A clear estate-agent appointment should tell you what the firm will do, what you will pay and how the arrangement can end. Set aside time to review those points before a listing goes live. This guide focuses on selling a home in England.
1. Identify when the fee becomes payable
Ask whether the charge is a percentage or a fixed amount and request a total including VAT. List optional photography, marketing or other charges separately. Ask what happens if the sale falls through and whether any charges remain payable without a completed sale.
Make sure the agency explains the type of appointment being offered. Sole agency and sole selling rights are not simply interchangeable labels. The consequences of finding your own buyer or involving another agent need to be understood from the actual contract.
2. Check the appointment period and exit process
Record the minimum term, notice requirements and the method for giving notice. Ask about any continuing fee liability for buyers introduced during the appointment. If you change agents, provide the relevant information to the new firm and obtain advice if there is a risk of overlapping fees.
Create an illustrative timeline using your intended listing date. Mark the first date you could end the appointment and when notice would have to be sent. This makes an abstract clause easier to assess without assuming that every contract follows the same pattern.
3. Put the service commitments in writing
Identify who conducts viewings, approves marketing, handles keys and follows up offers. Agree the frequency and content of updates. Ask for the complaints procedure and check the relevant redress arrangements.
Do not rely on a claim that the agency will “take care of everything”. List the tasks that matter and check which are included in the quoted fee. If a discussion changes the offer, ask for a revised document.
Compare terms before accepting a valuation
The government’s selling guidance is a useful starting point for understanding estate-agent appointments. Take professional advice on clauses you cannot interpret. A high suggested selling price does not cancel out an unsuitable contract.
For the wider selection process, read our guide to choosing an estate agent. Keep the final signed terms and all subsequent changes together with your sale records.
Revised and sources checked on 21 October 2026.