Q. Having asked several estate agents for a valuation on my property, I am surprised to find there is such a variation in the fees they charge, why is this?

A. There is an old saying “You get what you pay for” and the simple fact is that in agency just like anything else in life you do generally get what you pay for. If an agent is offering very low fees, it’s likely that their budget for advertising is going to be fairly low. There are a number of agents that have no real high street presence being ‘virtual agents’ with no staff to give expert local advise, and you will likely be assisting in the sale of your property. As a rule, professional agents command higher fees simply because they offer the whole package. The fact is a decent profession estate agent does a great deal for his or her money. Following the valuation, they give advice on preparation for sale, market the property and then once under offer that’s when the real work starts. Conveyancing can be the most stressful part of the transaction and having the assistance of an experienced agent acting on your behalf will be worth its weight in gold, ensuring a successful exchange of contracts followed by completion.