Are you thinking about moving to London? Making such a move is a pretty significant life change. You need to start looking at property, which could be rental properties or properties that you can purchase. Of course, you’re going to need the help of a real estate agent to find a property that is right for you. Whether you’re moving to Chelsea or Westminster, be it, estate agents in Marylebone or real estate agents in London itself, you need to find an experienced, reliable and sound real estate agent! So, here is a comprehensive guide and a few tips to ensure that you choose the right estate agent!

Get recommendations

Don’t just go by how a real estate website looks. Speak to your friends or family in London and ask them for recommendations. Again, don’t just take someone's word for it. Read online reviews, speak to previous clients, read about the real estate agent online and form your judgement. Of course, recommendations do go a long way, because a person is only likely to recommend someone if they have liked their work. So, get the advice, do your research, and then make a decision.

Meet multiple agents

Don’t just pick the first agent that you think is right for you. Speak to multiple agents until you have at least two or three good agents in mind. After that, understand which agent will be able to find the right property for you. In this case, you do need to consider factors like years of experience, real estate agent fees, communication skills, previous deals and so on. Once you have met various estate agents, you will be able to tell which one is right for you.

Ask a lot of questions

How will the real estate agent advertise your property? How many years of experience does he or she have? How much time did it take the estate agent to close their previous deal? Who will be responsible for viewings and open houses? How much will the agent charge for multi-agency? What are the fees for the sole agency? You need to ask a whole lot of questions so that you can make a well-informed decision. This will also give you a fair idea of the communication between you and your agent, which is a critical factor in finding a right agent!

Pay attention to everything

From punctuality to local knowledge, from politeness to the manner of speaking, pay attention to everything. An excellent real estate agent is always professional, very polite and has excellent communication skills. He or she should have a lot of knowledge about the rules and regulations of the area. Even learning about the average housing price, the selling price of the last house in the area, the trend of the housing market in that area is essential. This kind of attention to detail will give you a fair idea whether or not this real estate agent is the right one for you. 

Communication is key

An excellent real estate agent is one that is easy to communicate with. You should be able to explain precisely what you are looking for in your new home and your real estate agent should be able to guide you in the right direction. If you and your agent are not communicating openly and clearly, then you will never find the home of your dreams. Keep in mind, and communication is a two-way street. So, you need to listen to your agent when he or she tells you that a particular property is over-valued or a specific area is not a good investment. You and your real estate agent need to work together to ensure that you find your dream home! 

Read the terms and conditions

Before signing on the dotted line to close a contract with your real estate agent, make sure you read the terms and conditions. Are there any hidden costs? Is there anything you disagree with? Is there something you don’t understand? Speak to your real estate agent about this very clearly before signing any contract. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things that you do not understand!  

While many people think that they can very easily find a property for themselves without using a real estate agent, it is highly recommended that you leave the process of house hunting to the professionals. If you’re looking for good real estate agents in  London, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kay & Co are some of the best estate agents in London.