Selling Property can appear straightforward from the outside. Choose an estate agent, agree an asking price, put the property on the market and wait for a buyer.
In reality, achieving the best possible result can involve considerably more thought and strategy.
There are numerous estate agents competing for property instructions, all offering different valuations, fees, marketing strategies and levels of service. For a seller, deciding which advice to trust can be challenging.
This is where an Independent Property Consultant can provide valuable support.
Why does choosing the right estate agent matter?
Your estate agent will play an important role in the sale of your property.
They are responsible for marketing the property, arranging viewings, introducing potential buyers, handling offers and negotiating on your behalf.
But with so many agents competing for instructions, how do you know which one is right for you?
Should you choose:
- The agent offering the highest valuation?
- The agent charging the lowest fee?
- The agent with the most impressive presentation?
- A high-street estate agent?
- An online or hybrid agent?
- The agent with the biggest database?
- The agent you simply feel most comfortable with?
There is no universal answer.
The right choice depends on your property, your market, your objectives and the strategy most likely to achieve the result you want.
An Independent Property Consultant can help you choose
An Independent Property Consultant can provide objective advice before you appoint an estate agent.
Rather than simply accepting the valuation that sounds most attractive, an independent Property Selling Consultant can help you assess the wider picture.
This can include considering:
- The agent’s experience with similar properties
- Local market knowledge
- Their proposed marketing strategy
- Their likely buyer audience
- Their approach to negotiation
- Their communication and service levels
- Their fee structure
- Whether a traditional, online or hybrid model is appropriate
- How realistic their valuation appears
The objective is to select the estate agent that is right for your property and circumstances.
How can you maximise the value of your property?
One of the most common questions sellers ask is: “How can I get the best price for my property?”
Maximising value is not necessarily about choosing the highest asking price.
An unrealistic valuation can discourage potential buyers, result in a property sitting on the market and ultimately lead to price reductions.
Equally, pricing too conservatively may mean failing to maximise the property’s potential.
A Property Selling Consultant can provide an independent perspective on pricing, presentation, positioning and marketing before the property launches.
House Sale Advice from an experienced property professional
Selling a home involves numerous decisions.
When should you launch? How should the property be presented? What marketing should be used? Which buyers should be targeted? How should offers be assessed?
Good house sale advice can help you make those decisions based on market conditions and your individual objectives rather than simply following a standard process.
An experienced Property Advisor can also provide perspective when circumstances change during the sale.
What if your property isn’t selling?
A property remaining on the market for longer than expected can be frustrating and expensive.
If your property is not attracting the right level of interest, it is worth asking why.
Potential reasons can include:
- Asking price
- Presentation
- Photography
- Property description
- Marketing strategy
- Competition
- Market conditions
- Limited buyer demand
- The choice of estate agent
An Independent Property Consultant can review the situation objectively and help identify where changes may be needed.
This could involve reconsidering the price, changing the marketing approach, reviewing the property’s presentation or reassessing the appointed agent.
Having someone in your corner
Selling a property can sometimes feel like a full-time job.
There can be repeated enquiries, viewing feedback, offers, negotiations and communication between estate agents, solicitors, buyers and other parties.
An Independent Property Consultant can act as your experienced right-hand man, providing an additional layer of support throughout the process.
The appointed estate agent remains responsible for marketing and selling the property, but you have an independent professional monitoring progress and providing advice.
This can be particularly reassuring when selling a high-value property or when the transaction becomes complicated.
Independent advice when offers are received
Receiving an offer is an important milestone, but the highest offer is not necessarily always the strongest offer.
An Independent Property Consultant can help you consider the wider circumstances surrounding each offer.
For example:
- Is the buyer in a strong position?
- Do they have a property to sell?
- Are they cash buyers or reliant on a mortgage?
- What are their preferred timescales?
- Is there a chain?
- How likely are they to proceed?
- Is there room for further negotiation?
An experienced property negotiation strategy considers the whole transaction rather than simply focusing on the headline figure.
Luxury property sales require a considered approach
Selling a higher-value property can require a more bespoke strategy.
Luxury property sales may involve a smaller pool of potential buyers, greater expectations around presentation and marketing, and a requirement for discretion.
The right estate agent and marketing strategy can therefore be particularly important.
An experienced Luxury Property Consultant can help sellers consider how their property should be positioned, which estate agent is best placed to represent it and how potential buyers should be approached.
The aim is to ensure the property reaches the right audience while protecting its value and positioning within the market.
Can an Independent Property Consultant replace an estate agent?
Not necessarily.
An Independent Property Consultant and an estate agent can perform complementary roles.
The estate agent provides the sales and marketing function, including listing the property, conducting viewings, introducing buyers and negotiating offers.
The independent consultant provides strategic advice and oversight on behalf of the seller.
This can give a homeowner the benefit of an established estate agent while also having an experienced professional independently advising them throughout the process.
Adding value to your sale
For some sellers, the appeal of an Independent Property Consultant is that they can provide additional expertise without necessarily adding another layer of cost.
Alex Goldstein’s selling service is designed to work alongside the appointed estate agent.
Alex can advise on the most appropriate estate agent and marketing approach and then remain involved throughout the sale, maintaining regular communication with the appointed agent and helping ensure the seller’s objectives remain at the forefront.
For eligible clients, Alex’s fee is paid from the appointed estate agent’s standard commission, meaning there is no additional fee to the vendor for his involvement.
Alex Goldstein: Independent Property Selling Consultant
Alex Goldstein has worked in the Yorkshire, London and Home Counties property markets since 2002.
Before establishing his independent property consultancy, Alex gained extensive experience with leading property firms including Cluttons, Strutt & Parker and Knight Frank.
This background gives him an in-depth understanding of the estate agency industry and the processes involved in selling residential property.
As an Independent Property Consultant, Alex can provide sellers with an experienced and impartial perspective when deciding how best to approach their sale.
His service can include recommending the most appropriate estate agent, advising on pricing and marketing strategy and providing ongoing support once the property is on the market.
Who could benefit from an Independent Property Consultant when selling?
Alex’s property selling service may be particularly useful if you:
- Are unsure which estate agent to appoint
- Have received significantly different valuations
- Are tempted to choose the agent offering the highest valuation
- Want advice on maximising your property’s potential
- Are unsure whether to choose a high-street, online or hybrid agent
- Feel you need someone experienced to fight your corner
- Have struggled to sell your property
- Want independent advice throughout the sales process
- Are selling a high-value or luxury property
- Want someone to oversee the appointed estate agent
The benefit of independent advice when selling
Choosing an estate agent is an important decision, but you do not necessarily have to navigate that decision alone.
An Independent Property Consultant can provide the experience, market knowledge and objective perspective needed to help you choose the right strategy and the right estate agent for your property.
For sellers, the benefit is not simply another person involved in the transaction. It is having someone who understands the estate agency system, is independent of the appointed agent and is focused specifically on helping you achieve the best possible outcome.
If you are considering Selling Property in Yorkshire, London or the Home Counties and would like independent advice, Alex Goldstein can provide a confidential discussion about your property and your objectives.