💛 Seven Ways to Spot an Ethical Agent 💛
When you’re looking for an estate agent, smooth talking and slick sales patter can be seductive, but what you really need is an agent who’s genuine, honest and ethical.
Here’s how to spot an ethical agent.
1. They don’t overvalue 🧾
The oldest trick in the industry is promising a high price just to win an instruction.
It looks great on paper at first, then things go quiet, interest stalls and the figure ends up being chopped later.
Ethical agents give a fair market figure backed by evidence.
They also explain why it’s realistic even if it isn’t the highest number received.
2. They won’t tie anyone down 🔒
Long lock in periods in sales contracts are a red flag.
Ethical agents keep terms clear and fair. It helps to ask any agent about their terms and what happens if the contract needs ending.
3. They avoid conditional selling 🚫
Conditional selling is when an agent pushes buyers and sellers to buy extras like finance or insurance before moving things forward.
It’s sharp practice.
Ethical agents steer clear of it completely.
Trusted partners can be suggested if needed, but there is never pressure to use them.
4. They’re honest to a fault 💬
Some agents say whatever sounds good.
Ethical agents say what needs saying. If a price or rent is unrealistic, if an offer is weak or if something else needs attention, it’s put on the table plainly.
5. They keep in touch 📞
Updates matter. Enquiries, viewings, offers and progress after a sale is agreed should never be left in silence.
Ethical agents stay in contact so no one is left doing the chasing.
6. They put people before profit 🤝
For an ethical agent, this isn’t just business. Helping local people move is something they care about.
Going the extra mile is normal even when there’s no instant gain.
7. They have a strong local rep ⭐
Great agents earn great reviews. Google ratings, recommendations and testimonials show whether an agent truly backs up their claims.
Our own reviews are there to read any time. We’re incredibly proud of them.
Choosing well matters.
A poor choice can mean delays, extra cost and a lot of stress.
The right choice provides steady advice, hard work and someone fully on side.
An ethical agent won’t simply say they’re ethical. It shows in everything they do.
There is another way.
We are proud members of the Ethical Agent Network EAN.
It’s a national group of independent agents who have been independently checked to confirm they meet strict standards of honesty, service, professionalism and community care.
We are also the only local agency in the network.
To learn more about what we do and why we passed the EAN, we’re always here for a chat.
Thanks for reading
Michael
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