When a loved one passes, it will very often prove to be the case that it is necessary to sell any property that they own in order to be able to distribute the estate to the named beneficiaries in keeping with the wishes expressed in their Will. Therefore, there is a clear need to choose a reliable estate agent in Chelmsford (or wherever the property is located) to complete the process. With this in mind, please check out Laura Richardson’s latest article that may help you to make the right choice of estate agent in Chelmsford at a difficult time . . .
———————————————————————————————————————
When choosing an estate agent to sell your property in Chelmsford, there are many options from nationwide chains, to local firms, and online services. This choice can be especially emotionally stressful if you are selling a property on behalf of a loved one who has died. We at Andrew Douglas Wills & Legal Services have compiled some points to help you make the best decision for you and your family.
- Ask your friends and family for personal recommendations for estate agents, and conversely agents they had a negative experience with. However, if you are selling the property of a deceased loved one, do check that the firms cover the area of their property.
- Alternatively, canvas the area and note the different estate agent’s “for sale” boards, and number of “sold” boards. This can indicate the success of the different agents in the area. However, not all properties will be comparable to your own, and some properties do not advertise their sale with a board. (A similar search could be conducted via online property sale sites.)
- Ideally, you will narrow your search down to a few agents. It is useful to invite these agents to conduct a valuation. You can then discuss each agent’s methods for selling the property, fees and contractual terms and compare valuations.
- Fee structures vary. Most online estate agents offer a fixed fee, whilst traditional office-based estate agents usually charge a fee as a percentage of the sale price. Some estate agents will also offer a sliding fee scale, in which if the property is sold for a lower price, it will generate a lower percentage fee. Regarding percentage fees, there is usually an opportunity to come to a mutually agreeable figure. If you are selling on behalf of a deceased loved one, it is important that you act in the best interests of the deceased’s estate, in terms of fees and sale price.
- Arguably the most important factor in choosing an estate agent is the relationship between yourself and your liaison at the estate agency, especially in the sensitive situation that you are selling on behalf of a loved one who has passed away. It is important that your representative is able to offer you advice, honest feedback and suggestions during the sale process and equally it is important that you can honestly critique their service. Passion is also key when it comes to selling. If your agent is passionate about the property, and can engender excitement in potential buyers, this will aid the sale process invaluably.
- Finally, even if you sign up to an estate agent and afterwards feel unhappy with your decision, you will have a 14 day cooling off period in which you can withdraw from the contract penalty free.
If you would like help with selling a loved one’s property after they have passed, then please feel free to contact Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services today via www.andrewdouglaswills.co.uk to find out more about the service that our trusted partner can offer to you as an estate agent in Chelmsford.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————
If you would like to keep up with our latest posts and advice about estate planning through the regular advice that we provide to our clients in this regard, then please also feel free to –
Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ADouglasWills.
Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AndrewDouglasWills.
Follow us on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/b/117915389310253337582/+AndrewdouglaswillsCoUk/
