There was a time when becoming an estate agent required a certain apprenticeship. Time on the road. Time in living rooms. Time learning how deals unravel and, crucially, how they are put back together again. Today, the barriers to entry feel considerably lower.
An iPhone, a social media account, a quick glance at Rightmove to check the neighbours’ asking prices and away you go. Stick the home online, wait for an enquiry, and trust that the solicitors will do the heavy lifting once an offer appears. On the surface, it all looks remarkably straightforward.
And to be fair, in a market like the one we are currently experiencing, it’s easy to appreciate why it might look that way.
Buyer demand has been exceptionally strong. Sales performance across much of the country is robust. In that environment, almost any agent worth their salt will probably be able to secure an offer. Which is precisely why the real value of good estate agency has become easier to miss.
Because getting an offer is rarely the job.
“This is where experience still matters enormously.”
“This is where experience still matters enormously.”
The real work happens in what follows. Identifying the right buyers early. Creating competition rather than stumbling upon it. Managing timing so interest builds rather than dissipates. Knowing when to hold your nerve and when to lean in. Stitching together chains that look fragile on paper but can be made to work with the right guidance. This is where experience still matters enormously.
An experienced agency does not rely on portals alone. They know who is active, who is credible and who is quietly waiting for the right opportunity. They understand how buyers behave under pressure, how sellers feel when the stakes rise, and how small missteps can have outsized consequences.
They are across your brief throughout. Not just at launch, but through negotiation, qualification, and the long, often under-appreciated after-sales period. They chase. They anticipate. They problem-solve. And they do so calmly, professionally and relentlessly.
Underperform at any one of those stages and the cost can be significant. Miss a buyer. Mishandle timing. Accept too early. Fail to create tension. Lose momentum post-offer. Each of those errors can quietly shave tens of thousands of pounds off a result. In some cases, far more.
“Anyone can list a home. Not everyone can sell it properly.”
“Anyone can list a home. Not everyone can sell it properly.”
That is the uncomfortable truth. In a strong market, poor agency can still produce a sale. What it rarely produces is the best possible outcome.
So yes, it may never have been easier to be an estate agent. But it has never been more important to choose a good one.
Anyone can list a home. Not everyone can sell it properly. And when the difference is measured not in days, but in value, it is worth asking a simple question.
Is that a price you would be willing to pay?