What to do if you are unhappy with your estate agent
Your estate agent should always be working to serve your best interests and communicating regularly with you on how they are being proactive. If you don't believe they are, it might be time for a change...
The process of selling your property is in itself a daunting task and you want to make sure you are in the most capable and trustworthy hands to make the process as stress free as possible. The level of customer service should also meet your expectations. Here are some things you can do if you are unhappy with your agent…
Communicate - It is common for sellers to feel forgotten by their estate agent, especially if their home isn't selling. It is important that you notify them of any concerns you may have to give them the opportunity to rectify them.
Make suggestions - Estate agents usually have experience of what does and doesn't work when it comes to marketing your property. However, if you have any ideas that you believe will help sell your property, feel free to make suggestions to them.
Check your contract - Ideally you will have checked your contract before signing up with the estate agent. If you have signed a fixed term contract, there may be instances where you can terminate the contract early and change estate agent. Some agents do charge you to terminate the contract so it is important to read the small print of your contract. Others, won't tie you into a fixed period contract at all!
Complain - Property agents in the UK are legally required to be members of a redress scheme for independent adjudication of disputes. Should you have a hard time dealing with your estate agent, explore the option of filing a formal complaint with an appropriate scheme to which they belong such as The Property Ombudsman.
Change estate agent - If you don't want to continue working with your current estate agent, it may be time for a change. Your poor experience will allow you to make a more informed decision when choosing an estate agent. You may wish to choose an agent with more superior marketing, excellent customer service substantiated by 5* reviews and industry awards or one without fixed term contracts for example.
