Who should you trust with the sale of your home? It’s a big decision with major consequences for your price, move, and cortisol levels!

Whether your home has been on the market for a while or is about to go up for sale, knowing how to test estate agents in the Wilton and Salisbury can reveal the one that's truly right for you.

To find the magic combination of talented negotiator, trusted confidant, and truly exceptional service, let's see how you can check if they have the following skills:

Do they care about you?

Does their valuation add up?

How do they turn browsers into buyers?

Can they add value to your home?

Do they pass the negotiation test?

Choosing the right agent is so much easier when you know the right questions to ask, and with our guide you'll find it faster and simpler to pick your perfect selling partner for a smooth and successful move.

Do they care about you?

We’ve all heard terrible tales of people battling with their estate agents and feeling thoroughly let down and disappointed, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Try these tips to spot the best of the bunch:

How much do they ask about your move and listen to your plans? Look for an agent who takes a real interest in you, rather than only in their sales pitch.

Allow an hour for each agent’s visit, then notice how long each one stays. If they're in and out within 15 minutes, they’re not investing much time in you or your home.

What's their plan for viewings? Do they expect you to do them, or do they accompany every buyer? And what about feedback and staying in touch? Their commitment says everything.

It's really not too much to ask that your agent is approachable, engaging and, most importantly, on your side! You’ll be speaking to them for many months, so you need to feel you matter.

Does their valuation add up?

There’s more information than ever around the prices homes sell for, which makes it essential that your asking price doesn’t push buyers away. So keep these things in mind:

It cannot be overstated how devastating overvaluing can be for your move. As well as being misleading, it creates anger, disillusionment, and frustratingly pointless delays.
Whatever an agent’s pricing strategy - from adding a negotiating margin to starting at your baseline to generate more interest and competition - credibility is the key ingredient.
There’s nothing wrong with a bold asking price, as long as it makes sense against other similar homes that are actually selling. Are you being shown solid evidence that backs up their advice?

Tip: Ask each agent to show you the Rightmove or Zoopla performance reports for homes that have both sold and stuck, so you can see where the market truly is, and whether a valuation adds up.

How do they turn browsers into buyers?

Just like you, buyers want to deal with estate agents they trust. And while finding a home is their priority, they can be won or lost by the way they’re treated. Here’s why:

From the very outset, a good agent will give buyers as many opportunities as possible to talk about what they want from a home to create a valuable connection.
As relationships build through repeated contact and viewings, the best agents note how buyers respond to certain homes, and record their hits and misses for later use.

When a buyer eventually offers, your agent can remind them why your home fits the bill and why others failed, helping them to nudge that offer upwards to get you the best price.

The most reliable way to find out how agents talk to buyers is to enquire about a property and see how friendly, engaging and interested they are, and whether you think, “I’d like to buy a home through them”.

Can they add value to your home?

A good agent will always look for ways to maximise your sale price, from presentation tweaks to top-notch marketing that ensures your home stands out from the crowd. So how do they score for:

Staging advice, such as rearranging furniture and giving you a shopping list of accessories to elevate your rooms, or kerb-appeal improvements for starting viewings on the right foot.
Fantastic visuals, from high-quality professional photos including wide-angle and close-up shots, to clear and accurate floor plans.
Confident and enthusiastic descriptions that highlight your home’s best and most valuable qualities, and make the most of the way the portals display information.

Listing on at least one of Rightmove or Zoopla, and using social media to promote homes in alternative ways to attract wider interest.

From a buyer's initial scroll, to clicking on your listing, to arriving outside your home and stepping over the threshold, every step in the digital and physical world should be a lesson in pitch perfection.

Do they pass the negotiation test?

The best agents are never the cheapest, but how can you test how good their negotiation skills really are before you sign up with them? Well, try these three steps:

First, notice how they present their service and marketing plan. Every agent is different, and you only need to take the next step with the ones that impress you the most.
Second, ask them if their fee is negotiable and see how they reply. Do they immediately drop their rate, or do they have a solid, credible response?

Third, look for the agent who holds firm in a friendly yet confident fashion. After all, if they can't stand by their own fee, how will they stand by your price?

Remember: If paying slightly more for the best agent gets you a few percent extra on your sale price and a first-class experience, that's a seriously good investment with an excellent return.

Are you looking to sell soon?

If you are, we hope these tips on how to test estate agents in the Wilton and Salisbury area will help you narrow down your choice to find the best one for you. And we’d love to make your shortlist!

Call us on 01722 580059 or message us at info@piccoloproperty.co.uk for a chat about your plans - we’re here to sell your home for the highest price and make your move a smooth and pleasant journey.