Would You Trust an Estate Agent Who Can’t Negotiate Their Own Fee?
It is completely understandable to ask an estate agent what they charge. You should. But if you are choosing somebody to negotiate the sale of what is probably your most valuable asset, the cheapest fee might not be the saving it first appears to be.
Here is something worth thinking about.
You meet an estate agent. They explain their service, their marketing, how they will handle your sale and what they charge.
You say another agent is cheaper.
And within 30 seconds, they reduce their fee.
Perhaps that feels like a win. 💷
But there is another way of looking at it.
If they found it that easy to give away their own money, what will happen when a buyer starts negotiating with yours?
Because eventually, that conversation is likely to happen.
A buyer might offer £10,000 below your asking price. They might try again after a survey. They may threaten to walk away. There could be another property competing for their attention.
That is when you need somebody who can negotiate calmly, confidently and properly on your behalf. 🤝
🏡 You are not really paying an estate agent to advertise your house
Putting a property on Rightmove is the visible bit.
The real job happens around it.
Preparing the property properly. Creating the right marketing. Generating interest. Qualifying buyers. Handling viewings. Reading the situation when offers arrive.
Negotiating the best possible price. Checking the buyer can actually proceed. Keeping a chain together. Solving problems and staying involved until the keys change hands. 🔑
That is what you are paying for.
And there can be a very big financial difference between finding someone willing to buy your property and getting the best possible result from that buyer.
💷 Does that mean the most expensive estate agent is automatically the best?
No.
And we would never suggest it does.
Fees should be fair, and there are perfectly reasonable occasions when an estate agent may be commercially flexible.
But price should be one part of your decision, not the whole decision.
When comparing agents, ask what they will actually do for their fee.
🗣️ Who will conduct the negotiations?
📣 How will they create competition between buyers?
✅ How carefully will buyers be qualified?
🤝 Who will look after you once a sale is agreed?
🛠️ What happens when something goes wrong?
And perhaps ask yourself one more question:
💭 Do I feel confident putting this person between me and a buyer when thousands of pounds are being negotiated?
Because saving a few hundred pounds on an estate agency fee is not much of a saving if you subsequently achieve several thousand pounds less for your property.
At Campbells, we believe an estate agent should be able to explain what they charge and, more importantly, demonstrate the value behind it.
You don't have to choose us.
But whoever you choose, choose somebody you genuinely trust to negotiate just as confidently for your money as they do for their own. 💙
Selling a property is too important to make the decision on fee alone.