Choosing the right estate agent in Solihull is one of the most important decisions you will make when selling your home. Get it right, and you will benefit from an accurate valuation, strong buyer interest, and a smooth sale. Get it wrong, and you could find yourself with an overpriced listing that stagnates on the market, or a sale that falls apart at the last moment.
The average house price in Solihull was £330,000 in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. At that level, even small differences in an agent’s performance, whether in the accuracy of their valuation, the quality of their marketing, or their negotiation skill, can translate to tens of thousands of pounds in your pocket or lost on the table. Office for National Statistics
This guide walks you through exactly what to look for.
Check They Are Properly Registered
Before anything else, confirm that any estate agent you are considering is registered with an approved redress scheme. This is a legal requirement under the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007. In practice, this means membership of either The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. These bodies give you a formal route to raise complaints if something goes wrong.
You should also look for membership of a professional body such as Propertymark, the UK’s leading professional organisation for property agents. Propertymark members are required to hold Client Money Protection insurance and adhere to a published code of conduct. It is a useful indicator that an agent takes their professional responsibilities seriously.
Prioritise Genuine Local Knowledge
Solihull is not a homogeneous market. Prices, buyer demand, and the types of properties available vary significantly from one postcode to the next. Average house prices in B91 can sit between £510,000 and £550,000, while B90 averages considerably less at around £375,000 to £400,000, a gap of roughly £130,000 to £150,000 for homes that are just a few miles apart. Hunters Estate Agents
An agent who understands why that gap exists and how to market to the buyers drawn to each area is far more valuable than one applying a one-size-fits-all approach. Ask any agent you are considering to talk you through recent sales in your specific street or postcode. If they cannot do that fluently, their local knowledge may not be as deep as they suggest.
Independent agents with long-standing ties to the area often carry a genuine advantage here. Melvyn Danes has operated in Solihull since 1993 and is the longest-established independently owned estate agency in the area, giving the team a depth of market knowledge that is difficult to replicate.
Request Multiple Valuations, and Be Sceptical of the Highest
Always obtain at least three valuations before instructing an agent. This gives you a realistic picture of what your property should achieve and helps you identify any outliers.
Be cautious of an agent who provides a notably higher valuation than others. This practice, sometimes referred to as “overvaluing to win the instruction,” can lead to your property sitting on the market for weeks or months before a price reduction is eventually needed. A property that has lingered on Rightmove attracts fewer viewings and less confident offers because buyers assume something is wrong with it.
The valuation you want is an honest one, grounded in comparable evidence and an understanding of current buyer activity in your area.
Assess Their Marketing Approach
Most buyers begin their property search online, so confirm that any agent you consider lists on the major portals, including Rightmove and OnTheMarket. Beyond that, ask about the quality of their listing presentation. Professional photography, floor plans, and well-written descriptions all contribute to stronger initial interest and more viewings.
However, digital marketing is only part of the picture. Ask whether the agent has an active applicant database of registered buyers. An experienced local agent will often match a new instruction to buyers already on their books before the property even reaches the open market. This can mean a faster sale and, in competitive situations, a stronger price.
Understand the Fee Structure Before You Sign
Estate agent fees in the UK are typically charged as a percentage of the final sale price, usually between 1% and 3% of the agreed price, plus VAT. Some agents charge a fixed fee. Neither model is inherently better, but you should understand exactly what you are agreeing to.
Check whether the contract is a sole agency or a multi-agency. Sole agency means you instruct one agent exclusively, and the fee is typically lower. Multi-agency allows you to use several agents simultaneously, but the fee is higher, and the arrangement can sometimes reduce how actively any individual agent promotes your property.
Also, check the notice period in the contract. You should be able to exit without penalty if the agent is not performing. At Melvyn Danes, you remain free to change agents at any time if promises are not fulfilled, which is a straightforward commitment that sellers should look for from any agent they consider.
Ask About Communication and Availability
Selling a property involves a considerable number of moving parts: viewings to arrange, offers to negotiate, solicitors to liaise with, and a chain to manage. Communication failures are one of the most common reasons sales fall through or take longer than necessary.
When you meet an agent, note how responsive they are before you have even instructed them. If they are slow to follow up on initial enquiries, that pattern is unlikely to improve once the pressure is on. Ask how viewings are arranged and fed back to you, who will be your main point of contact, and how you can expect to be kept updated throughout the process.
Look at Reviews and Track Record
Third-party reviews on Google and Trustpilot are a useful, if imperfect, guide to how an agent actually performs. Pay attention to reviews that mention communication, speed of sale, and how well the agent managed problems when they arose. Any agent can provide glowing references; what matters is the pattern across a broad range of reviewers.
Ask how many properties the agent has sold in your area in the past twelve months, what their average time to sale is, and what proportion of agreed sales they successfully take through to completion.
A Final Checklist
Before instructing an agent, confirm the following:
- Registered with an approved redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme)
- Membership of a professional body such as Propertymark
- Demonstrable local knowledge of your specific area and postcode
- A valuation backed by comparable evidence, not just optimism
- Listings on Rightmove and OnTheMarket with professional photography and floor plans
- A clear, fair contract with a reasonable notice period
- A named point of contact and a clear communication process
If you are considering selling a property in Solihull and would like an honest, evidence-based valuation from an agent with over 33 years of local experience, contact the Melvyn Danes Solihull team to arrange a free appraisal.
