NEWSbeat
STANDARDS RICS takes the lead
RICS hopes to change the way people view estate agents with the launch of the latest
edition of its UK Residential Property Standards, ‘The Blue Book’.
With 100,000 members across
the world, RICS certainly has the responsibility as well as the scope to be the leader in raising estate agency standards. And despite legislation and previous initiatives to clear out the cowboys, the public perception is that with anyone able to set up a sales/ lettings agency, many doubt that 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 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 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 would like 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. For more information visit:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk_NDS
TECHNOLOGY Strutt & Parker’s ‘Smartboards’
‘We hope to change people’s perceptions.’
LEGISLATION Squatters, bang to rights?
The amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill currently progressing through Parliament will mean that anyone found squatting in a residential property could face up to a year in jail and/or a £5,000 fine. But the efforts to pass laws to make squatting a criminal offence would be better spent making the existing civil process faster, less expensive and more effective, says Nitej Davda, senior associate at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP. “We shouldn’t focus on the criminal process, but on making the existing civil process more effective. If there was one ‘uniform’ way to remove a squatter from premises it would
6 DECEMBER 2011 PROPERTYdrum
make life simpler for those affected by squatters.” “This would have been the conclusion reached had the law on squatting been properly thought through. These changes have the feel of being fast tracked to deal with recent high profile cases such as the Cockerells and Guy Ritchie. “Whilst the police do currently
have powers to remove squatters in certain circumstances, the problem as I see it is there is no evidence that those current powers are being applied effectively, meaning most property owners are forced to use the civil process in any event. Furthermore, in the face of cuts to police budgets where would the man power be to
enforce any such law? “The police are being asked to
form a view on whether someone is occupying property with or without permission of the landowner. In the case of residential properties this may not be an easy case to answer, which will mean property owners will not benefit from the proposed change. “The vast majority of squatters are removed using the civil process and I do not see this proposed reform changing that, the focus should have been on making that process more accessible for property owners rather than passing legislation that is unlikely to significantly eradicate the problem.”
Strutt & Parker is the first national agent to roll out ‘Smartboards” with QR code and NFC technology combined on all its sale boards. The new technology allows buyers to scan a QR code or NFC chip to obtain immediate information (via a smartphone) about the property in question, and Strutt & Parker is coinciding the roll-out with the launch of its new mobile website. Smartboards work in conjunction with smartphones to download information instantaneously with the ‘zap’ of the QR code. Strutt & Parker’s Smartboards, provided by Kremer Signs, are fixed to the post beneath the standard sale board and the bold QR code and vibrant red design attracts passers-by. The code can then be scanned by any smartphone or, with more advanced phones, the latest
NFC technology can be used to merely touch the board to initiate the information download. The phone will then show full property details including floorplans and photos, as well as offering the option to easily complete a short request form for further information or a viewing. Kiersty Long, Head of Digital
Marketing at Strutt & Parker says, “This is remarkable and groundbreaking technology. We are incredibly proud to be the first agent to trial this innovative product from Kremer Signs, and we feel confident that it will open new doors in marketing our properties.” Long adds, “As some of our more rural properties are down the end of a long driveway, the smartboard enables buyers to see what the house looks like from the end of the lane.”
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