Imagine for a moment that someone asked you to take on a project that required three months of hard work for a set fee. Then after you had agreed to do this, the contractor told you that you would have to bear the cost of some out-of-pocket expenses. You balked a little but considering that the fee was reasonable you still took up the offer. Then as you are about to sign the offer, the contractor casually mentions that he has offered the work to three other people and whoever delivers the work first gets paid. You would probably tell him to get lost, maybe worse.

The above scenario sounds absurd but every day agents are faced with this dilemma when they are called on to sell a house without a sole mandate. The sale of your family home is no small feat.

It is not simply a case of setting a price and waiting for offers to roll in. It takes the skill of a professional agent to plan and execute the numerous steps needed for a successful sale. There is an enormous amount time and money invested in the sale of your home, by committing to a sole mandate you have in turn bought yourself the full commitment of your agent.

The sale of your home should receive the same individual attention that you would expect from a financial planner, or a family doctor.

Imagine having three or four different professionals advising you on how to invest your money, you would not know which way to turn. The appointment of one professional estate agent who will prioritise your needs shouldn’t be considered lightly. Nobody can possibly have your interest at heart when they are too busy competing with all and sundry to be first with an offer!

A sole agent will skillfully guide you through the marketing process, which includes pricing, presentation and negotiate with the buyers. During the marketing period, the sole agent provides feedback regarding the property’s value, advantages and negatives.

The more buyers the agent sees, the better chance they have of formulating a consensus of buyer opinion. Acting on what the buyers have to say and fine-tuning the sales approach accordingly, are key to getting the best price.

Paying for an advert in the paper each week is a costly affair but it has to be done. When you commit to a sole mandate, the responsibility of getting the home optimum exposure is passed on to the agent. So you get to enjoy your Sundays instead sitting at home fielding prospects.

If an agent is secure in the knowledge that you have committed to them, then they will in turn commit the full resources of their organisation to the selling of your home. A sole mandate always takes priority over non-exclusive or open mandates. An agent’s loyalty to a mandated client ensures priority service. Ensure that you give your sole mandate to an agent or agency of repute and you’ll be guaranteed of success!