Three tips for working with estate agents when buying (from a former estate agent)

Clarity.

So tip number one is clarity. 

You need to have clarity on what you’re looking for; saying ‘investment deals’ is not clear enough; you’ll be one of many hundreds of investors the agents have come across.

You need to stand out, and the first way of standing out is to have absolute clarity on what you’re looking for. 

Be specific, property type, budget, level of work required, and area. 

Because those specifics will give that agent a much clearer idea of what you want and, you’re going to be top of that list for them to contact when those opportunities do come up.

Don’t be a d*ck. 

Tip number two, don’t be a dick.

At the end of the day, we don’t really give a monkeys whether you are a seasoned investor, a newbie investor, a beginner, someone that’s got a massive portfolio, or no portfolio. It really does not matter. That’s your ego making you think the estate agent will treat you differently, they won’t.

All you have to do is be nice and be personable. Be someone that the agent will be interested in and like working with, not just for one deal but many to come.

So don’t go in there thinking that you’ve got to be something you’re not. Whether you think you’re an investor or not doesn’t matter one iota to the agent.

Be yourself and be honest.

Do what you say you are going to do.

Tip number three, do what you say you are going to do.

If you make an offer and that offer is accepted, make sure that you will complete on that deal. 

Obviously, there will be factors that might affect whether you are able to or not, but hopefully, they’re not within your control. 

So if you say you’re going to do something, you do it.

For example, when you make an offer, then it gets accepted; you need to do everything to move forward as quickly as possible with that deal. 

If you start messing those agents about, pulling out, not going forward or not doing what you said you would, it will negatively impact what they think of you. They’re not going to want to work with you, or they’re going to be reluctant to be amenable and helpful when getting other deals over the line.

Estate agents are one of the best assets to us as property investors, so the last thing you want is for them to be reluctant to work with you.

So remember when you talk to the Estate Agents;

1. Have clarity & be specific in what you’re looking for.
2. Be friendly, personable, honest & open
3. Do what you say you’re going to do.

Hopefully, those top tips will help you build great relationships with estate agents.

Happy sourcing.