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"What regulation, if any, covers relocation agents? (for Smoothmove)"
NICKSSS - with regards to regulation, as a new element within the process of selling a house there is no regulation as such. However the ultimate regulation is that of our customer – no sale, no fee (yes, that’s familiar) but we have no minimum contracts so we fail, you disinstruct!! Best regulation going!!
“Yeah an EA is a middleman and agreed loosely regulated (NAEA) and voluntary Ombudsmen.
But a relocation agent is one step further removed like a second cousin (an extra middleman) and no doubt completely unregulated what’s to stop them getting up to no good and who would you turn to if they did, who would care.
I can't see the point of relocation agents who feel they have found a niche that was not really there, like a roadsweepers assistant I suppose!
I intend to relocate soon and would relish the search for a new property and am very capable of finding a good agent to sell my house well that will be me actually”
IMMY - I’m interested in what you mean by “getting up to no good” – I can’t think why we would want to do anything wrong as that could not benefit us!! As for a “niche that was not really there” – my customers would beg to differ. This whole thread would indicate that there is a niche for quality service and added value in the industry, despite what some agents think.
The niche you mention includes finding the best agents as this is crucial, and difficult for many people. How would the public find the best ones without help? After all it is the case that every agent feels that they are great so who are the public to believe?
The fact that you cannot see the point of Relocation Agents is less relevant than the fact that many of our own customers do see the need for them, I’d be happier keeping customers happy than suppliers.
I’m glad that you are able to find an agent yourself but as a professional in the industry, with respect, so you should – again, what about the public in general?
“We do, however, have a choice when it comes to who we sell with, and if the Buyers insisted on going with the more honest EAs then the shysters would gradually run out of business.”
ARY - I agree with your comment – think of Relocation/Selling Agents as regulators rather than agents and you get the best of all worlds. We stake our reputations on the performance of our chosen estate agents, we have to work with the good guys not the shysters. And remember, our “additional” value added fee is not made up of adding to the agents’ fee, we take it from them and keep the savings as our fee – so the customer pays no more.
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