Pros and cons of changing estate agents
Changing estate agents can bring fresh energy and new opportunities, but it also comes with some risks and practical considerations. This guide explores the full list of pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.
Switching estate agents may help you sell faster or secure a better price, especially if your current agent isn’t delivering. But it won’t solve every issue — and there are legal, financial and practical downsides to keep in mind.
Key points include:
- You’re allowed to switch, but check your contract for notice periods or tie-in clauses.
- A new agent may offer better communication, fresh marketing and improved pricing.
- Watch for risks like double commission and confusion among buyers.
- Some properties need more than a new agent — such as a pricing change or market shift.
Pros and cons:
Here’s a quick overview of what to think about, and you can find a more detailed explanation below the table.
Pros explained
Fresh energy and renewed motivation
One of the biggest benefits of switching estate agents is the sense of a fresh start. A new agent is likely to be more motivated as they’re starting the relationship from scratch and will want to make a good impression. This often leads to a burst of early activity that can breathe new life into your sale.
While your previous agent may have started strong, enthusiasm can fade over time. Viewings slow, listings go unchanged, and feedback becomes less frequent. You might feel like you're no longer a priority (especially if your property hasn’t generated much interest). In contrast, a new agent is stepping in with something to prove. They’ll be focused on showing they can deliver where the last one didn’t.
This renewed motivation may result in:
- A faster, more honest appraisal of what’s working and what’s not.
- Increased energy in promoting your home to buyers.
- More attentive communication and detailed feedback.
It’s also worth noting that many agents gain new listings through word of mouth or reputation. If they’ve taken you on after another agent, they’ll know that the outcome reflects on them — for better or worse. That sense of accountability can work in your favour.
However, this enthusiasm does have a shelf life. Unless it’s backed by experience, strategy and realism (such as revising price or marketing tactics), it may quickly wear off. The most effective switch happens when this fresh motivation is paired with a concrete plan.
Better communication and service
Clear, consistent communication is one of the most important factors in a smooth home sale. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most common complaints sellers have about their agents.
If your current agent is slow to return calls, vague about feedback, or provides little insight into what’s happening behind the scenes, it can leave you feeling powerless and frustrated. A lack of updates can be particularly stressful if your home has already been on the market for some time.
Switching agents gives you the opportunity to reset expectations. A new agent who values responsiveness and transparency can help restore confidence and reduce stress. Here’s what improved communication often looks like:
- Prompt updates after every viewing — even if just to say there’s no feedback yet.
- Honest, data-backed advice about pricing and presentation.
- Proactive check-ins to discuss progress, rather than waiting for you to chase.
- Detailed records of enquiries, feedback, and marketing activity.
Before switching, ask your prospective new agent how they manage communication and how often you’ll receive updates. Some agencies offer weekly reports or dedicated points of contact. Ultimately, good service isn’t just about politeness — it’s about helping you feel informed and in control.
Improved marketing and presentation
First impressions count. If your current listing isn’t doing your home justice — whether due to poor photography, unclear descriptions, or generic language — buyers may be skipping past it without even clicking.
Many estate agents reuse boilerplate listing templates or rely on low-quality images taken during rushed appointments. Worse still, once your listing is live, they may not update it even if it’s underperforming.
Switching agents gives you the chance to relaunch your home with a refreshed look. A new agent may:
- Hire a professional photographer to improve visual appeal.
- Write a more compelling, buyer-focused description.
- Reframe the headline and listing strategy to match current demand.
- Offer extras like floor plans, drone footage, virtual tours or staging advice.
These changes aren’t just cosmetic. Strong visuals and engaging copy can significantly increase the number of clicks, enquiries, and viewings your property receives.
Even subtle updates — such as reordering photos to lead with your home’s best feature — can make a difference. If you suspect your home is being overlooked because of how it's being presented, a new agent with a stronger marketing approach may change the momentum.
Opportunity to reset your listing
Properties that stay on the market too long can go stale. When buyers see a listing that’s been live for weeks or months, they may assume there’s something wrong with it — even if that’s not the case.
Changing estate agents allows you to relist the property in a way that feels new. Depending on the time elapsed and the platform's rules, this may mean your home appears:
- With a new listing ID on Rightmove and Zoopla.
- Higher in search results.
- Marked as a “new listing” in buyer alerts (if the old one has been removed long enough).
This reset can reinvigorate interest — especially among buyers who initially overlooked the property or set it aside. If paired with a price adjustment, better photos, or revised messaging, it can feel like a brand-new launch.
That said, this effect only works once or twice. Frequent relisting or switching between agents without making meaningful changes may start to raise questions. Used carefully, though, a listing reset can provide a valuable second chance to grab attention.
New pricing strategy based on demand
Your asking price sends a signal — and if it’s out of step with local demand, you might be deterring serious buyers from even viewing.
Some agents initially overvalue properties to win instructions. While a high price may feel good at first, it can lead to reduced interest, drawn-out listings, and eventual price drops that damage credibility.
A new agent will typically offer a fresh pricing perspective based on:
- Recent sold prices in your area.
- Time on market vs. price ratios.
- How your property compares to others in the same bracket.
- Enquiry and viewing patterns from similar listings.
They may suggest repositioning your price to reach a more active buyer pool — for example, dropping below a search threshold (like £500,000) or changing the strategy to “Offers Over” to invite negotiation.
The key is to align price with buyer expectations. A small, strategic reduction may be all it takes to turn interest into offers. If your old agent was unwilling to have difficult conversations about price, a new one may be more honest — and more effective.
Access to different buyer contacts
While most buyer interest today comes via property portals, estate agents still maintain their own mailing lists, investor relationships, and local networks.
Switching agents may give you access to:
- A fresh set of active buyers registered with the new agency.
- Different marketing tactics (e.g. social media promotion or email alerts).
- Private buyers the agent is working with directly.
- A new agent’s database of past applicants and buyers who missed out on similar properties.
This can be particularly helpful if your property appeals to a specific niche — such as buy-to-let investors, downsizers, or overseas buyers — where individual agent networks can make a real difference.
That said, don’t expect a completely different pool of buyers unless your new agent serves a different area or demographic. For standard homes in mainstream price brackets, most serious buyers will already have seen your property if it’s been listed on Rightmove or Zoopla.
Specialist fit for your property
Not all agents are right for every type of home. If your property is unusual, high-value, rural, or aimed at a niche market, it might benefit from a specialist approach.
For example:
- A character cottage may benefit from an agent who understands period homes and knows how to highlight original features.
- A luxury flat in a city centre might be best handled by an agent with experience marketing to overseas buyers or professionals.
- A home with development potential could appeal more to investors — and require a commercial-minded negotiator.
Switching to a more specialised agent can help ensure your home is positioned correctly, marketed effectively, and shown to the right type of buyers.
This isn’t just about presentation — it’s about insight. A specialist agent will better understand the questions serious buyers ask and how to overcome objections specific to your property type.
Fresh listing visibility on portals
The majority of buyers today search for property online — typically using platforms like Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket. These portals sort listings based on recency, price, and filters, meaning your home can quickly slide down the results if it remains unsold for weeks.
When you switch agents, your property is usually given a new listing ID and appears as a new listing on the portals. This can:
- Boost your visibility in search results.
- Trigger new email alerts for buyers looking in your area.
- Help the listing feel “fresh” to buyers who may have previously ignored it.
Some platforms require a gap of time between listings before they show as new again. Others will apply the “new listing” label based on significant changes, such as price or agent.
Either way, if your home has slipped out of sight, this is a chance to push it back up the listings — ideally with improved visuals and more compelling wording.
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Cons explained
Tie-in periods and notice delays
Your estate agent contract is a legally binding agreement, and it likely includes both a minimum tie-in period and a required notice period. These clauses are designed to protect the agent’s time and investment — especially if they’ve covered marketing costs upfront.
Common terms include:
- A tie-in period of 8–16 weeks, during which you’re unable to switch without penalty.
- A notice period of 2–4 weeks, even after the tie-in ends, during which the agent remains instructed.
- Exclusivity clauses that prevent you from marketing with multiple agents or switching without consent.
Failing to follow these terms could result in unexpected costs — including full commission payments or breach of contract fees.
Before switching agents, it’s crucial to:
- Check your current agreement carefully.
- Confirm exact dates and obligations.
- Give written notice and request confirmation of termination.
Some sellers assume they can just stop responding to an underperforming agent, but doing so without formal notice could leave you liable for fees later on. Always exit properly to avoid legal or financial risk.
Risk of double commission
Double commission is one of the most serious risks of switching agents — and one of the most misunderstood.
Even if a buyer completes through your new agent, your previous agent may still claim commission if they introduced that buyer at any point. This includes:
- Viewings that didn’t lead to offers at the time.
- Enquiries that didn’t progress.
- Buyers who later came back independently or through another agent.
To avoid this, take the following steps:
- Ask your old agent for a list of all people they introduced (and get this in writing).
- Share this list with your new agent and include it in your new agreement.
- Exclude those names from the new agent’s commission entitlement.
If you don’t take these steps — and a buyer from the original agent’s list resurfaces and completes — you could find yourself paying two sets of fees.
This risk is greatest when agents claim to have introduced a buyer “in principle,” even if no viewing occurred. If in doubt, seek legal advice before switching — especially if you already have interested parties in play.
Loss of upfront marketing fees
Many agents now operate on a “no sale, no fee” model — meaning you only pay when they sell your home. However, some charge upfront for marketing services such as:
- Professional photography.
- Floorplans.
- Portal listings.
- Printed brochures or premium upgrades.
If you’ve already paid for these services, you won’t get a refund when you switch agents — even if the sale doesn’t happen.
In some cases, the outgoing agent may retain the rights to the images or descriptions they created, preventing you from reusing them with a new agent. That means you may need to start from scratch — and pay again.
Before switching, ask:
- What fees have already been paid?
- Do you have the rights to the media (photos, copy, etc.)?
- Will the agent offer any refund or credit?
While some agents waive fees to remain competitive, others won’t — especially if you’re terminating the contract early.
Confusion or loss of buyer confidence
If your property has been listed, removed, and relisted — or if buyers notice a change of agents — they may begin to question the story behind it.
Buyers often scan listings for signs of value and urgency. Seeing a property jump between agents (especially without a price change) can trigger thoughts like:
- “Why hasn’t it sold yet?”
- “Is there something wrong with it?”
- “Are the sellers getting desperate?”
This perception can lead to lower offers, slower engagement, or even complete avoidance — particularly in competitive markets where buyers have plenty of options.
To mitigate this:
- Make meaningful changes when relisting (price, images, headline).
- Avoid frequent agent changes within a short time.
- Be honest if asked — for example, “We wanted a more hands-on approach”.
Handled carefully, the change can look like a strategic improvement rather than a red flag. But poorly managed switches may weaken your negotiating position.
No guarantee of better results
Switching agents isn’t a silver bullet. If the market is slow, buyer demand is low, or the property is misaligned with current pricing trends, a new agent may still struggle.
Common false expectations include:
- Thinking a new agent alone will attract more interest (without changing price or photos).
- Expecting faster results despite similar marketing methods.
- Believing the previous agent failed when the issue was external (e.g. seasonality or interest rates).
Before switching, ask yourself:
- What will a new agent do differently?
- Have I addressed feedback from previous viewings?
- Am I willing to make changes if they suggest them?
If the answer is “not much,” then switching might create work without payoff. Sometimes the right course is to stay put and adjust price, marketing, or expectations.
Still marketed to mostly the same buyers
While estate agents have their own contact lists, most serious buyers search on the same portals — Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket. This means:
- The majority of buyers will already have seen your listing.
- New agents are drawing from the same pool unless they have niche networks.
- Without changes to price, images or copy, interest may not increase.
That said, there are exceptions. If your original agent wasn’t listing on all portals, or if they didn’t have a strong digital presence, switching could provide real gains. But if both agents use the same tools and strategy, the change may be cosmetic.
The key takeaway? A new agent only reaches new buyers if they do something differently. Don’t expect different results if the approach stays the same.
Core problems (e.g. price) may persist
Many unsold homes share a common issue: they’re overpriced for the current market. It’s a hard truth, but if buyers believe they can get more for less elsewhere, they’ll move on.
Changing agent won’t fix:
- Overpricing relative to local sales data.
- Poor condition or presentation.
- Limited appeal due to layout, location, or other constraints.
Your new agent might suggest a different pricing approach, but if you’re not open to adjusting your expectations, the outcome may be the same.
It’s worth reviewing past viewing feedback and market data before making a switch. If the feedback is consistent — “too expensive for the area” or “needs too much work” — those are issues that need solving, not just rebranding.
Signage and stress of being back at square one
Changing agents doesn’t end your selling journey — it resets it. You’ll still have:
- A For Sale sign outside your property.
- A listing live on the same portals.
- More viewings, emails, and paperwork to manage.
If you’re already emotionally drained from the process, switching can feel like a rerun — just with a different cast. While a new agent may improve results, the sense of still being on the market can be demoralising.
That’s why some sellers, after months of uncertainty, opt to bypass the agent route altogether. Alternatives like direct cash buyers or auctions offer speed, certainty and minimal disruption — often at the cost of accepting a lower price.
In the end, it depends on your priorities: maximum value vs. minimum stress. Switching agents might still be the right move — but if you’re simply looking for closure, it may be worth considering other exit options too.
Need another option?
If switching estate agents feels like more stress or you’re simply ready to move on Habello offers a different way to sell.
We buy houses directly for cash, giving you more certainty and control over your sale. There are no estate agents involved, no drawn-out chains, and no fees to pay when using our partner solicitor.
We’ll make an initial offer over the phone and follow up with a guaranteed cash offer within 48–72 hours.
With Habello, you’ll benefit from:
- A flexible timeline that fits your schedule.
- A fair market valuation with no hidden deductions.
- The option to complete in days or weeks, not months.
- No legal fees when using our partner solicitor.
- No estate agent commission to reduce your final amount.
If you're ready to skip the hassle, speak to our team today. We’ll guide you through your options — no pressure, no obligation.
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