Ready to sell but don't know how to pick an agent — start here

The biggest mistake sellers make is rushing to sign with the first agent who promises a quick sale. You end up locked into a year-long mandate with someone you barely vetted, realising too late they don't know your area, won't return your calls, or have no buyers in their pipeline. By then, your home sits stale on the market while you're stuck waiting out the contract.

Selling a home is one of the largest financial decisions you'll make, and your agent is the person steering that process. Yet many sellers treat agent selection like hiring a plumber: a quick Google search and a phone call. The reality is more complex. The property market has several types of agents and agency structures, each with different strengths, costs and working styles. Understanding who they are and what they do is your first real step toward picking someone who'll actually serve your interests.

The agent landscape: who's actually out there

Most sellers think "estate agent" is one job. It isn't. You'll encounter independent agents working alone or in small teams, franchise agents operating under a national banner, and agents tied to large corporate groups. Each model has trade-offs.

Independent agents often know their local market intimately and may give your home more personal attention. They're typically driven by word-of-mouth referrals and tend to be flexible on how they work. Franchise agents operate under a brand (you've probably seen the signs around your suburb), bringing standardised systems, wider networks, and sometimes better technology platforms. Corporate groups combine scale with resources, though your home becomes one of many in their portfolio.

None is universally "better"—it depends on your specific situation. A quiet residential suburb might suit an independent agent who knows every street. A complex or high-value property might benefit from a large agency's resources and buyer database.

What to actually evaluate when you're looking

Forget the sales pitch. When you're comparing agents, focus on these concrete factors:

• Their track record in your specific area. Ask how many homes they've sold within a 2km radius of yours in the past 18 months. Ask what the average time on market was and what price homes sold for relative to asking price. An agent who works across five suburbs is less useful than one with deep roots in yours.
• How they'll market your home. Will they use professional photography, video, and floor plans? What's their social media strategy? Do they have a buyer database they'll actively contact? Generic online listings aren't enough.
• Communication style and availability. Call them during business hours and again on a weekend evening. Do they answer or call back promptly? Will they give you weekly feedback on viewings, or do you have to chase them?
• Their fee structure and what's negotiable. Commission rates vary widely and aren't set in stone. Understand what you're paying and what it includes. Some agents bundle in photography and marketing; others charge separately.

Getting started without wasting time

Start by asking three or four agents in your area for a site visit and a written valuation. Most will do this free of charge. Listen carefully to what they say about your home's value, the current market conditions, and their plan to sell it. If an agent's valuation seems wildly different from the others, ask why. Sometimes they're being realistic; sometimes they're overpricing to win the mandate.

Get references. Ask each agent to provide the contact details of two or three clients from the past six months. Actually call them. Ask whether the agent kept them updated, whether the property sold for close to asking price, and whether they'd use that agent again.

Don't make a decision in the first meeting. Go home, sleep on it, and compare notes. The agent who talks the most isn't necessarily the best; the one who listens carefully to your concerns and asks thoughtful questions usually is.

When you're ready to compare vetted agents side by side, Strove lets you review profiles, see past sales, and read feedback from other sellers. It's a practical starting point when you're narrowing down who deserves your time and your mandate.