In an age when the big marketing budgets of the property portals and web-based agents means they are increasingly visible, what is the value of registering with your local estate agent? It’s a subject Alex Grover in our Ashtead office is passionate about.

In an age when the big marketing budgets of the property portals and web-based agents means they are increasingly visible, what is the value of registering with your local estate agent? It’s a subject Alex Grover in our Ashtead office is passionate about.

"Without a doubt, the property portals such as Rightmove and On The Market have revolutionised the estate agency market. They make filtering the range of properties publicly available for sale quick and easy and ensure swift notification to interested buyers. But they can’t replicate the insight you get from talking with a local property professional who knows and understands their market."

With people increasingly reluctant to register, online or by telephone, we asked Alex to explain why it remains important if you are genuinely interested in finding a new home.

Here are Alex's top 10 reasons why you should register with your local estate agent.

1. Not every property is listed on Rightmove, On The Market etc. There are many reasons for this. In many cases, it is simply because the owner doesn’t want everyone to know they are moving yet. The property may also have been previously listed and withdrawn for a period. The property portals restrict the ability for a period of time where this happens.
2. Some sellers are very reluctant for their home to be turned into a visitor attraction every weekend, disrupting their lives. They will instruct us to carefully vet potential buyers before showing them the property.
3. Computers are very binary. They deal in yes/no answers. A real property professional is able to understand the nuance of your requirements and help you see through the basic details of a property. It may have development potential, or meet your needs in a way that is not immediately obvious.
4. The better we know a potential buyer, the more we understand your situation and your ability to proceed with a sale. Talk to us and tell us about your personal situation. The personal situation of some of our sellers may not suit your requirements.
5. Yes, we will send you details of properties that we think match your needs by email. But only if we genuinely think it is of interest. But if you really don’t want to receive these details by email, an agent can deal with that request. A computer will struggle. (Every email we send contains an easy link for you to update your requirements, view similar properties or just tell us you have found your perfect property elsewhere and are no longer interested. We understand there are other agents selling property too!)
6. By really understanding what you are looking for, we may be able to give you advance notice of properties likely to come onto the market.
7. Many buyers are moving into the area without truly knowing it. A property professional will be intimately familiar with the area. They will know about local transport links, schools, community groups, sport facilities, entertainment and generally what it is like to live in the area. Ask them and use their knowledge to help you make your decision.
8. Ask the agent about their normal market. Understand whether they are likely to be instructed to sell the type of house you want. If not, move on and talk to other agents. Don’t waste your time registering with an agent that is very unlikely to be selling what you are looking for.
9. A good agent will value you as a potential customer of the future. Whilst they clearly represent the interests of the seller at all times, it is your chance to establish whether your trust them. Take a look at the online feedback available from services such as RaterAgent. People now move more frequently and a good agent will want to win your trust and hopefully your business in the future.
10. As BT said many years ago, it’s good to talk. Ask a few searching questions, be honest with your requirements and budget, and you never know what it may lead to.

It’s not just Alex that believes buyers are best served by talking personally to agents. Which? have a lot of good guidance for people looking to buy and sell a house. They have put together a short video explaining the benefits of registering with agents as well as selecting the right agents to register with. 

What have you got to lose? If you are looking for a property in the general area of Ashtead, Banstead, Epsom or Walton-on-the-Hill, why not give us a call or register via our website. We may just have the perfect property for you.