Vendors rely on two main criteria when choosing a suitable estate agent to sell their house fast in the Taunton region. First, people look at the commission charge and often go with the lowest fee. Second, people tend to sign up with the agency that gives them the highest valuation.

But sellers beware. These are simply marketing tricks and don't guarantee that your estate agent is best placed to sell your house fast. They could be pricing your property out of the market with an over-inflated valuation, or could be charging less commission than other estate agents because they spend less money on actually marketing your property. Both of these could prove to be costly and you can end up wasting you precious months trying to sell your house in Taunton.

The first step in finding a good estate agent in Taunton is to spend time researching and monitoring who are selling similar houses to yours in the area. Drive around Taunton, talk to friends and family for recommendations, look through the local newspapers and national property websites.

The second step is to make an appointment with these estate agents to view similar properties to yours. This is invaluable to see how you would be treated as a buyer, to test their local knowledge, their view on market conditions and their knowledge of the individual houses you are viewing. Make sure they are welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable, and can answer all of your questions about the area and the property.

Once you have identified the estate agents that you like, invite them to your property for a valuation. Choosing the best three should be sufficient.

Once they have viewed your property, here are 10 important questions to ask them to help you determine if they are the best people for the job:

How many similar properties have they sold through to completion, and how many of these achieved close to the asking price?

What is the average amount of time it would take them to sell your house fast, and with how many viewings?

Will they actively look to sell your house fast?

How many buyers do they currently have registered who are seeking properties of this size and in this location?

How will they market your property? Ask for details of individual newspapers and websites they advertise in, and ask how often your property will be listed.

Do they offer additional services such as financial advice, home moving products and conveyancing?

Are they prepared to accompany buyers on viewings in the evenings and weekends?

What are their negotiating methods?

What is their top and bottom valuation for your property?

What is the complaints procedure if you are unhappy with the way they are conducting the sale of your property?

After receiving a valuation and details of their marketing methods, it's time to negotiate a fee. Estate agents in Taunton generally charge between 1% and 2.5% for a sole agency fee, which means that they are the only estate agent marketing your property. Remember, in times where there is a shortage of properties for sale and estate agents are fighting for business, you are in an excellent position to negotiate on the fee. If you do negotiate a lower fee make sure you will still receive the same level of marketing for your property.

Before you go ahead and sign up, ask for a copy of the contract and read through it thoroughly. You need to make sure that the contract is clear on how long you are tied in for the agreed fee, whether you can market your property with other agents for a multiple agent fee, and what your notice period is if you want to cease using their services.

By following these tips, you should be in a great position to choose the best possible estate agent in Taunton, and you should sell your property quickly and for the best price. And remember, once the marketing of your property begins, keep a close eye on their progress and make sure you receive the service you signed up for.