I think most people now know that for the 2nd time in 2 years we have won the award for the BEST Agent in the UK. The trophy is back in our window and we have splashed it all over social media.
The reason we are so proud is that this is the ONLY award that estate agent agents don’t have to pay to enter and the ONLY award that every agent in the country is automatically entered into. That is over 15,000 estate agents and 22,000 branches! It is judged on 3 keys area – marketing, service and results. Today I want to focus on the service element and why this is important
Great customer service is at the heart of what we do at JDG. We have the highest number of 5-star reviews on google and a wall full of thank-you cards from happy clients. You only have to read the reviews and you can get a good feel of what we are all about. It’s something we encourage new potential clients to do. Let’s look at how to pick the right estate agent for you.
Which estate agents should you call?
How do people decide which estate agent to use? First of all, a potential home seller has to decide which estate agents to call out. There is a choice across Lancaster and Morecambe. Some will do this because they already know the agent. Some will do it on the success that they see. Others will be attracted by their social media or even their high street office. And of course, many ask family and friends for recommendations.
Research shows that when whittling down their shortlist, 31% of sellers ask just one agent to value their property, 31% ask two and 31% reach out to three agents. Younger, less experienced sellers are more likely to seek multiple valuations.
How should you choose an estate agent?
Next, it is deciding which agent to use. The 2022 Property Academy Home Moving Trends survey revealed that, across all ages and household types, factors like ‘being liked and trusted’ and ‘good market knowledge are more important to vendors than the fee they charge. At JDG we love sharing our market knowledge. Our tagline is #BeBetterInformed. We also have lots of returning clients and personal recommendations. Don’t forget, we have been selling homes locally since 1989.
What do other sellers consider important?
In the Home Moving Trends Survey, sellers were asked what the most sought-after attributes were when establishing trust in an agent. Respondents rated ‘Listening to and understanding needs’ (73%) and being ‘Courteous and professional’ (72%) in their top two.
What we also found interesting was when selecting an estate agent, just 11% of sellers include ‘lowest fee’ in their top five reasons for choosing their agent, and only 6% of vendors choose their agent solely for this reason. This is really interesting. Many people are now understanding that the cheapest agent isn’t the best bet. The cheapest agent is actually the one that puts the most money in your pocket. And to do this you’ll often find they are the most knowledgeable ones and happen to also have the best marketing. You can think about that one!
If you are thinking of moving, can we chat? At JDG we never pressurise. We are just here to help!
You can call me on 01524 843322 or email me at michelle@jdg.co.uk
Thanks for reading
Michelle
PS. I’ve been working as an estate agent and valuing homes at JDG for over 20 years. That equates to over 6500 property sales that I have been personally involved in. My husband John has been involved in over 10,000. I truly love what I do, meeting, helping and advising clients in moving home and helping them achieve the best possible price. Many clients have become friends. Winning the title of the UK’s best estate agent for 2 years running is incredible and a testament to our team. However that 5-star google review is truly what it is all about as then I truly know that both my team and I have delivered on our service promise.