With anyone able to set up a sales / lettings agency, many people have doubted whether agents have the expertise needed. In fact, some even prefer to use websites to buy or rent property independently.
The Blue Book provides residential sales and letting professionals with best practice advice to enhance the quality of service provided.
David Dalby RICS Director of Residential, said:
"We hope to change people's perception of estate agencies by promoting the standards expected of residential agents under the long established RICS brand.
"The Blue Book will also help estate agents to improve their business by providing advice on issues such as conflicts of interest and how to build better relationships with buyers and sellers as well as information on how to expand their range of services.
"RICS is the only chartered organisation monitoring residential agents and those using an RICS agency will know that the level of service provided is of the highest standard."
RICS has also developed a new online resource, isurv Estate Agency, which offers agents advice on how to deal with all aspects of residential estate agency and provides access to the Blue Book.
High street estate agents who aspire to provide a professional service backed by a robust regulatory regime that offers the highest standards of consumer protection have been able to become Associate members of RICS through the Residential Estate Agency route since 2009, providing another option to professional membership.
