If you own a home, it is likely that you will have received a number of canvassing phone calls from property practitioners, asking if you would like a valuation on your property, or if you are thinking of selling. As irritating as these may be, cold calling helps agents to generate leads and establish a connection with a potential client.
Among other sources, agents generally find you through public records that are maintained by the Deeds Office, which include title deeds and transfer documents, sales details, and other information on property ownership. The Deeds Office records are, as stated, public, which means that any person may be able to access information on your property provided they pay the fee, which starts at R225 (MyDeedSearch.co.za).
Even if you may not be in the market to sell your property, these calls may pique your interest in the free valuation, which will give you some idea of your property’s value. This is also a good starting point if you are looking to sell. You can use the opportunity to ‘interview’ the agent and judge if they have the characteristics that you are looking for in a property practitioner.
Before you make any judgments, or be swayed by the recommendations of a friend, you should have some idea of what constitutes a good agent as this will be fundamental in achieving the best outcome for your sale.
It’s a very competitive market, which is usually evident by the number of agent boards in your area. Whilst it is always good to get recommendations, it is also sound advice to reach out to other agents.
Professional Property Practitioners
It is most important to ensure that agents are accredited to sell properties. They should be registered with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and possess a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC), which verifies that the agent is registered and compliant with regulations to ensure ethical and legal transactions in real estate. Once you have seen the FFC, check its validity and the agent’s registration with the PPRA.
The best agents will always tell you what you need to know, rather than what you want to hear. They are your eyes and ears in the market when you are selling. Agents also have a range of connections in a neighbourhood such as plumbers, electricians, handymen, builders, and conveyancers. They also have knowledge of those who are looking to buy, and this can sometimes be very helpful if you are looking for a quick sale. Ultimately though, you will be looking for someone committed to helping you achieve the best price for your property and a deal that goes through without any hassles.
Bear in mind that the age of the agent is irrelevant. You should be looking for a person with whom you resonate. You might even form a bond with a candidate property practitioner, who is someone in the training process of becoming a fully-fledged property practitioner but is under the mentorship of a supervising accredited agent. The candidate also needs to be registered with the PPRA.
Consideration List
The following questions and considerations may be helpful when you are in the market for the right estate agent for your needs and your property sale:
- Check if the agent is posting on social media about their recent sales.
- Does the agent post ‘sold’ signs in your neighbourhood?
- Do they return calls or messages timeously?
- How much do they know about your neighbourhood?
- How well do they explain concepts you may not understand?
- Do you feel like a priority?
- Are they patient and understanding?
- Do they have up-to-date information about the market?
- Are they adaptable to your specific needs?
- Do they explain potential issues or challenges?
- How effective do they seem as negotiators?
- Are they punctual, prepared, efficient, and organised?
- Are they well-groomed and appear to have good personal hygiene?
- Do they use technology?
You should also add your own personal preferences and ideals to this list.
Sole Mandate and Other Choices
Most agents will ask for a sole mandate, meaning you give them the sole rights to sell your home for a period of time—usually around 90 days. If during this timeframe, you feel the agent is not whom you hoped, you can cancel the contract, but only in terms of the sole mandate agreement, which means you should check those conditions carefully. If, however, the agent has breached the contract or the codes of conduct as outlined by the PPRA, you may be able to request immediate cancellation.
