estate-agent

An estate-agent shows a family around a bright, modern house.

Definition

Noun: - A person who acts as an intermediary for the sale, purchase, or rental of property: An "estate agent" is a professional who helps clients buy, sell, or lease real estate, such as houses, apartments, or land. - A person who manages land or property on behalf of an owner: In some contexts, an "estate agent" may also oversee the administration of agricultural or residential estates.

Usage Examples

• (A professional who assists with buying or renting property.)
• (The agent arranged property viewings.)
• (She oversees the leasing and maintenance of real estate.)

Advanced Usage

• "to work as an estate agent": to be employed in the profession of buying, selling, or renting property.

  • After university, he decided to work as an estate agent in London. (He took a job in the real estate industry.)

• "estate agent's fee": the commission or charge paid to an estate agent for their services.

  • The estate agent's fee was 2% of the sale price. (The cost for the agent's assistance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Real estate agent (n): a synonymous term, especially common in American English, for a person who facilitates property transactions.

  • She is a licensed real estate agent in California. (She is qualified to sell property in that state.)

• Estate agency (n): the business or office of an estate agent.

  • He opened his own estate agency in the suburbs. (His own property sales business.)

Synonyms

• Realtor: a trademarked term for a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors.
• Property agent: a general term for someone who deals with property sales or rentals.
• Land agent: a person who manages agricultural or rural land.

Phrasal Verbs

• List with an estate agent: to register a property for sale or rent through an estate agent.

  • They decided to list their house with a local estate agent. (They hired an agent to sell their home.)

• Work through an estate agent: to use an estate agent's services for a transaction.

  • It is safer to work through an estate agent than to sell privately. (Using a professional intermediary.)

Related Idioms

• Sell like an estate agent: (informal) to sell something very quickly or efficiently.

  • Her homemade cookies sold like an estate agent's listings. (They sold fast and easily.)

• An estate agent's dream: a property that is very easy to sell or rent.

  • That renovated house is an estate agent's dream. (It is highly desirable and likely to sell quickly.)