Rowan Alexander, Delighted By Eaab's Decision To Outlaw Non-compliant Estate Agents

Rowan Alexander, Delighted By Eaab's Decision To Outlaw Non-compliant Estate Agents

The news that the Estate Agency Affairs Board is now clamping down on and expelling estate agents, who are continuing to operate in the property market despite non- compliance with the Board's instructions regarding continuing professional development courses, is exactly what the industry needs, says Rowan Alexander, Director of Alexander Swart Property.

"Several thousand estate agents will now be either out of a job or will be operating illegally," says Alexander. "What is more, the most common offenders are usually those who have been in the industry a long time. They have come to believe the Board would not make good its promise, to crack down on those who shirk their obligation to continue with their professional training."

Such people, he adds, often believe that they 'know it all' and have no need to update their knowledge on property analyses, property law and property trends - but they are in reality, often 'dead wood'. Through their lack of professionalism they are damaging the industry's reputation.

"The plain truth is that our predecessors did not always leave behind an unblemished legacy. Those who avoided the obligation to improve their skills and knowledge compounded the problem." says Alexander. "Now that the situation is changing, I believe we will see new respect for the well trained, properly informed property professional this year."

Alexander says, anyone dealing with an estate agent, should now take one or more of the following steps to protect himself from dealing with an agent operating illegally:

· Check the agent's standing with the Estate Agency Affairs Board (by using the search function on the Board's website).

· Insist on seeing the agent's Fidelity Fund Certificate - and check that this is up-to-date. Any agent operating without a FFC is working illegally.

· Check on the agent's email correspondence to ensure he or she has a Privy Seal signature. This should be on all the agent's correspondence. If there, it indicates that he or she is in good standing with the Board.

Alexander warns that if a person deals with a property agent who is no longer licensed, he will have no backing from the Board should the agent defraud him in any way.

For further information contact Rowan Alexander on cell phone number 082 581 3116

or by email - rowan@asproperty.co.za.