Choosing which auctioneer to use is never easy, so you may wish to consider the following advice when choosing your auctioneer:

Make sure your auctioneer is a member of a Professional Auctioneering Institute such as the IAVI or IPAV because....

* Not all auctioneers are qualified by examination but applicants for membership of IAVI, IPAV and SCS are required to pass courses of study in relevant property subjects, in the case of IAVI its entry programme for ordinary membership carrying an Honours BSc. from the Dublin Institute of Technology.
* Members of the IAVI and SCS are required to undertake mandatory Continuing Professional Development training of at least 60 hours in any three year period in order to stay abreast of changing legislation and practice.
* Members of IAVI, IPAV and SCS are subject to rules of conduct, while other auctioneers are not.
* Deposits paid to Member Firms of the IAVI and IPAV are subject to better protection than is provided by Irish law - in the case of the IAVI, up to €63,500 per claim or €190,500 per firm and, in the case of IPAV, up to €15,000 per claim.
* c. 95% of all property in Ireland is sold through an estate agent and the vast majority of this through members of a professional body.
* Leading businesses, the State and Semi-State sectors always engage the services of qualified professionals and the public should do likewise.
*Always ensure the agent you are buying from has a current licence before paying over a deposit.

Check your agent's opening hours ­ many shut at 5 pm or 5.30 pm. Weekends can be the busiest time of the week for potential buyers, so make sure your auctioneer opens on Saturdays and Sundays

* Choose an estate agent that specialises in your type of property.
* Contact at least three estate agents before making a decision on who will sell your home.
* The cheapest is not always the best. Find an agent that gives the service you require.
* A good estate agent will answer the telephone and e-mails quickly

* Ask if the agent brings a list of buyers for a property similar to yours
* Ask how long it has taken them to sell similar property in your area.
* Ask for the rate of commission the estate agent will charge or if a fixed fee can be arranged.
* Ask how and where they will advertise your property and how much this advertising will cost.
* Ask if there are any penalties in changing estate agents.