How to recognise a good estate agent

I have lost count of the number of estate agents I have spoken to and here’s the really strange thing. You would think that, in these economically challenging times, service and efficiency would be their mantra wouldn’t you? But not so with many that I have spoken to or dealt with.

I still believe that the best way to go about looking for a property is with a good, reliable and local property agent – but how do you tell the good from the bad?

My son is toying with the idea of buying a small flat in London and asked me to have a look at a few flats on his behalf. “Could we make it over the weekend?” I asked the agent. In South Africa, where I lived for years, this is the busiest period of an agent’s week – after all, most people buying a property actually work. “No”, was the dismissive reply, “we don’t work weekends”. I was absolutely outraged – what am I paying them commission for if they won’t accommodate my needs?

ANYWAY, after that little rant, what exactly sets a good agent apart from a bad one?

1. Telephone manners: If I had to name my pet hate, it would be when I phone a business and I sit for hours pushing buttons and just plan hanging on. I want immediate attention and, if there is no one who can attend to me immediately, I want my number taken and a return call with 15 minutes. The end…

2. Dependability: If someone says they will call me back, I want them to do so. If they say they will send me a few property details to look at, I must receive them within a short time. If I can’t depend upon them on the small things, how on earth can I trust them with thousands of pounds of my money?

3. A good website: Today there really is no excuse not to have a clear, concise website with lots of properties of all sizes and shapes. The site should be error free – if they can’t be bothered to check how they are perceived by others then they have no pride in themselves or their company. And I want a little extra: an agent I know writes a monthly blog telling of exactly what’s going on in their area – in this case, in Corfu. It makes a huge difference – you feel you know both the place and the person before you even get out there.

4. Honesty: Finally, but most importantly, they must be upfront and honest. Yes, it may take months before you get a phone installed. No, you don’t have access to the Internet yet in that area…do you really want to find out this kind of thing afterwards? Obviously not. It seems to me to be so short-sighted, as a few chats to locals will reveal the truth, and if they lie about small things then you’d be crazy to trust them in the big things – right?

I know this all sounds very obvious, but what I have found is that many people become a little distracted when buying abroad. Things that they would not hesitate to insist upon in the UK seem to escape their notice. Remember, this is not a new best friend that you need to be afraid of offending, this is purely a business relationship and you need to protect yourself against any possible misunderstandings or, even worse, shortcomings in your new property.

Good luck – and remember that help in the form of the OGC is at hand if you need it.

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.overseasbuyingguide.com