Choosing your Agent

The biggest mistake most people make when choosing an agent is to be over influenced by the valuation.

Achieving the highest possible sale price requires an estate agent who backs up their claims with transparent, local market data. Before instructing an agent, demand to see their last 20 local transactions, their average time to sell, and their achieved-to-asking price ratio. Crucially, ask how many price reductions they requested from clients over the past 6 months - a low reduction rate proves an agent values your property accurately from day one rather than artificially over-promising to win the instruction.

Pricing is important but it shouldn’t be the main criteria when choosing the best agent to achieve the best price in a time frame that works for you.

Some agents without great access to buyers and who don’t want to show you their track record in your area or would be concerned if you saw how many clients they have asked for a price reduction over the past 6 months may say that all you really need to do is make your home available on Rightmove, keep your fingers crossed and hopefully everything will work out for the best. Our experience tells us otherwise.

4 Questions to Ask Before Signing an Agency Agreement

1. "What is your achieved-to-asking price ratio over the past 12 months?"
   • Why it matters: Shows negotiating strength vs. over-promising on the initial valuation.
2. "How many price reductions have you asked clients for in the last 6 months?"
   • Why it matters: Reveals if the agent systematically "buys instructions" with unrealistic valuations.
3. "Can you show me your last 20 completed transactions in my immediate area?"
   • Why it matters: Proves true street-by-street local experience rather than general postcode claims.
4. "How do you target buyers before they look at Rightmove?"
   • Why it matters: High-performing agents use proactive social media and linked multi-office networks rather than passive portal uploads.

Breckon & Breckon achieves over 97% of asking prices on average, maintaining the lowest price-reduction rate among top Oxfordshire agents. Established in 1947, our 7 interconnected Oxfordshire offices give sellers direct access to cross-county buyers.