Buying or selling your home can be a stressful experience, but with clever technology and expert help from your estate agent, it can be made so much easier.
Gloucestershire estate agent Naylor Powell shares seven of the helpful services to check for before choosing an estate agent – to ensure the process goes smoothly, whether you’re buying, selling or letting a property.
3D virtual tours
With all the restrictions the current Covid-19 situation introduced, 3D virtual tours have become essential for estate agents. While virtual reality can never replace an in-person viewing, it can help properties reach a much wider audience, as potential buyers can take a good look around – from the comfort of their (current) living room.
Professional photography
First impressions are crucial – you only get to make one! Top estate agents will offer professional photography in order to show off your property at its very best. Whether it’s listed on an online property portal like RightMove or Zoopla, sent by to prospective buyers by email or in a printed brochure, taking the time to get the right shot can drastically increase interest – helping your property stand out from the rest.
PropertyFile Technology
This clever technology gives vendors and landlords easy access to their property file at any time of day or night, showing information like maintenance updates, rental statements, viewing reports and more online. It also enables tenants to log and track the progress of maintenance queries quickly and easily using a mobile app.
Trained and accredited staff
Property regulations change frequently so estate agents need to stay up to date, especially when managing rental properties as these changes can affect landlords legally. Check for NAEA and ARLA Propertymark accreditations before choosing your estate agent, to ensure staff are highly-trained and up to industry standards.
Genuine customer reviews
Online reviews can be a useful tool, but only when they come from a reputable source. Ensure the estate agent you choose has reviews from an accredited service like Feefo, where it’s checked that the person writing the review has actually used the estate agent’s services – and never underestimate the power of a recommendation from a trusted friend.
Photographic inventories
Whether you’re renting out your old home or have a portfolio of rental properties, a comprehensive inventory is a necessity. Check that your estate agent will provide a photographic inventory compiled by a qualified provider, as well as conducting regular inspections, to make sure the property is being well taken care of.
High Street branches
In the digital age, having a High Street branch might seem old fashioned, but the demand for physical estate agency branches is still there. As well as being a base for prospective buyers and property professionals involved in the process, the branch also acts as a shop window, advertising properties for sale and to let, 24 hours a day.
