Choosing an estate agent is one of the most consequential decisions you will make when selling your home. The right agent will price your property accurately, market it to the right buyers, and guide you through the process from listing to completion. The wrong one can cost you time, money, and no small amount of stress. In a competitive market like Shirley, where buyer expectations are high and prices reflect that, the choice matters more than ever.
This guide walks you through exactly what to look for.
Know Your Market Before You Instruct Anyone
Before you invite a single agent to your door, it pays to understand what the Shirley market actually looks like right now. According to Rightmove’s House Price Index, the overall average sold price in Shirley over the past year was £352,936, with semi-detached properties achieving an average of £360,457 and detached homes reaching £518,513. Flats sold for an average of £181,952.
For a wider context, the ONS House Price Index shows that the average house price across Solihull as a whole was £333,000 in October 2025. Shirley, as one of the borough’s most in-demand suburbs, consistently performs strongly within that figure.
Going into conversations with agents armed with this data means you can quickly assess whether their valuations are grounded in evidence or inflated to win your business.
Ask for Evidence, Not Just a Number
One of the most common mistakes sellers make is choosing the agent who gives the highest valuation. Some agents deliberately over-value properties to secure the instruction, only to recommend price reductions weeks later once buyer interest fails to materialise. The HomeOwners Alliance calls this out directly, noting that its own research found homes sold in 10 to 11 days typically achieve the best prices, which only happens when a property is priced correctly from the start.
When an agent gives you a valuation, ask them to show you the comparable sold prices they used to reach it. A good agent will have that data ready and be confident in explaining their reasoning. If they cannot back up their number with evidence, that tells you something important.
Prioritise Local Knowledge
National chains and online-only agents can list a property on Rightmove just as easily as a local high street agent. What they cannot replicate is genuine, on-the-ground knowledge of your specific area. In Shirley, that means understanding the difference in demand between roads near Shirley town centre, properties within popular school catchments, and homes backing onto Shirley Park versus those on busier routes.
A local agent will also have an active register of buyers who have already registered their interest and who are ready to move. That kind of immediate pipeline can make a meaningful difference to both your time on market and your eventual sale price.
When speaking to agents, ask them directly: What have you sold on my road or in my immediate area in the past three to six months, and what did those properties achieve? Their answer — and how they give it — will tell you a great deal.
Understand What You Are Paying For
Estate agent fees vary, and it is worth understanding the landscape before you negotiate. According to Rightmove’s seller guide, the UK average fee for a sole agency agreement in 2025 was around 1.3%, including VAT. The HomeOwners Alliance puts the typical range for sole agency at 1.2% to 1.8%, while Which? notes that the standard sole agency fee sits between 1% and 2%.
On a Shirley semi-detached property at the average price of £360,457, a fee of 1.3% including VAT would equate to approximately £4,686. That is a significant cost, and it is worth making sure you understand exactly what is included before you sign anything.
Key questions to ask on fees:
- Does the quoted fee include VAT?
- What is the tie-in period, and what is the notice period to exit the contract?
- Are photography, floorplan preparation, and portal listing included as standard?
- Will your property appear on both Rightmove and Zoopla?
A sole agency agreement is the most common contract type and is generally recommended over sole selling rights, which can leave you liable for fees even if you find a buyer yourself.
Check How They Market Properties
Most buyers start their search on Rightmove and OnTheMarket. Listing on both portals should be a given, not an add-on. Beyond that, look at the quality of the agent’s current listings. Are the photographs professional? Do the descriptions give buyers a genuine feel for the property? Is the floor plan clear and accurate?
Marketing quality matters because first impressions online determine whether a buyer requests a viewing. A poorly photographed or vaguely described listing will underperform even in a strong market. Ask the agent what they do beyond the portals — whether that includes email alerts to registered buyers, social media, or a prominent high street presence that generates walk-in enquiries.
Consider Track Record and Transparency
Before committing to any agent, it is reasonable to ask how many properties they have sold in Shirley in the past year, what percentage achieved the asking price or above, and what their average time from listing to the sale agreement currently stands at. A transparent agent will have this information to hand and will share it willingly.
You should also check that the agent is a member of a recognised redress scheme. All estate agents in England are legally required to belong to either the Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. Membership of professional bodies such as NAEA Propertymark offers an additional layer of accountability.
Why Experience in Shirley Matters
Shirley sits within the Solihull borough, which means buyers looking here are often making deliberate choices: they want the accessibility and amenity of Birmingham alongside the schools, green space, and community feel that Solihull offers. Understanding the buyer profile – knowing what motivates them, what they will pay a premium for, and where their attention goes – is only possible through years of operating in the area.
At Melvyn Danes, our Shirley office has been serving sellers and buyers in this part of the West Midlands for decades. We have sold properties across the full spectrum of the Shirley market, from first flats to larger family homes, and our team has the local market knowledge to price your property with confidence and market it to the buyers most likely to act.
If you are thinking about selling in Shirley, we would be pleased to offer you a free property valuation with no obligation. Come and speak to our team, ask us the questions in this guide, and see how we measure up.
