Who does the estate agent work for?

Peter Illingworth makes it crystal clear who he works for.

Who does the estate agent work for?  Peter Illingworth makes it crystal clear who he works for.

Peter Illingworth said, “This may not be as clear to the general public and some agents as you might think”.  He even read on an estate agents website, “Our company ethos is to do our very best to get a price that is fair to both the buyer and the seller”.  He could barely believe what he had read, Peter Illingworth’s response is clear cut, “It is the estate agents legal duty when acting for the vendor to represent his client to get the best possible deal and on the flipside if negotiating a purchase for a client to agree the best possible outcome for that client”.

The agent is the paid advocate of his client.  A good estate agent will justify his fees easily, as the art is in the deal.  Even today vendors often overlook the essential negotiating skill of the agent before making their choice of agent, prioritising on low fees and high valuations without delving into the service and thinking thoroughly about who they trust and would be confident in negotiating them the best deal.  Food for thought, if the agent can’t generate profitable terms for his business, will this leave you with confidence that he will have the tenacity to negotiate the best deal for you or even care?

It is also quite staggering to think that buyers generally negotiate their own purchases of the biggest purchases of their lives without professional advice of a skilled negotiator.

At Peter lllingworth’s Ryedale Offices in Pickering and Kirkbymoorside, they offer both a skilled buying and selling service, also covering the North York Moors and the market towns of Helmsley, Malton and surrounding areas.  For further information contact Peter Illingworth FNAEA on 01751 431107