Experience & Local Expertise
As the most consistently successful Hertford based estate agency over the last 30 years, and with our Valuers boasting over 18 years of local home selling experience, we feel better placed than most to offer the best advice and service all the way from valuation, to marketing and negotiation through to completion.
Independence & Ownership
Choose an agent that is owned and run by property professionals who are both available and actively interested in your sale rather than one staffed by people who are simply employed to build an empire. Shepherds is personally run by David Simpson, MNAEA – available in the Shepherds front office, on 01992 551955 or 07966 441329.
Enthusiasm
An agent needs to be genuinely enthusiastic about your property. A positive approach to your home is essential if potential buyers are to be inspired into buying.
Quality Photography & Presentation
First impressions count and buyers will be greatly influenced by the quality of photography and write up displayed in the press, on the internet and sales particulars. At Shepherds we pride ourselves on just how your property is presented to the buying public.
Flexible Sole Agency Agreements
By having confidence in the quality of our advice and service, we don’t insist on clients entering into lengthy sole agency contracts and notice periods. Beware the agent who values high and then presents an overly restrictive contract tying you to them for a long period.
Internet Marketing
With nearly 80% of buyers using the internet in their property search you need to know that your property will be found quickly and easily on the main property portals. Don’t be influenced by an agents’ own flashy website – functionality and speed are all that buyers are interested in and more often than not they will only look at the leading national websites - Rightmove and Primelocation.
Press Advertising
Although playing second fiddle to the internet as a means by which buyers search for property, a significant presence in the local press can suggest a more successful agent. Choose an agent with a broad selection of properties in your area and beware the agent who promises to advertise your property every week with a postage sized ad – this can cheapen your property and lead to over exposure. Steer clear of agents who promote properties on which prices have altered with banners stating “REDUCED” or “NEW PRICE” as this gives out the wrong message to prospective buyers.
Communication
Regular and straight talking contact between agent and client is vital through general updates, supply of feedback and of course following the introduction of a buyer. The Director making himself available out of hours should you need him is also sometimes a help!
Professional Floor Plans
An accurate and well presented floor plan is invaluable for providing an extra dimension of relevant information for would-be buyers and can help avoid inappropriate viewings which could waste everyone’s time.
Avoid Virtual Tours
We do not believe that anyone can make an accurate judgement of your home without actually viewing it first hand. Virtual tours can prevent viewings by not doing a property justice and then distort the tangible results achieved from marketing. Accurate advice is based on feedback from people visiting your home.
SMS Text Messaging & Email
Make sure you appoint an agent who employs the latest technology to ensure that buyers are offered your property first. Within minutes of making a property available the relevant marketplace is alerted to your homes availability.
Back to Basics Estate Agency
Whilst any aspect of our “digital age” which can genuinely assist the homesale process should be utilised and embraced, an outright reliance on this technology can lead to an agents detachment from their market place. The phone and personal interaction remains as important as ever in building important relationships which can enhance service and sale. At Shepherds we haven’t lost sight of the fact that estate agency is fundamentally “a people business”.
Open/Viewing Days
Open houses are planned viewing times that when operated correctly can provide a convenient and efficient manner of introducing a property to viewers, with many benefits for all concerned. Shepherds have been successfully running this type of arrangement since the mid 1990’s.
Local Specialists
By concentrating our promotional resources, time and effort on only local properties we provide better service and results. The national or multi-office networks no longer offer any promotional advantage as people will target their search through property portals combined with visits to agents within that area.
Busy Town Centre Premises
Whilst the internet has revolutionised the ease with which buyers can gauge the availability of suitable properties, a welcoming high street presence with friendly,
helpful staff is vital as a focal point for vendors and purchasers to talk over important issues face to face and means all relevant bases from which that one all important buyer can be introduced, are covered.
Accompanied Viewings
Where necessary we can provide experienced staff to help with viewings – on vacant properties and at times when you aren’t available.
Financial Services
By appointing an agent that has close ties with a stable and efficient financial services provider who can help buyers with their funding can be pivotal in qualifying a sale and making sure that it sticks. Shepherds share premises with Ingram Sands Ltd who can provide independent and experienced advice in this respect.
After-Sales Liaison
Some agents seem to think that their job is done when a buyer is found, and some negotiators are incentivised to arrange sales but not necessarily to see them through to completion. Many a sale has been lost due to poor follow-up or inadequate liaison with clients, buyers, surveyors and solicitors. At Shepherds we provide an experienced individual to spot potential difficulties, “oil the wheels” and work towards achieving the required end-result in an efficient and smooth running manner.
Opening Hours
We, like most if not all agents locally, are open 7 Days a Week and of course are displaying our properties 24/7 on the worldwide web. With some agents seeking to impress with extended hours into the evening and early start times, at Shepherds we prefer to say that we are there until the work is done, with out of hours contact numbers should you need them. You won’t find a lonesome agent in our office staring out of the window or vacantly at their computer screen just because the hours on the door say they have to be there.
