Seven ways to spot an ethical estate agent.
Use this whether or not the agent is one of ours. If they tick all seven, you are most likely in safe hands.
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They do not overvalue to win business
Honest, evidence based valuations rather than inflated promises. An agent who tells you what you want to hear in the first meeting is not doing you a favour, they are winning an instruction.
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They do not tie you into long contracts
Fair, flexible terms that respect your choice. If the service is good you will stay. A long tie-in exists to protect the agent, not you.
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They never use conditional selling tactics
No pressure to use their in house mortgage provider or solicitor to get your offer taken seriously. That practice is not just unethical, it is against the rules.
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They tell the truth, even when it is difficult
Straight talking advice that protects your interests. Sometimes that means telling you the price is wrong, or that the offer on the table is the right one.
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They communicate clearly and consistently
Regular updates, so you are never left in the dark. You should never have to chase an agent to find out what is happening with the biggest transaction of your life.
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They put people before profit
Clients are cared for, not treated as financial transactions. You can usually tell within one meeting which of the two you are.
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They have a proven reputation
Plenty of genuine reviews with a strong average. Read the middling ones as well as the glowing ones, and look at how the agent replied to any criticism.
Or let somebody else do the checking.
Every approved member has already been through all seven, plus 50 or more Google reviews averaging 4.3 or higher, an assessment by people who run agencies themselves, and evidence of real community work.
Everything an agency had to prove
Book a valuation with an EAN approved agent near you