Liam Gretton runs Liam Gretton Estate Agents in the Wirral, but thought he was making a sensible decision using someone else to sell his own home – a two-bedroom, semi-detached cottage with views of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral – in 2019.
“Despite my experience as a bespoke estate agent, I chose to step back from the direct handling of enquiries, viewings, feedback and the emotional aspects when selling our own home,” he says.
The property was slightly unusual. Built in 1810 and “a bit like a Tardis”, it appeared modest from the outside but was surprisingly spacious internally.
“While I had a clear understanding of our home’s market value, the agent suggested a slightly lower price to encourage competing offers. Trusting their expertise, we followed their advice,” he says.
“Our first misstep was accepting their decision to take photographs themselves. I firmly believe that professional photography is crucial for showcasing a home effectively, but we took on board their judgment, hoping to learn something new.”
After two weeks of no viewings and minimal marketing feedback, Mr Gretton received a call from the agent he’d instructed, suggesting a price reduction.
“To me, as an agent, this is a standard default setting. However, as a seller, it is disheartening because I’ve been advised one thing and told to do another.”
Mr Gretton decided to terminate the agent’s services and marketed the property himself. “We listed the property at £20,000 above the agent’s recommended price, confident in our assessment of its market value and target demographic. Within the first 14 days, we received nine enquiries and three formal offers.”
Taking the reins in this way proved to Mr Gretton that there is a very real value in choosing an estate agent with professional training, market knowledge and, in his case, the understanding of what buyers are looking for with unique homes.
