Buying from a high street estate agent

The internet has revolutionised the way we buy and sell property with disastrous consequences for traditional agents. It has opened up the market and in turn it has been seen to change the market also. The online portal websites have been able to change the terms to which property can be sold and they have been able to sell property at different rates / percentages. This is for sure the main and key overall difference. 

When it comes down to it, a high street estate agent will typically charge 1.5 per cent. The online agents have been doing this differently and it is they who are due to see a boom in terms of the levels of money they will be able to make, as well as the demand of this service. A good agent should check the buyer's situation before arranging viewing. This should span the manner and way to which the pricing is handled. This should also look into whether the potential buyer can actually afford the property on sale in terms of their credit and buying potential. The internet has revolutionised the way we buy and sell property and also the fact you no longer have to walk along a wet high street to see what is out there for sale. 

The big stumbling block for high street estate agents is the overhead costs and the way they seem to be locked into having to go about the sale in certain fixed processes. So often, they have a fixed set of terms to which they tend to have to sell property. When you think this is the biggest asset you'll probably ever buy, you need the confidence of an expert estate agent to be sure to make the process work from beginning to end. Whether you are looking to buy or sell rent or let flats or houses, a good estate agent can make this an easier process no end.

A typical High Street agent's fee is around 1.5 per cent plus VAT — but can be as high as 3.5 per cent. What they can do however is oversee and cover off aspects of the sale and transaction such as the legal aspects as well as the marketing of the property. They will also have to work to respond to buyer feedback, and keep track of your sale, 24 hours a day.