Best Estate Agents in North Shields

North Shields has one of the busiest property markets on the coast. Victorian terraces near Northumberland Park, Georgian townhouses around Northumberland Square, new-build estates at Royal Quays and flats overlooking the Fish Quay all change hands regularly, and there is a large rental market too. If you are selling, buying or letting, here are the agents with branches in the town.

Mike Rogerson Estate Agents

Mike Rogerson Estate Agents has been part of the North Tyneside property scene since 1992, and its Bedford Street office is one of the most recognisable on the high street. The firm has grown to around twenty branches across the North East, all in the region.

It offers sales, lettings, property auctions and commercial property, and can also put clients in touch with financial advice and conveyancing under one roof. Its long run in the town means a strong local database of buyers.

Best for: Best for: sellers wanting a well-known local name with a wide North East reach

Pattinson

Pattinson has its North Shields branch at 3 Northumberland Place, just off the town centre. Founded in 1977 and still family run, Pattinson describes itself as having 28 offices and around 300 staff across the region.

Alongside sales and lettings, the firm offers property management, mortgage advice, surveys and its own auction service, which can be useful for properties needing work or sellers wanting a fixed timescale.

Best for: Best for: sellers weighing a traditional sale against auction

Fresh Property Centre

Fresh Property Centre is an independent, locally owned agent at 63 Church Way in the town centre. It handles sales and lettings and works with local firms for conveyancing, mortgages and surveys.

Being small and local, it tends to suit people who want to deal with the same faces from valuation through to completion.

Best for: Best for: a personal service from a small town-centre independent

Northwood North Shields

Northwood North Shields on Hawkeys Lane was previously the independent agent Moving Homes. It was taken over by Northwood's Newcastle franchise, with founder Tracey staying on to manage the local team.

The office deals with sales and lettings, and is best known for its Guaranteed Rent scheme, where landlords receive a fixed monthly rent whether or not the property is occupied. Northwood states that it is a member of The Property Ombudsman.

Best for: Best for: landlords looking for guaranteed rent and hands-off management

Richardsons

Richardsons has an office at 173 Trevor Terrace and advertises rental properties across the town. It is worth registering with if you are looking for a home to rent in North Shields.

Best for: Best for: tenants searching for rentals in the town

R A Jackson & Son

For shops, offices and industrial space, R A Jackson & Son at 18 Northumberland Square specialises in commercial property, handling lettings and sales of retail units and business premises around the town centre.

Best for: Best for: commercial property and business premises

Nearby in Tynemouth

If you are buying or selling on the edge of town, the agents on Front Street in Tynemouth also cover North Shields. Brannen & Partners, an independent practice of chartered surveyors, and Bridgfords both have offices there, a short drive from the town centre.

How to choose an estate agent

Get three valuations. Invite at least three agents round and ask how they arrived at their figure, using recent sales of similar homes nearby. Be wary of the highest valuation if it is not backed up by evidence; overpricing is the most common reason homes sit unsold.

Read the contract carefully. Check the fee, whether it includes VAT, the length of any tie-in period and whether you are signing a sole agency or multi-agency agreement. Ask what happens if you find a buyer yourself.

Check redress and membership. Every estate and letting agent must belong to a government-approved redress scheme, either The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. Letting agents holding client money must also have client money protection. Membership of Propertymark is voluntary but signals a commitment to professional standards. Ask to see the certificates.

Know the rules for renters. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, letting agents and landlords in England cannot charge tenants fees for viewings, references or contracts. The main permitted payments are rent, a refundable deposit capped at five weeks' rent and a holding deposit of up to one week's rent.

Look for material information. Property listings should now include upfront details such as council tax band, tenure and any known issues. If a listing is missing something important, ask before you view.

Register as a buyer. Some homes are offered to registered buyers before they reach the portals, so it pays to sign up with several agents.

For help picking an area, see our guide to the best streets to live in North Shields and moving to North Shields. When it comes to conveyancing, our guide to solicitors in North Shields lists local firms.

Know a North Shields estate agent we should include? Let us know.