By Mike Crane, Director, Crane & Co Estate Agents
Most estate agents make similar claims about their ability to secure the highest possible price, in the shortest possible time, with the least possible inconvenience.
These things are easy to say, although in reality plenty of agents do not always find them easy to deliver. Indeed, such claims set a level of expectation that can sometimes be followed by disappointment.
Tied in
To add insult to injury, most agents then expect you to sign up for a long period of sole agency with them. Whilst there is no doubt that a sole agency is far preferable to asking two agents to market your property, particularly in terms of accountability, many agents insist on a sole agency tie-in period of 8, 12, 16 or even 26-weeks! Our question is… Why?
Lack of confidence
In our opinion, a long period of sole agency suggests a lack of confidence on the agent’s part, and it’s a way of preventing the seller from sacking them if they fail to deliver! What sort of accountability is that?! It means that the agent can say whatever the seller wants to hear in order to secure the property on their books, and then wait for the property to sell itself. Indeed, some agents take on properties under a long-term sole agency agreement, only to recommend a price reduction shortly after the initial marketing period. Fixed duration agency periods protect agents not sellers!
Breaking the mould
We are breaking the mould in this area and believe property sellers deserve better. We feel that if, at any time, you no longer enjoy working with us, you should have the right to fire us! We simply ask for seven days notice and we find that our clients really appreciate this transparent approach. It certainly keeps us on our toes, and ensures you get the commitment we promise at the outset.
Our reputation thrives best, not on a culture of satisfied clients, but of delighted ones, and we find this is achieved when we submit offers in excess of the asking price. (In fact, over 90% of our sales exceed the asking price!)
There are several ways of achieving this, using well-proven and highly strategic marketing initiatives. It would certainly be un-commercial of us to detail these here, but when the time comes for you to sell, we recommend you question your agent as to strategy behind “quoting an asking price” and how they will methodically achieve the very highest price the market will pay. Why not contact us for bespoke advice and we’ll let you in to a secret or two!
2 The Quintins, High Street
Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1DP
01323 440678
sales@craneandco.co.uk
craneandco.co.uk