Bury St Edmunds in the county of Suffolk is a town with a rich and illustrious history. The centre of the borough of St Edmundsbury the town is most famous for its ruined abbey and majestic cathedral. Bury St Edmunds also played host to one of the most important developments in English history, being the place where the nobles discussed the terms that they would give to the king that formed Magna Carta in 1214. Today, Bury St Edmunds is a popular place to live and an estate agent can help those buying and selling property in the town. Selecting an estate agent however can be difficult, with a large number of considerations to make before signing on the dotted line. Hopefully the following information will be able to help.

Not just in Bury St Edmunds but in the county more generally the media have not given the estate agent the best press. While there are some unscrupulous operators out there are still a large amount of agencies out there who strive to conduct their business responsibly and in a trustworthy manner. If you are local to Bury St Edmunds the best way to find an estate agent is to utilise a personal recommendation. The importance of word of mouth advertising cannot be underestimated, good services travel well and should always be recognised. Be careful however, the person who is giving you the recommendation could have a vested interest, for instance they may personally know the agent but never used their services.

When assessing an estate agent finding out whether they are members of any of the industry's regulating bodies is advisable. These two bodies are the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Guild of Professional Estate Agents. Membership of these two bodies however is voluntary and subsequently their powers are limited. Membership however should mean that the estate agent complies with a code of conduct and in general should take their business more seriously. If the agent you are planning to elect is not a member, it is vital to ask why not; advisably only agents who are members should be used.

Remember that the agent always works for the seller, while they help buyers to find properties their wages are predominantly paid by sellers. This is why sellers should take a great deal of care when signing up, taking time to read the small print carefully is essential. Checking the fees and making sure you do not have to pay unless the property is sold is vital; as is understanding that a sole selling agreement should only last a maximum of ten weeks. If buying, the word of the estate agent in terms of a survey cannot be trusted, this is not always because they are unscrupulous but it is fact that the only survey worth its salt is made by a qualified surveyor.

It is important once you have made an agreement with an agent to keep them on their toes in order that they put the effort in to sell your home. Additionally, regular communication with the agent at all stages is crucial. Listen to what the agent has to say carefully and take it in. Anything that you disagree with should be challenged; a good agent will always be able to answer your questions succinctly and adequately. This advice is not purely for those buying and selling property in Bury St Edmunds but more general in a geographical sense. It hopes to highlight the importance of carefully selecting agency services and building an effective working relationship with the agency representative.