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Reputation
The Estate Agent Magazine Helping sellers & landlords choose the right estate agent Tips on ‘Pricing it Right’ How View Agents can help you find an estate agent What are the qualities of a
MEET
successful
Jaimie Beers
estate agent?
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6
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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
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PRICING IT RIGHT
Do your own research Use a property portal and try and find 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 find 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
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Contents 2
Pricing it right
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Meet Jaimie Beers
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Preparing your home
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Role of a seller
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Area Spotlight
10 Choosing an estate agent
4 Meet Jaimie BEERS 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 CEO View Agents
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Human VS Technology. Prop Tech expert, Simon Whale, delivers a very insightful perspective on The Role of a how technology is shaping Seller the real estate industry
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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 specifically for estate agents. Helping estate agents Collect, Manage & Promote reviews & reputation. Our goal is to help agents grow their business by improving their online reputation.
CHOOSING the right estate agent
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Get in touch sales@viewagents.com
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Madley Property 2 Plough Way, London, SE16 2EU madleyproperty.com jaimie@madleyproperty.com 0207 378 0644
S U R R E Y Q U AY S
LONDON How did you get into real estate? Do you remember your first day? I had worked in sales overseas and a client suggested that I go to London to work in high-end property as she thought I would be good at it and turns out she was right! I do remember my first day, back then training was done very much “on the job” and it was very much a sink or swim environment. I ended up jumping straight into viewings and getting deals up and running straight away. Luckily, the first company I worked for was one that gave me the ability to learn various areas of central London and get involved in off-plan sales and investment based deals from the outset.
What is the best thing about being an estate agent? The best thing about working in Estate Agency is that in London, you really feel that opportunities are limitless and that as long as you are willing to put the effort in and have honed your skills, your rewards can be huge. I’ve been so lucky to work in such a dynamic estate agency environment from the outset of my career, dealing with an amazing calibre of property and client.
What attributes makes a good estate agent? You need to be extremely resilient; you have to be willing to be in for the long haul as there are no short cuts to doing the job well. A very high degree of people skills is a must, and we always look for a drive to deliver something beyond the ordinary in anyone we hire.
How important is having a good reputation in this industry? Reputation is everything in any industry and Estate Agency is no different. We are being trusted by our clients to either manage the running and income of their most valuable assets or to deal with the sale of that asset. Buyers and tenants are putting their trust in us to deliver. The best way we can reassure these parties is to have a good track record of performance and a history of happy clients.
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rust is key for “Tany transaction
MEET JAIMIE BEERS
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What are some great questions a seller and a landlord should ask you on a listing presentation? I think expectations are vital and making sure that a landlord or vendor is going to get the service and results they not only expect but that they need from the process. We like potential clients to engage as much as possible and a big part of our job is to make sure they understand the process and how we can achieve the goals we need to and if their expectations are in line with the possible. We also always encourage clients to look at our reviews to make sure they not only hear things that we say about ourselves but also what others say about us.
Do you like sellers/landlords (tenants) to be home when viewings are conducted? Ideally, we like to be left with the buyers or tenants as sometimes people can feel uncomfortable or awkward commenting openly on a property when the owner or landlords are at home. We like to really understand what our applicants want, and having open and frank conversations about what they like or don’t like is a key part of this, and it can’t always happen in front of vendors or landlords due to human nature.
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..always being clear & fair with everyone involved..
What are the key aspects when negotiating a house sale/let? Given today’s landscape of ground rents, cladding and lease terms, I think it’s vital to give the right information at the outset, that way there are no stumbling blocks midway through negotiations that could have been avoided. Other than this, it’s experience, a cool head and always being clear and fair with everyone involved.
“Reputation is everything
What do you think of the estate agency phrase ‘People Not Property’? Whilst I am not generally a fan of these type of phrases, it’s very true. Whilst the properties are the stock that we deal with, it’s the people and moreover the relationships you build with people that make things happen. Trust is key for any transaction and property transactions are one of the most stressful there are to deal with as it involves people’s homes, a large sum of money and numerous parties. To build a solid relationship, it needs to be founded on trust and the only way to do that is via good people.
What are the challenges when negotiating between seller/buyer & landlord/tenant? Setting expectations for both sides is key and it is clear that if this is done correctly and handled by a skilled person the challenges are not great.
How much of a team effort is it when selling or letting a home? As I mentioned earlier, the process includes a number of people, not just the agent, but our view is that the agent is the glue that bonds the deal together. Agents are the driving force behind its tempo and the oil that greases the wheels when needed or when things become stuck. What constitutes a great property marketing campaign and how do you execute it? I think what constitutes a great marketing campaign is making sure that all parts of the process are cohesive. It starts with an in depth understanding of the property we are marketing. Then presenting the property as attractively and accurately as possible and making sure that information is presented to as many potential buyers and tenants as possible, in an easy to access and digestible format. Then making sure the leads and enquiries are dealt with by talented sales people who also apply the same level of diligence, so that all the information potential buyers and tenants need is on hand to allow decisions to be made. It’s also vital that the client feedback loop with the correct content and data is in place, this means that the progress of your campaign can be monitored, discussed and adjusted if needs be. A great marketing campaign must go way beyond simply putting a property on a portal.
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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 filled 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 influence buyers, therefore use this to your advantage. Placing fresh flowers 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 office 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 fittings, flooring 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 flow 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 difficult 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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Role of a SELLER IT’S NOT EVERYDAY YOU SELL YOUR HOME. HERE ARE 3 TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE AS A HOME SELLER
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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 first 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 flexible. 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.
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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 fix a leaking roof. This will help the agent when asked specific 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.
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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 viewagents.com
AREA SPOTLIGHT SURREY QUAYS
LONDON SE16/Surrey Quays/Rotherhithe is a residential district in southeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. Historically the area was the most northeastern settlement in the county of Surrey.
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SE16 has a long history as a port, with many shipyards from Elizabethan times until the early 20th century and with working docks until the 1970s. In the 1980s, the area along the river was redeveloped as housing through a mix of warehouse conversions and new-build developments. Following the arrival of the Jubilee line in 1999 (giving quick connections to the West End and to Canary Wharf) and the London Overground in 2010
AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE (SALES)
£691,000 AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE (LETTINGS)
£2,520 P/M
Interesting Fact The Surrey Docks is sometimes wrongly called Surrey Quays. It wrongly got this name in 1989 when the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre was built on the infilled southern part of Canada Water, and the nearby London Underground (now ) station Surrey Docks was renamed Surrey Quays. The de facto renaming of the area was controversial at the time among the local community, some of whom felt that their history was being erased. Although "Surrey Docks" is still the name of the electoral ward.
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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 is a difference 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 & qualifications • 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, helping 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 difficulty choosing, email us at valuations@viewagents.com and we can recommend them 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 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!
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