In a nutshell, estate agents market and sell property. Selling your home involves lots of moving parts and different property professionals, including surveyors and solicitors. You should expect your estate agent to take care of a number of elements, including:

• Valuing your property

• Marketing your home

• Handling viewings

• Liaising with solicitors

• Monitoring the ‘chain’ - for example, when the purchaser of your home may need to sell their home in order to buy yours

Which type of estate agent is right for me?

Before you get into which specific agency to use, it makes sense to consider which type of agent is best suited to your needs. There are three main types of estate agent:

Corporate Estate Agents

The most common type of agent. Corporate estate agents, such as Foxtons or Countrywide, tend to work for the local office of a national chain.

Independent Estate Agents

Often local experts that have worked in estate agency for many years.

Online Estate Agents

The newest method of selling a property. Online estate agents can provide a cheaper alternative to mainstream agents, but often have less local expertise. They may request a fixed-fee payment upfront, rather than a commission-based fee.