What to look for
Estate agents handle residential sales, lettings management, valuations, and increasingly land-and-new-homes work. The category is unusually local — most decisions hinge on local sales evidence, footfall on the high street, and existing buyer / tenant register. Online-only agents compete on fixed-fee but carry less sale-completion negotiation.
- The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme membership (mandatory)
- ARLA Propertymark for lettings work
- Client Money Protection scheme membership
- Recent local sales evidence specific to the postcode
- Fee structure (fixed, percentage, no-sale-no-fee) clearly disclosed
- Marketing plan (photography, floorplan, portals, brochure)
Typical pricing: 0.9-1.8% of sale price (no sale no fee high-street), £900-£1,800 fixed-fee online, 8-12% of monthly rent letting (UK 2026)
Regulator / certification to look for: The Property Ombudsman, Property Redress Scheme, ARLA Propertymark (lettings)