHESTER DURMAN’S LATEST POSTS

Manchester Durman is a trading name of Manchesters Solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA under membership no. 58391 and on purely estate agent activity by the PRS under membership no. 4386.

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Choosing an Estate Agent

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For most of us, our home is the most expensive asset we will ever own. Therefore, it’s important to choose the right estate agent and know you’re in safe hands.

1. Not all estate agents are the same Choosing the right estate agent is a very important decision, there are differences between all estate agents. Carry out your due diligence before choosing, here are some examples of how estate agents may vary: • Levels of service • Marketing ability • Knowledge / Experience • Professional bodies & quali cations • Fees • Track record

2. Do your research View Agents has over 17,000 estate agents listed and over 350,000 estate agent reviews. It is a comprehensive estate agent search platform, that helps you compare and choose. We advise you to invite more than one agent so that you can get a good understanding of what makes each agent different. If you have dif culty choosing, email us at valuations@viewagents.com and we can recommend agents to you.

3. Ask questions & feel comfortable In some cases, a home sale can take several months from listing presentation to completion. Therefore your relationship with your chosen estate agent is important. You need to feel comfortable communicating with them and make sure you ask plenty of questions. Remember, if your property is being let and then managed by an agent, then that relationship may last several years.

4. Select an agent to sell or let/manage your home Once you’ve weighed up all your options then you will need to select an agent. The agent will then place your property on the market and the marketing process will begin. Good luck!

11 - R e p u t a t i o n T h e E s t a t e A g e n t M a g a z i n e

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We recommend Hannah Musk from Manchester Durman if you’re thinking of selling your property

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