Top 5 Best Estate Agents in London

Our process for calculating the rankings

We’ve looked long and hard at the following elements to help determine the five best estate agents in London:

Why Trustpilot and Google reviews? Well, in our experience it’s the former clients and customers of estate agents who provide the clearest idea of what it’s like buying and selling your house with them. Looking at individual reviews from former customers and how each of these companies responds to criticism also helps determine consistently high customer service.

While these testimonials and overall ratings certainly help, they’re not the only source we or anyone should look at. We’ve drawn upon our combined 50-plus years’ experience in property buying and selling, including direct interactions with estate agents on behalf of sellers, to determine which agencies have solid track records for service and closing sales.

We’ve also considered some key elements that concern buyers. Average sale timelines, commission rates and overall reach are all important to consider when deciding the best estate agent for you. These five agencies consistently perform above the rest when it comes to these elements.

We’ve sourced this information from external sources, primarily their company websites. Some figures may be slightly different to what you see here depending on when you’re reading this. If you want up-to-date numbers, it’s best to go straight to the source.

Use this list as one of your many sources. It will hopefully help make your search for an estate agent faster. But before you lock on in, get in touch with them and ask for more information about their recent sale figures, success rates and overall service offering.

Top 5 estate agents in London

Here are the five best estate agents based on the aforementioned criteria:

As you can see, there isn’t a lot that separates these top five London estate agents. They all charge a similar commission and their sale timelines are typically three months or longer. While Keatons Bow stands out for its customer service and reviews, it’s also the most expensive option. The Stow Brothers have a good reputation for being cheaper and faster than the others, but they also have one of the smallest reaches. 

Depending on what you’re looking for (i.e. affordability, reach, customer track record etc.) from your agent, you might prefer different ones on this list than your neighbour. Let’s have a quick look at what you might pay for each agent’s commission based on the above rates and the average London house price according to Rightmove (£661,329). 

You need to consider whether this amount is worth the time you’ll have to wait on the open market to sell your house. If you’re wanting to sell your London house fast, you may need to look at other options. All of these estate agents require months to sell property, usually between 2-3 months. However, this can stretch out to 4 months or longer. 

High commission rates and slow sale timeframes are why many people choose to sell their homes to a cash house buying company. When you sell to us, you don’t pay any fees or commission. You get 100% of the sale revenue deposited into your bank account. You won’t typically get 100% market value, but the money, time and stress you save can make this small difference worthwhile. 

Learn more about selling your house privately without an estate agent

Now let’s take a closer look at each of these top London estate agents when it comes to specific reviews, both good and bad. This will give us a better idea of their customer service.

1. Keatons Bow

Keatons Bow is an independent estate agency in East London, part of the wider Keatons group that has a few offices scattered around this area. Despite its limited number of offices, Keatons still offers a decent reach that’s amplified by its use of online platforms (most estate agents do this though). Their commission rate is pretty standard for London estate agents, but you can find cheaper options on this list. 

Snapshot on Trustpilot and Google

Customer Feedback

Keatons is a consistently high performer on both Trustpilot and Google, boasting the highest or equal-highest ratings out of these five best London estate agents. On Trustpilot alone, the company has an impressive 96% 5-star appraisals and only around 1% of reviews are 3-star or worse. Of its 5,283 reviews, Keatons has responded to 5,219. This 97% response rate is indicative of strong communication with customers. 

Recent 5-star review: 

Recent 1-star review (shortened):

Our Verdict

Keatons Bow maintains a consistently high level of customer service that keeps buyers and sellers happy. Its negative reviews are few and far between and predominantly directed at the lettings side of the business. There are never any guarantees with estate agents, but you should be in safe hands as a seller with this one. The agency’s responses to disgruntled customers also show they’re willing to learn and do better when possible. 

2. Knight Frank Canary Wharf 

Knight Frank Canary Wharf has the strongest reach out of the five agencies on this list, thanks to its global network. While the branch in Canary Wharf specialises in its area, the agents here also have access to buyers through Knight Frank’s 70-plus UK branches and 500-plus offices in 60 other countries. You’re spending around the average for their services, but you’ll need to wait close to 4 months on average to close a sale. 

Snapshot on Trustpilot and Google

Customer Feedback

Knight Frank has an overwhelmingly positive response on Trustpilot, with 92% of its appraisals hitting five stars. Around 3% of its reviews are 1-star, but another 4% are 4-star, giving it a solid success rate with customers. Knight Frank’s response rate is similar to Keatons, with around 93% of its 5,797 reviews getting responses from the company. It seems most people are happy with the services provided by the agency.  

Recent 5-star review:

Recent 1-star review (shortened):

Our Verdict

Knight Frank appears to have a consistent track record with customers in Canary Wharf. Most customers consider the service to be of 5-star quality, and the 1-star reviews mostly concern the letting arm of the business or other Knight Frank offices around the UK. As a seller, you should be able to trust the work of these estate agents. 

3. Dexters London Bridge

Dexters is a large agency, with thousands of listings every few months. On the one hand, this means they’re adept at handling high-profile property and selling many houses at once. On the other hand, it may mean your house isn’t their top priority at times, with so many listings on their books. 

Dexters London Bridge has the longest sale timeline (about 5 months) out of the top estate agents in London and charges one of the higher commission rates. So you may need to manage your expectations when you sign them as your agency. The London Bridge office has a strong rating on Google, while Dexters as a whole is well-rated on Trustpilot. 

Customer Feedback

With over 1,200 reviews on Google, Dexters London Bridge has continued to show high customer service standards leading to a 4.9-star rating. It still has a number of low reviews, including some damning 1-star appraisals, but the majority of customers seem happy with the service. On Trustpilot, the wider Dexters company is a pretty consistent estate agent, but has a much higher percentage (15%) of 1-star reviews than our top two estate agents. 

Recent 5-star review:

Recent 1-star review (shortened):

Our Verdict

There are some concerning business practices being raised in many of the poor reviews, including bad communication, overvaluations, pressuring sellers to lower asking prices and disorganised viewings. All of these could lead to a horrible sale experience, taking more time, money and stress than necessary. Most of the time, Dexters seems to provide a good service for sellers, but it might be worthwhile vetting your specific estate agent before committing. 

4. The Stow Brothers

The Stow Brothers is one of the smallest estate agents on this list, with about six offices in East London. They’re an East London specialist and deal predominantly in property within this area. If you don’t live in East London, they’re probably not right for you as they won’t have the local expertise.

They’re particularly well-regarded within their niche market and are known for faster-than-average sale timelines (2 months). They also charge one of the lower commissions in London (1.4%). 

Customer Feedback

The Stow Brothers have a strong presence with their Google ratings. The main office in Walthamstow has a 4.8-star rating from over 1,350 reviews. Other offices around East London have 4.9- or 5-star ratings from hundreds of reviews, so performance is consistently high within this area. It’s a slightly different story on Trustpilot, where 1-star reviews make up almost a quarter of all the company’s appraisals. 

Recent 5-star review (edited for length):

Recent 1-star review (shortened):

Our Verdict

It looks like The Stow Brothers are a good option if you have property in East London you want to sell. For sellers, they do a good job of communicating and closing deals within the local area, with a solid track record for customer service. One thing to keep in mind is how they treat buyers, which may not be as good. Bad viewings can put buyers off your property, dragging out the time on market and even forcing you to lower the asking price. 

5. Paramount Properties

Last but not least on our list of the five best estate agents in London is Paramount Properties. Servicing sellers around London, this agency has been highly rated on Google and Trustpilot for service. They also have one of the lower commission rates and a relatively average sale timeline of 3 months. Located in West Hampstead, they claim to cover more than 80 London postcodes and boast 35-plus years’ experience. 

Snapshot on Trustpilot and Google

Customer Feedback

Paramount Properties doesn’t have many reviews on Trustpilot, but the majority of these are 5-star appraisals. However, it also has a lot (10%) of 1-star reviews. 

Paramount has a stronger presence on Google with almost 1,500 reviews giving it a 4.8-star rating. There are some poor reviews on Google, many of which are from buyers or renters frustrated with Paramount’s services. Overall, Paramount Properties does a good job servicing its clients, especially sellers.  

Recent 5-star review (edited for clarity):

Recent 1-star review (shortened):

Our Verdict

Most of the poor reviews for Paramount Properties are from over three years ago, related to tenants and lettings, or due to poor communication with buyers. While some of these won’t affect sellers, poor practices could leak over into their dealings with you. For the most part, it looks like you can trust Paramount as a seller. It’s still worthwhile coming to your initial meetings with Paramount Properties with the questions you need answered to feel comfortable signing a contract. 

Ways to compare estate agents on your list

Comparing estate agents isn’t easy. With so many in London, choosing the right option for you can be a long and tedious process. To help you save time and energy, here are some of the most important factors to consider when comparing estate agents. These should help you save time and energy.

How the 5 best London estate agents compare

Now let’s look at how the top estate agents in London compare when we consider these eight important elements. Remember this is just a guide and information on marketing and contracts isn’t always accessible or up to date. Check these with any agencies you’re considering before making your decision.

How to choose the best London estate agent for you

Finding a good estate agent in London is difficult. Some agents might be better on paper; however, their valuation and services might not be what you expect. You need to find what estate agent is best for you rather than just the best or most used.

It’s important to know what it takes to make a good estate agent stand out from the rest of the pack. There are three main ways you can better research estate agents to choose one you can trust and rely on to sell your house. 

1. Research

Doing your own research into the current London housing market. That way you’ll understand property trends and how much your house could be worth. Check Zoopla’s sale data for recent house prices in London, particularly your postcode area. Once you’ve done that, do the same thing on Rightmove to bolster your awareness. 

Now you’ll have a rough estimate on the true value of your house when trying to sell. This can protect you from any estate agents who want to over or undervalue your home. 

Researching London estate agent reviews is also critical. Make sure your chosen estate agent has a reputable online presence. A lot of bad reviews or no recent reviews should be a red flag.

2. Consider recommendations from friends or colleagues

Personal recommendations can be unexpected and often go unheeded. But sometimes these are the best sources for finding London estate agents. Your friends, family and colleagues all might be better sources of information than online reviews. It also helps you develop trust if you know they’ve provided a good service for someone whose opinion you respect. 

3. Take note of your initial interactions with an agent

Before you sign a contract, make sure you have at least two interactions with your chosen agent. These can be over the phone or in person. Simply talking to them can give you a better idea of how they communicate and if they’re trustworthy and competent. 

Take notes and ask yourself some key questions. Do they communicate professionally? Do they seem experienced? Are they local? Are they easy to reach on the phone or via email?  Do they arrive on time for your appointments? Red flags could appear here, so to stay aware.

Top London estate agent checklist 

Finding it hard to decide which London estate agent is right for you? Use our detailed checklist below. It will tell you if an estate agent ticks all the necessary boxes. It may look like a lot, but the best ones tick all of them. 

Some useful guides when researching estate agents

Can we include preview links for the follow four guides:

Can you trust estate agents in London? 

The majority of estate agents in London are trustworthy. The reputable companies, such as the ones listed here, uphold the regulations of the Estate Agents Act 1979, which dictates honest trading standards when it comes to things like negotiations, marketing, handling funds and resolving conflicts or complaints. 

Trustworthy estate agents in London are also active members of voluntary regulatory bodies, such as Propertymark. Although it’s currently not a requirement for estate agents to be qualified or licensed, as outlined by the House of Commons, it is a requirement for residential estate agents to belong to either The Property Ombudsman (TPO) or The Property Redress Scheme. This is to ensure property disputes are handled according to high trading standards. 

You can check if a London estate agent is a member of TPO or lodge a complaint with The Property Redress Scheme online. 

Not all estate agents are trustworthy

In 2023, Property Industry Eye published an article about estate agents illegally withholding offers from sellers. This was off the back of an investigation by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Teams, which found that some estate agents weren’t passing on the highest offers if the buyers weren’t willing to use their services (e.g. surveyor and mortgage broker), which would usually earn the agents additional commission. 

The following quote from James Munro, head of the enforcement committee, sums up the issue: 

“If you’re thinking of buying a property, and you go in and they say, ‘Would you like to speak to our financial adviser or mortgage adviser?’ And you say, ‘No, I’ll sort all that myself. Here’s my offer for the property’.

“Well, that employee, sometimes on the bigger agencies, is on a commission, so if they can get those referral fees they will put that offer forward. But then there may be another offer which is lower, but that person is using all of the connected services, and mysteriously the higher offer just gets lost on the system.”

If you’re a seller, you may never see the highest offer. This could cost you thousands of pounds in revenue. All because your estate agent wants to earn more commission through these ancillary services. This is a prime example of why you need to research estate agents thoroughly. 

How to find the best estate agent in your local area

You can find estate agents near you through various channels and platforms. Here are some tried and tested ways to find agencies in your local area. 

1. Word of mouth (i.e. referrals from friends)

2. Look for sold signs on nearby streets

3. Check local forums or Facebook groups

4. Visit local estate agent offices 

5. Use this great Estate Agent Finder tool from HomeOwner’s Alliance

How the best London estate agents compare to a cash buyer

Have you ever considered selling to a cash buyer instead of using an estate agent to sell on the open market? Depending on your situation, you might save yourself a lot of time, stress and money by considering this alternative route. 

With over 20 years’ experience in the property industry, we’re a trusted and reliable cash buyer. We have purchased thousands of homes around the UK, providing a fast and valued service for people who need to sell quickly. 

Here’s how we compare to the top estate agents in London:

As you can see, you can save a lot of money by selling to a cash buyer. But it’s worthwhile looking into how much less cash buyers pay for houses before you consider this method. 

Which London estate agent should you choose for a quick sale?

You probably shouldn’t use an estate agent if you want to sell your London house fast. The HomeOwners Alliance recommends using a quick house sale company (aka a professional cash buyer) over an estate agent for fast sales. 

Estate agents in London take more than 3 months on average to sell houses and flats. Sometimes, you might have to wait longer than 5 months. That’s an excruciatingly long time to wait if you need to sell quickly for financial or life reasons. 

If you want a quick sale, you’re better off approaching a professional cash buyer like The Property Buying Company. Instead of waiting months to sell your house, you could have the sale finalised and the funds in your account within 2-3 weeks. Sometimes as fast as 7 days. 

Case study: Choosing a cash buyer over slow estate agents 

One of our recent clients had experienced poor dealings with estate agents and was looking for alternative routes for selling their property. You can read their full review on Trustpilot, but in essence they were able to get the deal they wanted a lot faster by getting in touch with us about a cash sale. 

From the first call, they were impressed with our cash offer, calling it the best they had seen after being offered a lot of low amounts through other cash buying companies and on the open market. As we continued with the deal, this seller was very appreciative of our great communication, transparency and attentiveness throughout the process. 

Ultimately, they were very happy with the timeline of the sale and the prompt completion of paperwork that might’ve taken an estate agent months to finalise. This resulted in a much better service overall than the estate agents they had dealt with in the past. And unlike those estate agents, we didn’t charge them anything for selling to us. 

Should you sell your London house to a cash buyer?

This really depends on your priorities as a seller. If you want a fast sale and don’t mind getting below market price for your house, we might be the best option for you. If you’re happy to wait on the open market so you can get full market value, you’re probably better off choosing an estate agent. 

Just remember that cash house buying companies are as legitimate as real estate agents. We even have a guide on how to choose a legitimate cash buyer. Don’t choose an estate agent because they’re more traditional. You can still encounter deceitful ones out there who might steal your money or time.   

Does a cash buyer sound like the right route for you? Read our review of the best quick house buying companies in the UK to explore your options. You can also learn how the cash buying process works with The Property Buying Company. If you’re ready to get a free, no-obligation cash offer on your property, simply submit your postcode below to get started.