Why we need to weed out the worst of our estate agents

This is a slap-dash bunch who throw properties on the Rightmove conveyor belt without any consideration for what the owner actually wants.

Recently, I met a couple who had received just two viewings after marketing their house eight months ago using a large agent. After querying this, the agent claimed it would sell once a buyer came along, a true example of the job being done badly or not being done at all.

It is very disappointing because this arrogance and laziness erodes a person's trust for the entire industry, though it us likely their agent was beholden to aggressive targets set by a head office but as an independent agent, Blenkin & Co is free from these shackles.

As a small business owner, it's pointless for me to win an instruction then sit on my laurels because I don't get paid unless the property sells, so we are hungry for business and have a fantastic team in place to meet our clients' high expectations.

My advice when choosing an agent is decide who you have a rapport with and can work alongside. Look for a trusted advisor because many agents fail to explain what they do and how they work, causing stress for sellers facing large financial decisions.

The buying and selling processes can be overwhelming and agents must deconstruct the complexities.

The best agencies are always looking to enhance their offering and one example from Blenkin & Co is a private sales section (password encrypted) on our website. To view these homes, unavailable on the portals, buyers must provide proof of funds to our broker.

This service ensures our vendors find the best match in terms of a buyer and vice versa. We have also launched a lettings service so the firm is expanding but without corners being cut.

A further litmus test of agencies are returning customers and I'm proud to have worked with some of mine for over 15 years. While gratifying, it has been achieved with hard work, underpinned by an experience in hauling complex deals over the line.

A good agent plays multiple roles - tough negotiator, confidante, marketer and more but however skilled, they cannot please everyone all the time.

We are the middlemen who become the punch bag upon delivery of bad news.

I think every reputable agent agrees the most effective way to weed out the uncommitted and unmotivated is to have mandatory qualifications to ensure the gaps within our unregulated market cannot be exploited by the shameless few.

Edward Hartshorne is MD of Blenkin and Co., www.blenkinandco.com