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Are estate agents professional? - Kevin (24th Nov 2013 - 17:07:33) I have had a real "eye opening" experience since I put my house on the market. The agent I eventually chose was the one agent (I had 4 valuations) who did not "talk up" the market, did not ask invasive and irrelevant questions, did not run down other estate agents and who answered all my questions very competently. He talked me through the sales process and gave me the guidance I needed. Since my house has been on the market (now thankfully under offer) I have been receiving leaflets and letters from other agents asking if I am satisfied with my agent, had I thought of changing estate agents etc. So no, I do not think that estate agents are professional, certainly not in the way that solicitors, doctors, dentists, accountants etc etc are. In the first instance estate agents do not have to pass any exams in order to become an estate agent - anyone can set up as an estate agent and secondly professional bodies do not try to steal away business from competitors and bombard people with junk mail and unwanted letters advertising their services. I would be interested to hear what other people think.

Re: Are estate agents professional? - bdavies (25th Nov 2013 - 08:08:56) I think that you have answered your own question - some are very professional and some are not. Most commercial enterprises will compete with each other and attempt to take business away from competitors, that is the nature of free enterprise; thankfully our medical professions are driven by different motivating factors and ethics. Good estate agents are subject to proper training through internal means. Some have passed the relevant exams such as FRICS but most live by reputation and this is defined by how well they treat their customers. All of the good things that you have said about your agent should apply to all. Agents do have a governing body - the NAEA and NFOPP; not all are affiliated. The issue of rental (and sales) agents not being subject to compulsory trading standards needs redressing; there are too many cowboys out there giving them all a bad reputation.

Re: Are estate agents professional? - chris (25th Nov 2013 - 10:30:58) who did you list with?

Re: Are estate agents professional? - Kevin (27th Nov 2013 - 18:47:58) I went outside the area and am now under offer. I found that all the Liphook estate agents tried to score points off their competitors and I was not impressed by any of them. I still maintain that professional businesses do not spend all their time trying to steal competitors' business by sending unwanted letters and running them down.

Re: Are estate agents professional? - chris (27th Nov 2013 - 21:32:53) and you listed with?

Re: Are estate agents professional? - Kevin (2nd Dec 2013 - 19:41:41) Peter Leete & Partners. Courteous, knowledgeable and efficient.

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