Following BBC1's Whistleblower Programme - Lawson-West Estate Agents Launch Money Back Service Guarantee

As the Office of Fair Trading launches the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Company
Limited’s code of practice, following BBC One’s Whistleblower programme, which was aired on Tuesday night, Lawson-West Estate Agents and Solicitors, announce a code of practice they have committed to.

The programme Whistleblower, sees two undercover journalists work for a number of large estate agents in London, ‘uncovering unscrupulous practices including faking signatures.’ Said the report.

Keith Lawson-West commented;

“These undercover programmes highlight to the public how underhanded some estate agencies can be. This in turn obviously worries people when they come to sell their house – who can they trust?”

Lawson-West Estate Agents took the decision to subscribe to the which? ‘we
promise’ code to demonstrate to the public that they have a real commitment to help every client sell their home with integrity and professionalism. What’s more, in a step which they believe to be unique to any Leicestershire Estate Agents, Lawson-West has backed their service by their own unique money back guarantee. If they fail to meet with the which? code, they will take £250 off the final bill.

Added Mr Lawson-West;

“Being solicitors as well as estate agents we work under Law Society rules which are very stringent. We have to ensure there are no conflict’s of interest at all times. If we did anything underhand, it would ruin our whole lively hood and we would be struck
off.

Commission based salaries cause some of the problems – we have noticed a willingness to flout rules, particularly where being in breach of money laundering regulations is concerned. There is an attitude that rules are there to be broken.”

He further commented:

Essentially, success comes through abiding to the rules and the right attitude of genuinely wanting to give clients a fantastic service, we do this not just because our business relies on reputation and recommendation, but because we want to give a great service which is why we’ve subscribed to the which? ‘we promise’ code adding
our own unique money back guarantee on top of it.”


Not sure of how to choose a good estate agent from the bad? Here are five tips:

5 Things to Consider when Choosing the Right Estate Agent.

1) Go by recommendation. Ask friends and relatives who have recently moved who they used and if they were happy with the service they received.

2) Do you trust them? Do they fill you with confidence that they will sell your house? Get three different estate agents to come to your house before you make a decision.

3) Are they upfront and transparent about their fees and expenses?

4) How long have they been in business? Do they have a good reputation?

5) Do they offer lots of promises but having nothing to back it up in terms of guarantees?