If you're thinking of selling your property in Marbella or elsewhere on the Costa del Sol, one of the first questions you may ask is who you should talk to. The answer is simple enough, an estate agent. The more important question is which estate agent you feel comfortable trusting to guide you through what may become a relationship lasting many months. This article looks at what really matters when making that decision.
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How do I choose the right estate agent on the Costa del Sol?
When you are thinking of selling your property in Marbella or on the Costa del Sol, you will be wondering who you should talk to. If you have decided that you are going to work with an estate agent, the next decision is which one you are going to work with. The most important factors are who you feel comfortable talking to, who you believe will give you honest advice and who you can see yourself working with throughout the selling process.
Selling a property is a relationship, not a single transaction
People often think of choosing an estate agent as a one-off decision. In reality, it is the beginning of a working relationship. You'll discuss the asking price, marketing, viewings, feedback, offers and negotiations. You may review your strategy along the way as the market responds, and together you'll decide whether anything needs to change. That relationship may last six months. It may last a year. Occasionally, it may last even longer.
For that reason alone, it makes sense to choose someone you feel comfortable talking to and someone whose approach gives you confidence.
Good advice isn't always the advice you hoped to hear
Every owner wants to achieve the best possible result, as does every good estate agent.
That doesn't always mean you'll immediately agree about the asking price or the best way to approach the market. An experienced estate agent should explain their reasoning clearly and honestly. As the owner, you should feel able to ask questions, challenge recommendations and understand why a particular approach is being suggested. The best decisions are usually reached through discussion, and mutual agreement has to be the best way forward.
The market doesn't stand still
Selling property is rarely straightforward. Sometimes the original plan works exactly as expected, and sometimes it doesn't. Markets change. Buyers' reactions can be different from those anticipated, and new competing properties can come onto the market.
What matters is not getting every decision right on day one. What is important is working with someone who is prepared to review the situation objectively, discuss the options with you and adapt when necessary.
There isn't one estate agent who is right for everyone
Every seller is different. Every estate agent is different too. Some owners are looking for one style of service. Others prefer something completely different. There is nothing wrong with that. The important thing is finding someone whose approach feels right for you.
Someone you trust.
Someone you feel comfortable talking to.
Someone you believe will listen as well as advise.
Selling your property should feel like a partnership rather than a series of disconnected conversations.
Our approach
Having worked in the Marbella and Costa del Sol property markets for more than 25 years, we have learned that the best working relationships are built on openness, mutual respect and honest communication. That doesn't mean we expect owners to agree with every recommendation we make, quite the opposite. Some of the most productive conversations begin with different opinions.
Our role is to explain why we're making a recommendation, listen carefully to your own thoughts and then work together towards the approach that feels right for you. Experience is valuable, but it needs to be combined with discussion, understanding and mutual agreement.
Final thoughts
Whether your property is in Marbella, Estepona, Mijas, Benalmádena, Fuengirola or elsewhere on the Costa del Sol, speak to one or two estate agents. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. Think about who gives you confidence, who explains things clearly and who you feel comfortable working with over the months ahead. Choosing an estate agent is not simply about putting a property on the market. It's about choosing someone to represent you, someone to guide you and someone you feel comfortable having alongside you until your property is sold.
Hopefully, this article will help you make that decision with greater confidence and open up some areas that you might not otherwise have thought of. If you would like to discuss the potential sale of your property without obligation, call us on (0034) 952 90 52 00, WhatsApp us or email info@michael-moon.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
We regularly write about the questions buyers and sellers ask us, and we've now brought many of those questions together on our Questions & Answers page, with links to the more detailed answers.
