Top 3 tips for choosing the right estate agent

1. Ask for recommendations

This may seem an obvious place to start, but ask friends, family members and colleagues who have recently moved which estate agents they used and what they thought of them.

Also, look in your local area at the "for sale" and "sold" signs; it's a useful indicator of the agents that work well in your area.

3. Check industry credentials

Estate agents are required to be members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme which allows for complaints against them to be independently investigated.

Many estate agents will also be members of trade bodies. Membership means that they have to comply with a code of conduct, which may indicate a higher level of professionalism and diligence. You should be able to research this without having to set foot in an estate agent's branch. Members of these schemes will be shouting about it on their websites.

3. Invite at least three agents to value your property

Shortlist your agents, but don't shorten too much. Try to get at least three to come and value your property.

When your property is valued it's important not to be too impressed by the agent that values your property the highest – this could be a ploy to win your business.

Ideally, you need an agent who is going to be honest and fair, not one who is going to overvalue your property and then fail to get a buyer at that price