Take a look around any town and you are bound to see a host of estate agents, each vying for your business. But which one should you choose and how do you know you can trust them?
1. Choose a tried and trusted, long established agency selling property in your locality, preferably one that has been recommended by someone you know.

2. If the agent has been established for many years, it is a sure sign that they have been doing something consistently right over that time. That said, there is nothing wrong in selecting a newly-formed company as it may be staffed with a breadth of experience, but do your research first. It is no good selecting an agent with little experience just because they charge a much lower fee. Quality often comes at a price.

3. Test the agent before engaging their services by acting as a prospective purchaser; how well are you welcomed, how promptly, enthusiastically and professionally are you treated and how thorough is the questioning of your requirements. If you leave feeling positive, you can be sure if you instruct that agent to sell your home, your buyers will be similarly treated, qualified and handled when introduced to your property.

4. Look for an office buzz. A busy agent's office will be a hub of activity so watch each office from the street and assess the mood before you walk in. Does the office look well organised and professional? Is each negotiator looking busy on the telephone or attending to clients - or are they just leaning back in their chairs looking at their watches, bored?

5. Opening hours are crucial. As a seller, you will want to utilise all marketing opportunities possible to sell your home. Agents offering the longest opening hours should be high on your list of requirements.

6. Website presence. Aside from the agent's own website, agents who are listed on Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation enjoy millions of visitors a month, giving sellers the broadest possible buyer base.

Harriet Simpson – Manager of PFK Estate Agency, Penrith