EVERY town has a number of estate agents and Stroud has its fair share, each one potentially offers buyers and sellers something different.

The public sometimes perceives that Stroud agents have chosen to specialise in certain “types” of property while others are defined by mainly selling in certain price brackets.

Then there are a number that like ourselves sell across the market.

We recently sold a single garage right but can often be seen selling high end properties as well as a wonderful range of apartments and family homes.

So how do you decide which agent to select to sell your home?

It can be a good idea to register as a buyer first to see how that potential agent keeps in touch, for example; does the agent call you when a new property comes to the market that could be suitable for you?

Do you like their brochures?

Are there sunny photographs shown to make the best of a property along with good detailed descriptions and floor plans?

Were you given a warm welcome when you visited their offices with a genuine interest shown in your property search?

Once you have decided which agents you wish to visit, it is important to select an agent you feel you can work well with.

If you live in an area of similar types of properties you may have a good idea what your property is worth and of course there is now an accessible register of sold prices for every property in England.

However even on a development, each property will have been changed over the years/have different plot sizes and locations so the knowledge of an experienced valuer should never be underestimated.

This of course becomes all the more important with a unique property as there are so many factors in valuing and it is not an exact science.

We all tend to know the area in which we live very well, so know the “hot” spots.

For instance, why is one village literally a mile from another more valuable?

In larger towns and cities often one street away can mean a different in price for the same house.

As discussed in my previous article school catchments can be a very important factor, but it can also be access to a train station or important link roads that pushes a price up.

As with any commodity there may also be a scarcity factor, a popular village where only a couple of properties are sold a year are bound to attract a premium.

The most important factor is getting that marketing price right, even a property in the best area ticking every box will not sell if the price is not right.