HOUSEFINDERS ESTATE & LETTING AGENTS TOPS ESTATE AGENCY TREE AS THE INDUSTRY HONOURS ITS VERY BEST AT THE ANNUAL ESTATE AGENCY OF THE YEAR AWARDS

housefinders deservedly received the Best Small Midlands Agency Award last week at the 2008 Estate Agency of the Year Awards, held this year at the QEII Centre in central London.  The event, now in its fifth year, is widely recognised as the most important in the industry calendar and, even in the midst of the toughest times faced by estate agents for many years, attracted an audience of over 450.

housefinders were delighted to receive the award.  Richard Wetherall said:  “This is recognition for the fantastic work carried out by every member of our team - Karen, Barbara, Tina & Julie. Times are very tough in our industry and commitment to best practice and excellence are even more important to allow the best agents to capture a share of a dwindling market.   This award is evidence that we have continued to deliver a gold standard to our clients and I am delighted that our achievements have been recognised by such an eminent panel of judges.”

Success at the Estate Agency of the Year Awards is not easily come by. As the only awards judged by an independent panel of industry experts, each entrant is required to go through a two step process; submission of a written questionnaire is then followed by a telephone interview with a judge. The whole process is overseen by the Ombudsman for the industry Christopher Hamer as well as being endorsed by industry bodies the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents.

Peter Knight, Chairman of the event organisers Estate Agency Events was delighted with the industry’s response to the awards, “It is not easy in today’s marketplace to retain an absolute commitment to excellence but that is what our winners have done and for that the industry should be proud.  Delivering the quality of service shown by our winners is vital for the industry to survive now and thrive in the future. I cannot commend the example set by the winners highly enough.

“I would also like to add my grateful thanks to our sponsors and supporters whose support makes everything possible.

Finally it is good to be able to say that I look forward with a little less trepidation to the months ahead knowing that there are so many examples of excellent, committed and dedicated Estate Agencies out there. The award winners and the participants in the accompanying Leadership Summit and Future Estate Agency Seminar are shining examples whom I would urge all others to aspire to.”