The city of Ely, with its magnificent cathedral lies in the county of Cambridgeshire and sits on the River Great Ouse in the heart of the Fens. It is a city with a rich history, with a strong spiritual heritage with monasteries, abbeys and finally an imposing cathedral within the limits. Additionally it saw the residence of Oliver Cromwell, the one time tax collector in the city. Today Ely is a popular place to live due to its beautiful winding streets and marvellous views over the river and the Fens.

Property in Ely ranges from modern built homes to historic houses and quaint country cottages, those looking to buy or sell in Ely would be advised to find an estate agent, as local knowledge is highly valuable in the property market. But what should buyers and sellers consider when choosing an estate agent? Hopefully the following information will help to add clarity to the process.

The first thing to remember is that with estate agents you will ultimately get what you pay for. While the cheapest price may be attractive, it does not always mean that the best service will be received. In the majority of cases it is possible to negotiate rates with an estate agent; however at this stage care should be taken, paying as little as possible may mean that the agent is less likely to put the effort into the sale of your property. Ultimately you want a realistic price, normally it will be calculated along percentage lines, meaning that the more expensive the property being sold, the more the estate agent will earn.

Secondly it is important to realise that the reams of paperwork related to the purchasing and selling of property cannot be avoided. Subsequently there will be a great deal of reading when in the agency offices. Be carefully what is being signed and make sure to fully understand any contractual agreements before signing on the dotted line. At this time, taking care to avoid tying yourself to the agent for more than six weeks; if they are useless you will want to move on to a new agency. Additionally, sole selling agreements should generally be avoided.

Ely has many different estate agencies; some people may be inclined to hire as many as possible. This is rarely advisable; having more than one agent can be problematic as they have a habit of pulling in different directions. This will ultimately reduce the chances of selling; also having numerous signs stuck into the front garden can look to some buyers like desperation, hence the offers received will be considerably less than expected. That said, if agents can work together well then the multi agency approach is not always a bad idea, assessing how two or more agents may work together from the outset however can be difficult.

Finally it is essential that the agent chosen should be able to communicate with you effectively at all times. If they have trouble returning your calls or emails then just think how any potential buyers are being treated. Preferably an agent should be able to keep sellers and buyers informed of any developments that may occur; nobody is asking for a 24/7 service, but having communication out of office hours and during the weekends is the least that should be offered. Remember an agent that looks after the seller is just as likely to look after any potential buyers as effectively.

Hopefully this information has given those either buying or selling property to choose the right estate agency, whether this is in Ely or more widely. This can be considered essential advice that will help consumers get the best deal from their agent. As long as an approach is taken that realises that a deal is not just about price but services as well; success and satisfaction should be forthcoming.