The "Before they knock" guide: How to interview your estate agent like a pro:
So, you’ve decided to sell. The house is tidied, the kettle is ready, and you have three different estate agents booked for valuations this week.
In days gone by, you might just pick the person who gives you the highest price and the lowest fee.
But in March 2026, the UK property landscape has shifted. With interest rates stabilising at 3.75% and a record 11-year high of homes currently on the market, the gap between "For Sale" and "Sold" has never been wider.
Before they knock on your door, read this. Here is how to look past the suit and the shiny brochure to find the agent who will actually get you moved.
1. The data deep-dive: Demand proof, not promises
Every agent will tell you they are the "local experts. " Don't take their word for it. In 2026, the average time to find a buyer in East Yorkshire hovers around 91 days, but the best agents are beating that by weeks.
Ask them:
"What is your 'Price Achieved' percentage?" If they list at £200k but regularly settle for £185k, their high valuation was just a tactic to get your signature.
"How long is your average 'Under Offer' to 'Completion' timeline?" With conveyancing backlogs still a reality, you need an agent with a dedicated Sales Progressor who hunts down solicitors daily.
2. Marketing: Is it 2026 or 2006?
If their plan is "Rightmove, a board, and a prayer" - run. Today’s buyers are scrolling Instagram Reels and ChatGPT, before they ever click a portal link. Listings with video get 5x more enquiries than those without.
Ask them:
"How will you market my property" Professional photography, video content and social media aren’t just buzzwords, they’re required if your property is going to compete.
"Do you engage with buyers outside the portals?" How do they find buyers who aren't looking on Rightmove yet?
3. The pricing trap: "The launch" vs. "The valuation"
In a high-supply market, your biggest enemy is "sitting on the market". Properties that sell in the first 28 days have a 94% chance of making it to completion.
After that, you're just "that house that hasn't sold.” or worse, the Vendor who’ll accept a “cheeky offer”.
Ask them:
"What is your average time to find a buyer?" The shortcut to seeing if the Agent can perform is to ask about their success rate. The stats don’t lie.
"How long will it take to find me a buyer" The best Agents will quote their averages, the rest will avoid committing.
4. Aligning your expectations
Before you start a relationship with your chosen team, ensuring your expectations are aligned with theirs is key.
That means understanding their measures of success, and the point at which they’d make changes if these expectations are not met.
Ask them:
"How many viewings are expected in the first 28 days?" Picture this; you’ve been on the market 4 weeks so far, and you’ve only had 3 viewings. As the seller, you need to understand if that’s good or bad.
"If interest is less than expected, what do you do?" Is the knee-jerk reaction always to change the price, or will there be a conversation around what the data tells us?
5. The "small print" check
Agents are feeling the competition too, which means some are trying to lock sellers in for longer. A 12-week contract sounds standard, but watch out for the notice period turning 12 weeks into 16.
The red flag: If they insist on a 20-week tie-in, they are essentially betting that your house won't sell quickly, and they want to make sure you can't leave when it doesn't.
BONUS... the valuation "power question"
If you only ask one question during the valuation, make it this: "If I choose you, and in four weeks we have had zero viewings and no offers, what exactly will you do besides asking me to drop the price?" A great agent will have a list of marketing levers to pull. A mediocre one will stutter.
Looking to sell? Let's have a chat: