Right to Reply

I had a comment from an avid reader this week in reference to last weeks Cole Face. While agreeing with my comments on the bonuses paid to unregulated spivs and bankers they suggested that was a little rich coming from an Estate Agents who is also unregulated in a business where anyone could set up their own practice tomorrow.

To an extent they were right to draw this conclusion but I did have some justified defense to fire back.

For starters, anyone who wants to open an estate agent and make it pay currently, apart from needing to be medically certified. is very, very welcome.

Second and more seriously, I think you would find most of the finer exponents of my industry would welcome some form of licensing. The problem for quality set ups is that the cow boys in the industry tarnish the reputation of the genuine and in no industry has that been more prevalent than Estate Agency.

All the decent agents I know would welcome some mandatory badge of honour, like a plumber has with CORGI for example, as it would benefit their standing with the public.

All that said, there is an Independent body who oversee agents currently and quite successfully that maybe some of you aren't aware of. The Ombudsmen for Estate Agents is becoming an obligatory scheme that all agents have to join. Previously it has been optional. They have the power to fine agents for wrong doing and reward the complainer with this proceeds of the fine. The complainer can be buyer or seller who is entitled to seek retribution if the agent has failed to adhere to a strict code of conduct.

As a client you should look to ensure your agent is a member. If they are not you are potentially asking for trouble.

Imagine are of course members but we actually take the process a stage further. We ask each and every client to complete and OEA satisfaction survey AND publish the results, which can be found on our website, good bad or indifferent. Visit www.imagine-group.co.uk/feedback to see these. To date, 2 1/2 years since trading, we have not had a single client report us to the Ombudsmen. We did have one guy threaten it, but in our defense he was a complete loon. Anyway, while our ethical standards remain a priority of mine, I see no reason for this changing anytime soon.