Getting the best sale price - ring us on 7404 0702 to find out how.

I have done a lot of research, and I have collected and analysed all the Barbican sale prices since 1999. What I find most striking about the resulting charts isn't how prices have gone up or down over time, it's how much sale prices of identical flats, selling at the same time, can diverge - by anything up to £100,000 in the case of larger flats. You can see how sale prices scatter above and below the average trend line. So, how do you make sure you get the best possible sale price?

It's very straightforward really. You have to choose the right estate agents. The wrong estate agents can screw you out of the best price, and you won't even know it, because they don't even know it, because they're no good. It's easy to quote an approximate figure to within the nearest £50,000. It's not so easy to quote to the nearest £5,000. For that, you really have to know exactly what factors add value to a Barbican flat, and how much.

Unfortunately, you can't automatically go with the agent who quotes the highest price. Some agents do that just to get properties on their books. Some just get it wrong. Either way, four weeks later you'll be told the market has dipped and you must lower your price by a huge amount. Big price drops tell potential buyers there's something wrong with your property. Conversely, you have to beware of the agents who insist on a low price to get a quick sale. A quick sale is an easy sale. The percentage commission on a lousy price is not far short of the commission on the price you should have got for your main investment in life. There is simply no substitute for an agent who gets it right.

We deal with most of the local estate agents - it's part of our daily business as conveyancing solicitors - and we have been buying and selling for clients in the Barbican Estate for 20 years. We know which agents are spot on.

We'll be very happy to give you our recommendation as fellow Barbican residents, even if you are not using us for your conveyancing. If you are putting your property on the market, give us a ring - Michael or Christine on 7404 0702.

We can also alert you to some of the pitfalls which can easily derail or delay a Barbican sale, so they won't hold you up.

MICHAEL BARRETT

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