How comparison attributes work for estate agents

Choosing an estate agent can shape your experience as a seller, landlord or tenant. On Annuvell Local, each agent’s listing shows specific facts about their services, with clear labels so you can compare them confidently. Knowing what these attributes mean and where the facts come from helps you make fair comparisons and decide which agents to approach.

What each estate agent attribute tells you

Estate agent listings on Annuvell Local display facts about the services each business offers. Here’s what each attribute means in plain terms:

• Residential sales: The agent handles selling homes to individuals or families. This is relevant whether you are selling your main residence or a buy-to-let property.
• Lettings: The agency finds tenants and arranges rental agreements for landlords. If you own a property to rent out, this is a key service.
• Property management: The agent looks after the ongoing needs of rental properties, often handling repairs, rent collection and tenant issues. This is useful if you do not want to manage the property yourself.
• Free valuation: The business offers to assess your property’s value at no charge. This is a typical first step for sellers and landlords.
• Commercial property: The agency deals with offices, shops or other business premises, not just homes. Useful for business owners or investors.
• Student lettings: The business specialises in or offers services for student tenants, which can differ from general lettings.
• Landlord services: Covers additional support for landlords, such as legal advice, compliance checks or rent protection.
• Tenant services: Includes help for renters, such as property search support or advice on tenancy agreements.
• New homes: The agent markets or sells newly built homes, sometimes working directly with developers.
• Block management: The company manages communal areas and shared facilities in flats or estates, often on behalf of a freeholder or residents’ association.
• Mortgage services: The business can connect you with mortgage advice or brokerage, either in-house or via partners.
• Property auctions: The agency sells properties by auction, an option for some types of sale or for properties needing work.
• Virtual valuation: The business can value your property remotely, using video calls or online tools. Handy if you prefer not to book a visit straight away.
• Rental valuation: The agency assesses the rental value of your property. This may be offered separately from a sale valuation.

Each fact is shown as present, absent or not stated, so you can quickly see what each business offers.

Provenance labels: what they mean and why they matter

Every comparison fact has a provenance label so you know where the information comes from:

• Verified: The fact is checked directly from the agent’s own website. This gives confidence that the service is genuinely offered and not just claimed elsewhere.
• Provided by the business: The attribute is confirmed by the agent themselves via their owner dashboard, after passing a basic ownership check. This is useful where a service is new or not listed on the website.
• Not stated: There is no published evidence for the service, either on the agent’s website or from the business owner. This does not mean the service is not offered; it simply has not been confirmed or published.

Seeing how each fact is sourced helps you judge how much weight to give it. A blank or Not stated field is not a negative—it just means there is no public or confirmed information in that area. You can always ask the agent directly if a service matters to you.

How to use the compare tool for estate agents

The Annuvell Local compare tool lets you review up to four estate agents side by side. This is the practical way to spot differences and similarities without relying on memory or notes.

1. Pick two to four agents: Start from the estate agents category page or a local search and select up to four businesses you want to compare.
2. Read the facts side by side: The tool displays each comparison fact with its provenance label for each agent. For example, you might see that one agent offers block management (verified), another lists it as Not stated, and a third confirms student lettings (provided by the business).
3. Focus on what matters to you: If you are a landlord, you might pay particular attention to property management and landlord services. Sellers might look for free valuation and residential sales. Tenants could check for tenant services and student lettings.
4. Request proposals: Once you have compared facts, you can use the Request Quote option to contact your shortlist. From the comparison view, you can send your details to two to four agents at once, explaining what you need. This saves time and helps you get responses tailored to your requirements.

Paid placements never affect the ordering or the facts shown in the comparison tool. Every fact is presented as checked, confirmed or not stated, so you see a fair picture.

Why 'Not stated' is not a 'No'

A Not stated label on a comparison fact simply means there is no checked or published evidence for that service. Many estate agents offer additional services that are not listed on their website, or have not yet updated their Annuvell Local profile. If a service is important to you, it is worth asking the agent directly, even if it is not stated in their profile.

Not stated is not a negative mark. It is just a prompt to enquire further if the service could be relevant to your needs. Businesses may be updating their listings, or may offer a service on request rather than as a standard part of their offering. When comparing, weigh the facts you can see, but do not rule out an agent just because a service is not confirmed.

For business owners: confirming facts and filling in blanks

If you own or manage an estate agency, claiming your listing on Annuvell Local lets you review and confirm the services you provide. The owner dashboard allows you to add or update facts, upload photos, edit your business description and check your contact details.

• Confirming facts boosts trust: When you confirm an attribute, it is labelled as provided by the business and appears in comparisons. This helps potential clients understand exactly what you offer.
• Leaving blanks is a missed opportunity: Not stated appears when you have not confirmed or published a service. If you do offer a service, adding it can help you appear in more searches and comparisons.
• Verified badge: Completing the ownership check gives your listing the Verified badge. This cannot be bought and shows that your business identity has been confirmed, which reassures both sellers and landlords.
• Profile completeness: The dashboard shows how complete your profile is. Filling in all attributes makes your listing more useful and increases the chances of being contacted by the right clients.

To get started, see Find my business for the claiming process.

What to look for beyond the facts

While the comparison facts give a clear, structured view of what each agent offers, other factors also matter in your decision:

• Contact details: Every listing has checked phone and email details. A verified phone number means it is published by the business itself.
• Website access: If a business website is unreachable, this is flagged on their listing. This can be a sign to double-check contact routes.
• Location: Annuvell Local lets you order search results by distance from your postcode or location, which can be helpful if you want a local agent with knowledge of your area.
• Direct questions: If a service is not stated or you need more detail, contact the agent and ask how they handle your type of property or situation.
• Service mix: Some agents focus on a particular area, like student lettings or block management, while others cover a broad set of services. Use the facts to see who matches your needs.

For more on how the comparison process works, visit How Annuvell comparisons work.

Next steps

Write down what matters to you—whether it is property management, auctions, free valuation or another service. Use the compare tool to review two to four estate agents in your area side by side. Once you have found agents offering what you need, request proposals and compare their responses. Start your search on the estate agents category page.