An Estate Agent is more than just a “sales person.” They act on your behalf as your agent, providing you with advice and guidance and doing a job – helping you buy or sell a home. While it is true they get paid for what they do, so do other professions that provide advice, guidance, and have a service to sell –such as  Accountants and Solicitors

The Internet has opened up a world of information that wasn’t previously available to homebuyers and seller. The data on listings available for sale is almost current – but not quite. There are times when you need the most current information about what has sold or is for sale, and the only way to get that is with an agent.

However, the role of an agent has changed in the last couple of years. In the past, agents were the only way home buyers and sellers could access information. Now agents are evolving. Because today’s home buyers and sellers are so much better informed than in the past, expertise and ability are becoming more important.

The estate agent is becoming more of a “guide” than a “salesperson” — your personal representative in buying or selling a home.

1. Private Treaty.

In a private treaty sale the seller appoints the estate agent to market the property and to negotiate with prospective buyers to secure a sale. Private treaty is the most common form of sales method for residential property.

2. Auction

The main difference between the Public Auction method of sale and Private Treaty is that the Public Auction is held in public on a predetermined date at a specified place.

Sale by auction usually close in 28 days whereas by private treaty can take 12 to 16 weeks.

3.Tender

With the tender method of sale prospective buyers are invited to submit their highest bids by a predetermined date, in sealed envelopes along with a deposit cheque. The bids are then opened and the seller decides who to sell their property to. They are under no obligation to sell to the highest bidder. They may decide not to sell at all .The tender method of sale is normally used where the sale involves development land , commercial property or where there is on amount of uncertainty about the value of the property.

At John Columb & Co. we use our excellent website plus Daft.ie our Facebook business page for internet exposure.

We use clear distinctive sales board at the property and also we use local and national papers.

Although the internet is the first port of call for many people looking for property a good clear distinctive sales board as used by John Columb & Co is vital by drawing attention of locals to the fact the property is for sale. Not everyone is active on the internet and when selling all angles must be covered.

The booking deposit is usually 10% of the sale price which is fully refundable until the final contract is signed.

ID, references plus a deposit equal to one month’s rent plus the first month in advance.

For example, a one-bedroom apartment with a rent of €400 per month the tenant would pay €800 on signing of the lease which is usually a 12-month lease.