The 5 Most Common Myths About Estate Agents—Busted

After 25 years in the estate agency business, I’ve heard just about every rumour, gripe and assumption people have about estate agents. Some of them are funny, some are frustrating—but most of them are just plain wrong!

So, let’s break down five of the most common estate agent myths—and give you the real story behind them.

1. “All estate agents are the same.”

This one always makes me smile. Trust me, they’re not.

Some agents will list your home, snap a few photos and disappear. Others (like us at SA Property) will be right beside you from day one until the keys are handed over.

The difference? 

Experience, passion, work ethic—and how much your agent truly cares. We’re a small, independent team, and that means every instruction really matters. 

At SA Property, We’re a small, independent estate agent in Swansea. Every instruction really matters. You're never just another listing on the books with us—you’re a person, with hopes and plans we want to help fulfil.

2. “Estate agents just take photos and wait for the phone to ring.”

This might be true of some agents… but the good ones are grafting hard behind the scenes.

We’re not just uploading your home to Zoopla or Onthemarket and hoping for the best. 

We’re reaching out to hot buyers, arranging and managing viewings, giving honest feedback, negotiating offers, handling sales progression, and doing everything we can to keep the chain intact.

Behind every sale is a mountain of calls, emails, chasing and problem-solving—often after hours, weekends, even on holidays!

Actually, thinking about it, for a decent agent, it is never-ending and at SA Property, we wouldn’t do it any other way.

3. “The cheapest agent is the best value.”

We totally understand wanting to save money—but cheapest doesn’t always mean best.

An agent charging £500 less might seem like a win… but if they get you £5,000 less on your sale price, was it really worth it?

You could be perfectly fine with a cheaper agent, I am sure that there are some who are excellent and provide real value for money. However, in general, the cheaper agents are cheap for a reason, mainly that they need to offer a cheap fee to attract sellers.

Good agents don’t just sell your property—they maximise its value. That means better presentation, stronger marketing, skilled negotiation, and ultimately, a better result in your pocket.

Too me, if an agent can't negotiate a decent good value for money (for agent and seller) fee, then how on earth are they going to negotiate you the best price for your property?

4. “As long as it’s on Rightmove, it’ll sell.”

We love portals like Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket—but they’re just one tool in the toolbox.

We don't actually use Rightmove, as we feel that we get better value for money and quality leads from other sources.

We also promote homes through social media, email campaigns, videos, floorplans, local networks and direct contacts. 

We also send out property alerts to matching potential buyers, telling them that a property matching what they are looking for has come on the market.

We don’t just list your home—we launch it.

The best results come from a mix of clever marketing, great presentation, and knowing how to create a buzz when your home hits the market.

5. “Estate agents are pushy and just want the sale.”

A big one—and one we work hard to prove wrong every day.

Our job isn’t to pressure or persuade. 

It’s to guide, support, and give you the information you need to make the right decision for you. 

Whether it’s when to list, which offer to accept, or when to walk away—we’re here to help you get it right, not push you into a quick deal.

Actually, most of the work that we do is long term, we may value a house today, it may then come on the market a month later, we would expect to be under offer within 8 weeks and then the chain to progress would normally take around 3 months (if the solicitors are pushing). So dealing with 1 property can and usually does last around 6 months or more. That's why we believe in a consultative approach or hand holding works the best for us and our clients.

Final Thought

There are some myths that stick—but I hope this helps you see that a great estate agent can be the difference between a stressful move and a smooth one.

If you’re on the market and feeling stuck—or you just want a second opinion—get in touch. 

Let’s bust a few more myths together and get your move back on track.