Buying or selling your property is a big deal, and for most people a very traumatic experience.

Now imagine having an estate agent (or conveyancing lawyer) that is not up to the task and adding more stress to your already traumatic situation.   Just as you would never take your Mercedes Benz to a Toyota mechanic, it is of the utmost importance that you choose the right team to assist with the sale of your house, and to do that you have to ensure that you are working with a qualified professional estate agent.

When choosing your estate agent, take the following into account:

1. QUALIFICATION:

    

   All estate agents have to be registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board, who will issue the agent with a Fidelity fund certificate if he/she qualifies to be an estate agent.  A qualified estate agent has trained to comply with your requests and to fulfil your needs.  They can give you the correct value and selling/marketing price for your property.  A qualified experienced agent also knows what the market in your area is like and knows what to expect and might just give you the dose of reality that you may need.

    

2. REPUTATION AND EXPERIENCE

    

   Ask around, check out the agent and the firm they are working for.  Are they reputable and will they be able to assist when you need experience to resolve a tough issue.

    

3. AREA EXPERTISE

    

   In the bigger centra it is important to use someone who knows that specific area in the city.  For us in the rural area it is not quite that big a deal, but if the city is as big as Johannesburg, it will not do to have an estate work on your property if they do not know the area.  The same goes for commercial properties.  Most agents will specialise in either residential or commercial sales and you need to make sure that you appoint the correct specialist.

    

4. MANDATE

To appoint an estate agent you will sign a mandate with the agency.  Make sure you understand the different types of mandates and what you are signing.  Look at the time frames and when the mandate will end and whether you have the option to renew after the initial period.

Make sure that you do your homework on the estate agent you choose and ensure that you work with a qualified, experienced professional when buying or selling your home.