When buying or selling a house, you place an awful lot of faith in the skill and integrity of an estate agent... but what exactly are the credentials of of the perfect estate agent?
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, says: "We know agents are often reviled and in the popular imagination may not be held in high esteem.
However, we believe the NAEA's attempt to make the profession exactly that - more professional - is reaping dividends.
"All recruits who wish to join the NAEA must have entry qualifications and keep up with their professional development. The award is an attempt to show the public that brilliant agents do exist and bad agents are thin on the ground."
The NAEA believes good estate agents must demonstrate the following types of attributes:-
Integrity must be top of the list. Agents should not exaggerate a valuation to get an instruction. Agents should evaluate a property truthfully for their clients benefit.
An agent who is pro-active by keeping a client informed, always returning calls as quickly as possible and keeping a sale zipping along by chasing solicitors, will always win the approval of clients.
An agent should be personable and greet potential clients and buyers as they come through the door with equanimity, regardless of them wanting to buy or sell a property, or that they have £100,000 or £500,000 to invest.
An agent who has working knowledge of the area so he can advise on local schools and transport services will be regarded as a hero by buyers, who will use them again when they come to sell.
Honesty is a must. An agent must tell a client that his dirty house will not sell unless he undertakes a spring clean and that their slavering dogs are impeding a sale.
Where possible, agents should accompany buyers to a clients home. Clients can make lousy salesmen.
Agents should be qualified. Those who are, and want to better themselves, are the recruits to the industry that the NAEA wish to attract.
Opening hours should suit the customer rather than the golf mad partner.
An agent should have a decent complaints procedure in place so that in the rare event of a dispute it can be dealt with quickly and fairly. In other words, an agent should be signed up to the NAEA Code of Conduct.
Going the extra mile is a big plus. An agent who does that bit more for a client, will drop them to the station, recommend a good removal firm, help tidy the teenagers room prior to a visit and pop the dirty mugs in the dishwasher.
We at Meridian are Proud to be members of the NAEA
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