Choosing the Right Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

8th February 2021

Selling your home will most likely be one of the biggest financial transactions you make. More than that though, it also usually involves emotional and practical challenges that can make what should be a positive change into an unnecessarily stressful one.

These are the main reasons that choosing the right estate agent to help you through the process is vital. Obviously, here at Maslen we believe that we're the best choice for anyone thinking of selling in the Brighton and Hove area, and that's because we tick all the boxes.

Local knowledge

Having local knowledge means far more than being able to tell potential buyers all about the positive aspects of our area. It means being able to give sellers accurate and up to the minute advice on how the local property market currently stands, allowing them to make realistic plans both in terms of time scale and finances.

Anyone can look up Land Registry details online and see how much local properties sold for in the recent past. However, those details don't tell you all the other important things such as how long they were on the market, what condition the property was in, how big it was, what the asking price was, if there was potential for it to be extended and if it had been reduced after an initial period.

Honesty and integrity

Getting the right valuation for your home is essential in order to achieve a sale, but it's only one part of the overall deal you should be looking at.

Sadly some estate agents will tell you what they think you want to hear and give you an inflated idea of what your property is worth, often simply to try and get your business on their books. This almost certainly leads to a reduction in the asking price further down the long line of a protracted marketing period.

Even worse, some contracts will show a 'what you pay' figure based on a percentage commission of the initial valuation, but the small print will actually make it into a fixed fee that's payable regardless of whether your home is eventually sold for a lesser amount.

We will never do that. We believe in using our knowledge of the local market and our experience in selling properties like yours to give you an accurate valuation, and together with our high standard of marketing this will result in viewings from potential buyers. We believe strongly in being totally transparent when it comes to our fees and commissions.

That's because honesty is a core value in the way we work. It also means we'll give you honest feedback from viewings so that, if necessary, we can all take positive action to achieve a sale at the best possible price.

Hard work

Some estate agents think that putting a few details on a web portal such as Rightmove or OnTheMarket is all they need to do to sell your home for you. You know what? Sometimes, such as in the last few months of 2020, this approach actually can work.

Not many people in our line of work would tell you that, but it's true. However, most of the time things are very different and it takes hard work (and lots of it) to match the right buyer with your property.

There are things like background checks to be done on whether someone who wants a viewing is a serious buyer, whether they have finance in place and if they are in a chain or not - or as we say in the trade 'they're proceedable'. A good estate agent will already have a number of vetted potential buyers 'on their books' who are likely to be interested in your property. Again, it's this kind of groundwork that separates the good from the bad when it comes to choosing the right estate agent.

We're incredibly proud of the fact that the national average of sales that fall-through is 40% while ours stands at around only half that figure. This is testament to our belief and dedication to finding the right buyer for your home rather than rushing things and having to give you the bad news further down the line.

All the way

Your estate agent needs to be on your side all the way through to completion. Again, some will essentially think the job is done when a sale is agreed and their 'SOLD' sign goes up outside your home. That couldn't be further from the truth.

We know that our job isn't done until you actually make your move on the day of completion, and that's why we have an in-house team member that's dedicated to sales progression, solely dealing with everything that goes on behind the scenes once an offer has been accepted.

There are lots of things that can crop up along the way, usually quite easy for us to help you sort out but often worrying and confusing for a seller. A good estate agent will be proactive all the way through the process, engaging on your behalf with other parties such as solicitors, surveyors and finance lenders as well as any other estate agents involved in a chain to make sure things go smoothly.

If you'd like to know more, let's have a chat - at the very least we can help point out the do's and don'ts of choosing the right estate agent and maybe you'll choose us!

Testimonials

  • I found the service to be courteous, friendly and efficient.

    Mr Upton Buller Road

  • Excellent service from the Lewes Road branch. Martin Timms secured a quick sale & at a good price & Paula Carter worked really hard to secure...

    Ms Schulte Bear Road

  • Cannot express our appreciation enough of all the efforts made by the Woodingdean team - they were fantastic.

    Mr John Mogridge Woodingdean

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Lewes Road

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Fiveways

  • Outstanding service from Sharon. James is an asset to Maslens & Harvey was so helpful and polite.

    Ms Cianchetta Selhurst Road

  • Good team. Straightforward. No nonsense.

    Mr Standing Newmarket Road

  • Paula is amazing!

    Ms Aspnall Gladstone Place

  • Thank you Paul and Archie, you gave an excellent service, as well as Kelly. I look forward to working with you again. 

    Mr White Fiveways

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Woodingdean

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Ticehurst Road

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Fiveways

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Selborne Place

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Ladysmith Road

  • Thank you for everything!

    Ms Tucker Willow Close

  • Sharon was amazing! She kept us up to date the whole way through the process. We cannot fault Sharon or the rest of her team. 

    Mr & Mrs Ashley Woodingdean

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Lewes Road

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards The Ridgway

  • Excellent Service from start to finish.

    Mr T Mole Cromwell Road

  • In February 2016 I was looking to buy and sell very rapidly. Competition among buyers at the time was very high. Sharon @ the Woodingdean branch sh...

    Ms Helen Lyons Woodingdean

  • Our local office manager, Sharon Wareham was warm and friendly and kept us up to date at all times.

    Mr Hope The Brow

  • Best Estate Agents ever experienced - professional, approachable, competent and exemplary. 

    Mr & Mrs Guest Riley Road

  • We cannot recommend Maslen's estate agents enough.

    Many thanks to Paul, Donna, Janette and the...

    Linda & Les Wigmore Close

  • Thank you. We found all the staff knowledgeable and really pleasant to deal with. 

    Ms Ansloos Lewes Road

  • Maslens as a whole were really friendly and professional. I have to thank and congratulate Paula Carter for being superb at her job and exceeding m...

    Ms Warren Hove

  • The whole team were excellent, each one of them felt like family. Sharon had a lot of sorting to do at times but coped very well, a true profession...

    Mr Vernon Woodingdean

  • Hugely impressed with Ben & his team.

    Mrs Mead Upper Lewes Road

  • Great service, always polite and friendly. Excellent contact and info all the way.

    Mr Wells Bishops Road

  • We were very pleased with services provided by the Fiveways office.

    Mr & Mrs Sawyer Shaftesbury Road

  • Very pleased with the service. Many thanks to Sharon and the boys!

    Mr Flynn Woodingdean

  • Very professional service. Thank you!

    Miss New & Mr Jackson Buller Road

  • Ben and Paula were calm and reassuring throughout a very difficult process!

    Ms Easterbrook Bear Road

  • First class service from a first class team.

    Mr & Mrs English The Ridgway

  • Excellent service as always

    Mr Field Ringmer Road

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Lewes Road

  • Harvey was helpful and easily reachable at the beginning of the process and Sharon kept us informed and was always happy to help.

    Ms Murch & Ms Mapa Ticehurst Road

  • Paula was absolutely amazing!

    Mr & Mrs MacKay Lewes Road

  • Paula was fabulous and we felt really informed and supported. 

    Mr & Mrs Walker Lewes Road

  • Sharon was excellent - kept us well informed, thank you so much!

    Ms Waters Cowley Drive

  • Many thanks to Nick. It was an easy process thanks to you! I'm extremely satisfied with how the sale went, great job.

    Ms Mayanobe Aymer Road

  • The whole team were very committed from start to finish.

    Mr Pilgrim Lewes Road

  • Paula's role was brilliant. Having someone office based and available was so appreciated and her promptness an impressive service - every Estate Agent...

    Ms Wynn-Jones Baxter Street

  • Please thank Paula at Lewes Road - Excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Lewes Road

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Lewes Road

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Fiveways

  • Superb service as usual, I would always recommend you.

    Ms S Hike Blackthorn Close

  • Sharon, Harvey and James were all excellent - very professional. Totally opposite to what I have experienced with other agents. Maslen have restore...

    Ms Lyons Woodingdean

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Lewes Road

  • All the staff I dealt with were excellent. Sharon worked really hard to complete the sale.

    Mrs Bent Falmer Gardens

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Coniston Court, Holland Road

  • Excellent communication and advice throughout. It felt very reassuring to be in good hands.

    Mrs Brooker Buller Road

  • The staff were very helpful, an excellent service. I would recommend you to others.

    Miss Hockly Fiveways

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Bishops Road

  • Very impressed with the efficient and friendly service, the staff were a pleasure to deal with. 

    Mr & Mrs Gill Lewes Road

  • Very pleased with the experience. I would definitely recommend you and use you again.

    Ms D Edmonds Horton Road

  • Very impressed with all dealings with Maslen. Paula Carter was in particular very knowledgeable and helpful. 

    Mr McBlane Hove

  • Sharon was excellent, she kept us informed at all stages and was a really calming objective influence in the process.

    Ms Frederick Channel View Road

  • A good team at Woodingdean helped us through a stressful time.

    Mr & Mrs Penton Sycamore Close

  • Thanks David, all very professional.

    Mrs Flowers Foxdown Road

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Hertford Road

  • A very positive experience - I had most contact with the Fiveways office and they were so friendly and helpful.

    Ms A King Balfour Road

  • Very impressive - professional and friendly, both Martin Timms and Paula Carter were excellent at keeping in contact with sensible advice based on...

    Mrs O'Connor Hove

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Hove

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Mafeking Road

  • Best Agents in Brighton.

    Mrs Field Tarner Road

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Lewes Road

  • The Woodingdean team were very friendly and approachable.

    Mrs Palmer Pitt Gardens

  • Exceptional service throughout the process - should we decide to sell in the future we wouldn't hesitate to use your agency. You're a cut above the...

    Ms Windels & Mr Barham Fiveways

  • Very pleased with the excellent service throughout. Professional, friendly, efficient and no hard sell. Achieved above asking price. Thank you!

    Mr Witten Lewes Road

  • Compared to your rivals, your service was excellent

    Ms McGrigor Milner Road

  • We were very impressed with the Nick from start to finish. 

    Mr & Mrs Smith Lewes Road

  • An efficient, professional and friendly service. Helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

    Mr Beddington Brading Road

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Kingsbury Street

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Gladstone Terrace

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Lewes Road

  • Very happy with the service we got from you guys, everyone we dealt with was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Thanks!

    Mr Brown Titian Road

  • Very impressed with the service. Sharon Wareham works tirelessly, very professionally and is always there for advice. 

    Miss Matthews Kipling Avenue

  • Nick and Paula are total stars! They were incredibly supportive and present throughout. Thank you!

    Miss O'Haire Hove

  • I wish we had used you to sell our property! Nice to meet honest people, who are genuinely interested in helping. Very pleased.

    Mrs Porter Taunton Road

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Hove

  • Very good service and communication. Paula was excellent.

    Mr & Mrs Scarboro 1 Pevensey Road

  • Thanks for an excellent service. 

    Mr King Hove

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Buller Road

  • Brilliant. Well done to Sharon and the Woodingdean team.

    Ms Curtis The Ridgway

  • We were delighted with the service received from all the staff with whom we had contact,

    Dr Crichton The Ridgway

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Waldegrave Road

  • Extremely efficient. Nick and Paula are excellent. The weekly phone calls were much appreciated. 

    Ms Gray Lewes Road

  • Graham Griffin provided us, and continues to provide us, will all-round excellent advice. We trust his knowledge and expertise.

    Mr Blackmore & Ms O'Sullivan Financial Services

  • First class service. Friendly and professional.

    Mr Thorne The Avenue

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Taunton Road

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Woodingdean

  • Ben was particularly enthusiastic and helpful. Martin, Paula, Sam and Will are all hard workers.

    Ms Goodey Franklin Road

  • Sharon and her team could not have done more in what was a difficult sale. 

    Ms Daly Woodingdean

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Fiveways

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