What Questions Should You Ask an Estate Agent Before Selling Your Property?

Choosing an estate agent is an important decision when you are preparing to sell a property. Different agents can offer different valuations, marketing packages, fees and levels of service, so it is worth asking the right questions before signing an agreement.

A good estate agent should be able to explain how they value your property, how they plan to market it, what their fees include and how they will communicate with you throughout the sale.

Whether you are selling a London house, flat, investment property or another type of home, this guide covers the key questions to ask an estate agent before putting your property on the market.

Why Should You Ask an Estate Agent Questions Before Selling?

Selling a property involves several stages, from valuation and marketing to viewings, negotiations and conveyancing.

Understanding what an estate agent offers before you instruct them can help you compare different services more effectively.

Important areas to discuss include:

• Property valuation
• Estate agent fees
• Marketing strategy
• Property photography
• Floor plans
• EPC requirements
• Property portals
• Viewings
• Offers and negotiations
• Communication
• Agency agreements

Rather than focusing on one factor, consider the complete service being offered.

1. How Much Is My Property Worth?

One of the first questions to ask an estate agent is how they have calculated your property’s suggested asking price.

Property values can vary considerably across London. The value of a home can be influenced by its location, size, condition, layout, tenure, outdoor space, parking, transport connections and recent local sales.

Ask the agent:

• What comparable properties have you used?
• What have similar properties recently sold for?
• How much buyer demand is there locally?
• What makes my property different from comparable homes?
• What asking price would you recommend and why?

It is useful to understand the reasoning behind a valuation rather than simply comparing the highest figure offered.

You can also research property price information through the official HM Land Registry.

2. How Will You Market My Property?

A property listing needs more than an asking price and a short description.

Ask the estate agent to explain exactly how they will market your property.

Their marketing strategy may include:

• Major property portals
• Professional photography
• Floor plans
• Property brochures
• Social media
• Email marketing
• Accompanied viewings
• Local marketing
• Video tours

Ask whether each service is included within the agency fee or charged separately.

A clear marketing plan can also help you understand how the agent intends to present your property to prospective buyers.

3. Do You Provide Professional Property Photography?

Online photographs are often the first thing potential buyers see when browsing property listings.

Ask your estate agent whether professional photography is included in their service.

Good property photography should clearly show the main rooms and important features of the property without creating a misleading impression.

Before taking photographs, you can improve the presentation by:

• Decluttering rooms.
• Cleaning windows.
• Tidying the garden.
• Clearing kitchen worktops.
• Making beds.
• Opening curtains and blinds.
• Removing unnecessary personal items.

If you need professional images for your property listing, you can explore Find My Estate Agent’s property photography service.

4. Will You Provide a Floor Plan?

A floor plan can be particularly useful when marketing a property online.

While photographs show what individual rooms look like, a floor plan helps buyers understand the overall layout and how different areas connect.

Ask whether the estate agent provides:

• A professional floor plan.
• Room dimensions.
• Property measurements.
• Floor area information.
• Floor plans for every relevant level.

For unusual layouts, flats and larger properties, a clear floor plan can make it easier for prospective buyers to understand the space.

If you need one for your property listing, Find My Estate Agent offers a dedicated floor plan service.

5. Does My Property Need an EPC?

An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, provides information about a property’s energy efficiency.

If you are selling a property in England or Wales, it is important to check whether you have a valid EPC and whether any applicable exemption applies.

You can check an existing certificate using the official GOV.UK EPC service.

Ask your estate agent:

• Is my existing EPC still valid?
• Do I need a new assessment?
• Is the EPC rating ready for the property listing?
• Can you arrange an EPC assessment?

If you need to arrange an EPC, you can use Find My Estate Agent’s EPC service.

Arranging the certificate early can help you avoid unnecessary delays when preparing your property for marketing.

6. What Are Your Estate Agent Fees?

Always ask for a clear breakdown of the estate agent’s fees.

Do not assume that the advertised percentage or fixed fee is the complete cost.

Ask:

• What is your agency fee?
• Is VAT included?
• Are there marketing charges?
• Is photography included?
• Is a floor plan included?
• Are there withdrawal fees?
• Are there other charges I should know about?

The official GOV.UK guidance on estate agents provides information about estate agent agreements and fees.

Getting the fees in writing can make it easier to compare different agents.

7. What Type of Agency Agreement Will I Sign?

Before instructing an estate agent, understand the type of agency agreement you are entering into.

Ask about:

• Contract length.
• Notice period.
• Sole agency terms.
• Multi-agency arrangements.
• When the commission becomes payable.
• What happens if you find a buyer yourself.
• Whether there are circumstances where more than one agent could charge a fee.

Read the agreement carefully before signing it.

If any part of the contract is unclear, ask the agent to explain it or seek independent legal advice.

8. Which Property Portals Will You Use?

Ask where your property will appear online.

Depending on the agent’s service, your property may be promoted through major property portals as well as the agency’s own website and other marketing channels.

Questions to ask include:

• Which property portals are included?
• When will my listing go live?
• How quickly can listing changes be made?
• Will the property receive additional online promotion?
• How will enquiries from potential buyers be handled?

The quality of the listing matters as much as where it appears. Professional photographs, accurate descriptions and a useful floor plan can all contribute to a clearer presentation.

9. How Will You Handle Property Viewings?

Ask how viewings will be organised before you instruct an agent.

Some sellers prefer the estate agent to handle viewings, while others may want to conduct them themselves.

Ask:

• Who arranges appointments?
• Who conducts viewings?
• Are accompanied viewings available?
• How much notice will I receive?
• Will I receive feedback after viewings?
• How are repeat viewings handled?

If you are working full-time or live away from the property, an estate agent that can manage viewings may be particularly convenient.

10. How Will You Keep Me Updated?

Communication is an important part of the selling process.

Ask your estate agent how they will keep you informed about:

• New enquiries.
• Viewing requests.
• Viewing feedback.
• Buyer interest.
• Offers.
• Negotiations.
• Progress after an offer is accepted.

You could ask:

“Who will be my main contact, and how frequently will I receive updates?”

Knowing how communication works before you sign an agreement can help set clear expectations.

11. How Do You Handle Offers?

When an offer is made, ask the estate agent to explain what happens next.

You should understand how offers will be:

• Communicated to you.
• Recorded.
• Presented for your consideration.
• Negotiated.
• Followed up with the buyer.

It can also be useful to understand the buyer’s position, such as whether they are a first-time buyer, cash buyer or part of a property chain.

Remember that accepting an offer is not the same as completing the sale. The transaction still needs to progress through the legal and conveyancing process.

12. What Happens If My Property Does Not Sell?

Before signing an agreement, ask what happens if your property remains on the market.

For example:

• Will the marketing strategy be reviewed?
• Will you receive advice about the asking price?
• Can the photographs or listing be updated?
• Will the agent provide feedback about buyer interest?
• What happens when the agency agreement expires?

Regular reviews can help you understand whether the current marketing approach is generating sufficient interest.

13. Have You Sold Similar Properties?

Experience with similar properties can be useful when comparing estate agents.

Ask whether the agent has recently sold properties that are comparable to yours.

You could ask about:

• Similar property types.
• Nearby locations.
• Comparable price ranges.
• Typical buyer profiles.
• Recent sales.
• Marketing strategies used.

Local experience does not guarantee a particular result, but it can provide useful context when discussing your property’s marketing plan.

14. Can You Help With Other Property Services?

Selling a property can involve several services in addition to estate agency.

Ask whether the agent can help you arrange services such as:

• EPC assessments.
• Professional property photography.
• Floor plans.
• Property marketing.
• Valuation services.
• Other property documentation.

Having these services organised early can make the preparation stage more straightforward.

For sellers looking for individual property services, Find My Estate Agent provides dedicated options for EPC assessments, property photography and floor plans.

15. Can I Compare Your Service With Other Estate Agents?

There is no need to compare agents based on their valuation alone.

Create a simple comparison before making your decision.

Question	Agent A	Agent B	Agent C
Suggested valuation
Agency fee
VAT included?
Photography
Floor plan
EPC assistance
Property portals
Viewings
Contract length
Communication
Additional fees

This makes it easier to see exactly what each agent is offering.

Estate Agent Questions Checklist

Before instructing an estate agent, make sure you have answers to these questions:

• How did you calculate my property’s valuation?
• Which similar properties have you recently sold?
• How will you market my property?
• Which property portals will you use?
• Is professional photography included?
• Is a floor plan included?
• Can you arrange an EPC?
• What are your total fees?
• Is VAT included?
• Are there any additional charges?
• What type of agency agreement do you use?
• How long is the contract?
• Who conducts viewings?
• How will I receive viewing feedback?
• How frequently will you update me?
• How are offers handled?
• What happens if my property does not sell?

Final Thoughts

Choosing an estate agent is an important part of selling a property. Asking detailed questions before signing an agreement can help you understand the service, costs and marketing strategy being offered.

Look beyond the initial valuation and consider the complete package, including photography, floor plans, EPC arrangements, property portals, viewings, communication and contract terms.

If you are preparing to sell your property, you can also arrange individual marketing and property services through Find My Estate Agent, including professional property photography, floor plans and EPC services.

Visit Find My Estate Agent to explore property services and find estate agent options for your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What questions should I ask an estate agent before selling?

Ask about the property’s valuation, agency fees, marketing strategy, contract terms, property portals, photography, floor plans, viewings, communication and how offers will be handled.

Should I get more than one property valuation?

Speaking with more than one estate agent can give you different perspectives on your property’s potential asking price and marketing strategy.

What should an estate agent’s fee include?

This varies between agents. Ask whether the fee includes marketing, photography, floor plans, viewings and other services, and confirm whether VAT or additional charges apply.

Can an estate agent arrange an EPC?

Some estate agents arrange EPC assessments directly or through third-party providers. You should ask whether this is included in the service or charged separately. Alternatively, you can arrange an EPC through Find My Estate Agent.

Is professional photography important when selling a property?

Professional photography can help present your property clearly on online listings. Ask whether photography is included in your estate agent’s marketing package or whether you need to arrange it separately.

Why do property listings need floor plans?

Floor plans help potential buyers understand the property’s layout, room arrangement and dimensions. They can be particularly useful for flats and properties with unusual layouts.