There’s no shortage of estate agents in this country; walk down any High Street and you’ll see plenty of them – their windows full of any number of very tempting properties offered for sale. But how do you choose the right agent to handle the sale of your home?

As Mark Rimell of property specialists Strutt & Parker says, ‘The first think to do is look at the agents who handle property at the same level as your home.

Potential vendors should take a look at an agent’s house particulars and its website. As Mark says, ‘In both cases, you are looking for clear and attractive design, as many photographs as possible – and good quality, thoughtfully-taken photos too. Look for local details for buyers who might be currently living further away. Do the particulars include clear directions to the property, and a location map? For larger homes and those slightly further up the market it’s reasonable to expect a sketch floor plan. What’s needed is a level of marketing which looks professional and inspires confidence in the agent.’

These days an estate agent’s website is particularly important; is it easy to use, and does it readily give you the information you need? Websites are the new shop windows for estate agents, and are especially important for purchasers from outside the immediate area. It’s a definite advantage if an agent is part of one of the larger property sites such as www.primelocation.com, which is heavily promoted and has a high profile nationally. Your buyer might come from just round the corner, or from the other side of the country or even from abroad. Your agent needs to have the mechanisms in place to allow that purchaser to find you easily and learn everything they need to know about your home.

James Lawrie who is based at Strutt & Parker’s London office, adds, ‘There’s no set rule as to how many agents you should ask to view your house and suggest a price, though obviously it should be at least two. Four is probably about right. This is the important point of contact, and you need to listen both to what they are saying, and how they put their case. You need to find someone you like – if you do, then so will others – and who you think you can trust and are happy to have handling your sale. If you are buying locally will he advise you on your purchase? The agent won’t be getting commission on that part of your move but he or she should see it as part of the service for selling your home.’

It’s very important that you have a good relationship with your agent, and you need to be sure that they are on your side right through to completion. Are they easy to get hold of? Do they return your calls? Do they give the impression that they really want your business? Is he or she well informed about local school and transport, and all the other things that a potential purchaser is going to ask them?

Above all you are looking for an agent who has a good reputation locally – and there is no substitute for experience. Ask yourself if he or she seems to have a good grasp of the sort of buyer who might be attracted to your home. Your agent should have unparalleled local knowledge, know exactly what is going on within the property market in your part of the world, and have existing contacts with people who are already looking for properties similar to yours.

It’s often unwise to choose the agent who suggests the highest price for your property – nor the lowest commission. It seems like the dream combination, but if the asking price is too high for the market your home may stick and take a long time to sell, and if you opt for a low commission figure then you can’t be surprised if the agent cuts corners; it’s very much a case of you getting the level of service that you pay for.

In conclusion, Mark Rimell of Strutt & Parker, says, ‘The key is to think it all through calmly. It can be hard to be really objective about our homes; we are too emotionally attached, but this is the time to be dispassionate and realistic. Remember; the market dictates the value of your home, not you or the agent. Selling for a good price is one thing, but selling for a good price quickly is far better.’