As an estate agent of 16 years now, I do come across the common misconception that often gets mentioned either in passing, or on appointments when providing advice on a value.

There has, for many decades, been bad press around agents, with the assumption that they charge highly and do nothing for their money, and many are ‘typical sales people’ and ‘scallywags’. I can confirm there are still some like this, however, we are not all the same.

A day in the life of an estate agent is varied and, at times, tasking. Not only do we list a property on property portals, but we are also essentially a counsellor to a seller or a buyer throughout what might be a very stressful time. We become a sounding board, we provide good and bad news, we try to handle all types of personalities and situations – which may include death, divorce or debt – with a positive hat and a smile on our face (although sometimes a head on the desk after the call too!).

In addition, we are ‘marketers’. A good and innovative estate agent will have a positive mix of modern and traditional methods. So, we present a home to its best with photography and floorplans. We promote this via social media, on the phone to clients, and match people who may not have initially thought of viewing. We are the go-between for many industries: surveyors, energy assessors, trades and solicitors. We need to have an amazing attention to detail and memory to recall each person and situation to manage each effectively.

An average sales transaction will take 12 weeks, so we are in constant contact with sellers and buyers, usually for up to six months, and all of this is on a no sale no fee basis. There is never a guarantee that we get paid.

We offer advice free of charge – not many industries I can think of offer this. We form relationships over years of contact at times, and it may or may not lead to business. It’s just what we do.

That said, we get to have a very pleasurable job too. It is varied, it is interesting and we get to visit many wonderful homes and have the privilege of being trusted with the sale of what could be the biggest financial transaction in anyone’s life.

How to Choose an Agent

After years of being in the industry and taking the plunge to run my own business, I did this partly because I can see that there are very different types of agents. My advice to anyone considering a sale is to speak with several different ‘types’ – perhaps the one who has sold the most near you, the traditional, the corporate, and then the independent and more bespoke. Most importantly go with how you feel when you speak and meet them – do you trust them, and would they be the one selling your home?