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July 15, 2026
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Questions worth asking before you choose an estate agent
Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, so finding the best estate agent to handle it matters more than most people realise. Whether you are in Southampton, Fareham, or anywhere across South Hampshire, the agent you choose will have a direct bearing on the price you achieve, how informed you feel throughout, and how smoothly the whole thing goes. It is worth taking the time to ask the right questions before you sign anything.
What percentage of properties you take to market do you actually sell?
This is a question a surprising number of sellers never think to ask before they even book a valuation, and it is one of the most revealing things an agent can tell you. It speaks directly to how realistic their valuations are, how effective their marketing is, and how well they manage sales through to completion. Any agent confident in their own track record will tell you without hesitation. If they are vague about it, that tells you something too.
Currently around 53% of properties that come to the market go on to sell, meaning nearly half of properties on the market often fail to sell. Our current sale rate is considerably higher at 67.5%, however it’s worth mentioning that also doesn’t take into account those that may have come of the market due to a change of circumstances, and will be coming back to us when they’re ready.
What is your strategy beyond the property portals?
Property portals are a given. Every agent uses them. The more useful question is what else they are doing to find the right buyer for your home. Do they have an active database of registered buyers they match properties to? How do they use social media? What does their wider marketing look like beyond the portals?
If an agent’s entire strategy begins and ends with a Rightmove listing, that is worth knowing before you commit.
Who is going to take care of me throughout this process?
This catches a lot of sellers off guard. You might meet a senior agent at the valuation, feel confident in them, and then find the day-to-day management of your sale is handled by someone you have never spoken to. That is not necessarily a problem, but it is worth knowing upfront.
Ask directly whether it is going to be a team passing your sale between them, or one person taking responsibility for keeping you informed from start to finish. Once you know who that person is, the next question follows naturally.
How and when will you feed back after viewings?
Timely feedback after viewings is not a small thing. It tells you how buyers are responding to your home and gives you and your agent a chance to address anything that is not working. Ask what lines of communication they use, when you can expect to hear from them after each viewing, and how consistent that will be throughout the sale.
An agent who goes quiet between viewings is not giving you what you need to make good decisions.
At Fairmonts, not only do we follow up directly with all viewings but our dedicated app allows us to capture feedback promptly. We’re also available to you via phone, email and WhatsApp to keep you up to date.
How did you arrive at that valuation figure?
A good agent will walk you through the comparable sales they used, explain why those properties are relevant to yours, and be honest about where your home sits in the market right now. If they cannot or will not do that, it tells you something important.
Overvaluing to win instructions is one of the oldest problems in this industry. An agent who tells you what you want to hear in order to get you to sign, knowing they will push for a price reduction a few weeks later, is not working in your interests. In the current climate especially, getting the price right from the start is absolutely imperative. We always recommend getting at least three valuations from local agents and comparing not just the figures but the reasoning behind them.
What does your fee include, and what are the terms?
Estate agent fees in the UK typically range from around 1% to 3% plus VAT. The figure itself matters less than what it covers. Ask whether professional photography is included as standard. Ask about the contract length and what the exit terms look like. Some agents tie sellers into long contracts with penalties for leaving early, so understanding exactly what you are signing before you do is important.
Key things to consider before you choose your estate agent
- Ask what percentage of properties they take to market they successfully sell, before you even book a valuation.
- Find out what their strategy is beyond the portals and how they plan to reach the right buyer for your specific home.
- Confirm who will be responsible for your sale day to day and how they will communicate with you throughout.
- Ask how they arrived at their valuation and ask to see the comparable sales they used.
- Read the contract carefully before you sign, particularly around length, exit terms, and what the fee actually covers.
The Fairmonts approach
We are an independent estate agency covering Fareham, Locks Heath, Park Gate, Titchfield, Warsash, Whiteley, Hedge End, and the surrounding areas. When we value your home, we will show you exactly which comparable sales we used and why. There is one point of contact throughout your sale, not a team.
If you are thinking about selling and want a straightforward conversation about what your home could achieve, we would be glad to help. Call us on 01329 739883, get in touch at homes@fairmonts.co.uk, or book your valuation here.
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