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Whether you are trying to make that first step onto the property ladder, desperate to move into your dream home or looking to sell up or down, you will have to face the fact that you will most likely have to deal with an estate agent. Despite conjuring up images of glorified Dixons sales assistants with shiny hair in shiny cars and even shinier suits, a lot of estate agents can be relied on to handle the largest and most important transaction of many people's lives in a professional and efficient manner. Nonetheless, dealing with estate agents can be a veritable minefield of dishonesty and hidden costs. And despite the property market seemingly stuck in recovery mode due to the economic downturn, complaints about estate agents are still being measured in their thousands. In fact, the Property Ombudsman - an independent service that resolves disputes between consumers and sales and lettings agents - has in recent times seen a rise in the number of complaints. But exactly how do estate agents let down buyers and sellers, and what can be done to prevent such instances? Most complaints about realtors materialise as a result of misleading information, bad advice, sneaky terms and conditions hidden in the small print and plain old unprofessionalism. There are many things that could go wrong so it is imperative that you keep your wits about you and do as much as you can to prevent engaging the services of a dodgy estate agent. There are a few agents out there who still to this day somewhat fail to play by the rules though there are still for sure the good agents too which play by the rules. Should you end up with a bad agent, you could find your dreams shattered and your bank account relieved of thousands of pounds with nothing to show for it but weeks of stress and disappointment. How to find a reputable estate agent The first thing to do before engaging the services of any estate agent is to ensure they are properly accredited. The majority of estate agents are members of either The Property Ombudsman (TPO) or the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and should be registered by the Office of Fair Trading-approved Estate Agents Redress Scheme. With the appropriate accreditation, you can be sure that any complaint you make against your agent will be reviewed properly in line with the relevant code of practice. Never be afraid to ask agents how long they have been in the industry for and how much training they've had. Working with a seasoned and experienced professional will certainly help your peace of mind. If your estate agent is not affiliated with any recognised bodies or is dangerously under-qualified, then they are simply not worth the trouble. Would you really risk tens of thousands of pounds of your money and your biggest asset with someone you can't trust?
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