Four reasons to be ‘wary’ of your estate agent when buying and selling

Elaine Penhaul, founder and director of Lemon & Lime Interiors , a home staging firm, said: ‘It always sparks a huge debate when we discuss with agents and sellers about whose job it is to get a property ready to sell. ‘Ultimately, we believe that a bespoke and collaborative approach is necessary, with estate agents needing to have the confidence to suggest staging a home for sale in order to get the best out of it for both the homeowner and themselves.’ Elaine has also shared her top reasons why homeowners should be ‘wary’ about estate agents doing them an ‘injustice’ when selling their homes. 1. Poor photography Contrary to popular belief, many buyers will try to see past cluttered homes, but it is important to try and declutter as well as clean before estate agents come over. They want a speedy sale and in their hastiness, will often market a home with poor photos in order to get it on the market. 4 reasons to be ‘wary’ of your estate agent when buying and selling to avoid ‘injustice’ (Image: Getty) The expert said: ‘Put simply, untidy homes put off buyers who are left wondering what they might discover under all the mess, not to mention the home looks smaller. ‘For agents, this also creates a poor reputation, and implies to potential future property sellers that they do not care about the homes they bring to market.’ 2. Inaccurate descriptions While agents list homes daily, their methods do not change when describing a home, according to Elaine, which means sometimes it may be slightly off. She added: ‘We suggest speaking to the homeowner about the things they love about their home, the area surrounding it, as well as the negatives that shouldn’t be highlighted. Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea ‘It’s all about creating a lifestyle for the prospective buyer – if an abandoned outhouse could be converted into a spacious gym space, or if there is a nearby dog walking route for instance, then highlight it in the description. ‘Buyers can also often be put off a key room such as a bathroom if the photos implies there is something to hide, so it’s important to marry up the descriptions with the photography.’ 3. Hitting the right demographic Location and lifestyle are the two biggest factors when it comes to selling a home, and it is important to present it to the right demographic. Elaine noted: ‘A family home tends to move through the generations, so an owner who once lived in a home when they were aged 30 with a young family may now be selling at the age of 65 – and as such their interior tastes may not be what a potential buyer is looking for.’ Most desirable UK areas (Image: EXPRESS) Likewise a home situated near a park is less likely to attract an older retired couple, and instead should be targeted towards families. According to the interior expert, estate agents can often miss this mark. She added: ‘Agents need to have the confidence to advise owners on what they can do to attract the right buyer pool.’ 4. Seller delays The pro continued: ‘An estate agent’s worst nightmare and a seller’s biggest mistake is seller delays. The ‘we’re not in a rush statement’ is heard all too often when it comes to selling. If the seller isn’t ready, don’t list.’ Similarly, if a seller is in a rush, then agents can often fear suggesting home staging before listing in case it causes a slight delay to marketing the property.