Real Estate Alliance

TIME TO GET REAL WITH SO CALLED "PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS"

Real Estate Alliance Demands Higher Industry Standards

Following its Conference and AGM which took place in Ennis this weekend (30th Sept � 2nd Oct), Real Estate Alliance announced that it is time for the Government to get real with so-called �property professional�s. The national property group, made up of Ireland�s leading auctioneers and estate agents, have called on the Government to set a minimum standard of degree level qualification for the auctioneering profession.

Newly appointed Chairman of Real Estate Alliance, Eddie Barrett of North�s Real Estate Alliance, pledged his and his members commitment to the highest standards in the industry. �It is a serious cause for concern to us that totally unqualified people can, at present, carry out valuations on properties. The Government committee on the regulation of the auctioneering industry has been out on this topic for the last 12 months and their findings have yet to be published. In the meantime these unqualified cowboys are still out there �valuing� properties; potentially damaging not only the property market and the unsuspecting buyer but also the reputation of our industry professionals�, he added.

�It is a sad reality that at present, there are estate agents in practice around this country with no training, no experience, no qualifications and in some cases no professional indemnity insurance. The Government surely has to realise that inaccurate valuations made by unqualified persons are fuelling the fire of �Rip Off Ireland�. One particular franchise group even allows individuals with no previous experience in the profession to practice, on a sales commission only basis. The fact that these people can play with people�s fortunes and have the ability to mislead the general public is frightening beyond belief�, said Mr Barrett.

�Real Estate Alliance believes that auctioneering is and should be a professionally qualified occupation, akin to practicing solicitors or accountants. The industry as a whole needs to reflect the highest professional standards required to practice in the field. As such we believe that no less than a relevant qualification to degree level should be the minimum acceptable for those practising in the industry�, commented Aine Myler, newly appointed Vice Chairperson of Real Estate Alliance.

�Currently the District Court awards licences willy nilly to be an auctioneer and valuer with an insurance bond of �12,700. The only other requirement being an accountant�s certificate of solvency�, concluded Ms Myler.

A series of workshops were a key focus of this years Conference/AGM. Topics covered included;

• Best Practice in Sales Techniques
• Property Management
• Digital Photography
• Human Resources

Real Estate Alliance continues its focus on quality, with the longest established, most professionally qualified estate agents around the country, with all member firms being allied to I.A.V.I / S.C.S.

�Real Estate Alliance believes in continuous professional development which is why we decided to include a series of workshops for members and their staff at this years AGM so as to provide the widest range of fully professional advice and services by all Real Estate Alliance members. This should of course be provided by all property professionals but sadly this is often not the case�, said Eimer O�Keeffe, CEO of Real Estate Alliance.

�Real Estate Alliance member firms draw on vast experience in offering clients a top class service in residential, commercial, valuations, sales, purchases, lettings, agricultural lands as well as land development for housing sites, acquisitions, planning, zoning and professional consultancy, including rent reviews, arbitrations, CPO�s, lease renewals and appraisals�, she continued.

The last year has been hugely successful for Real Estate Alliance. The group has this year welcomed a total of six new members to the group. Annual sales figures were �3.8bn. Agricultural sales figures were at in excess of �500million. Land development sales figures were in excess of �1.1bn, while new homes were also a particularly strong area for the group with sales of �2.1bn.

- ENDS -

NOTE TO EDITORS

Real Estate Alliance is a strategic marketing alliance comprising some of the country�s best-established auctioneers and estate agents. Our key focus is on locally-owned and established estate agents. With one quarter of the alliance�s firms in business for more than a century, and with an existing IAVI president & five IAVI past presidents among the group�s members, the alliance is characterised by the established strength of its membership. In addition, membership is only open to firms led by members of the Irish Auctioneers & Valuers Institute or the Society of Chartered Surveyors.

Clients of REA members benefit from:

Real Advice

- Because member firms are locally-rooted and independently owned, they have first-hand market knowledge that ensures clients make only the best-informed real estate decisions.

Real Commitment

- Member firms are well established, leading local businesses built on delivering the best results for their clients.

Real Service

- Our member firms have the detailed understanding of the local property issues facing clients to ensure that they provide a superior range of client services.

Real Professionalism

- As Ireland\'s highest-qualified property professionals, REA sales staff are members of the IAVI or the SCS, the representative bodies for Ireland\'s top property professionals.

Real Confidence

- IAVI members complete far more property transactions than any other professional group. Our member firms harness this transaction volume to seize opportunities and speed the transaction process for you.

Real Coverage

- With more than 400 professional staff in 40 offices located nationwide, our member firms can provide the best real estate advice locally and nationwide.