The letter from Ron Smith (see [2004] Gazette, 1 July, 14), chief executive of ESPC (UK), made interesting reading. However, is this the right time to open an estate agency? The market is beginning to slow down already and the set up and initial running costs will be high. Back in the early 1990s, we saw a number of solicitor-owned estate agencies open, but not many now remain. Timing is important.

Estate agents have had an increasing strong stranglehold over the property market for many years. Why all the surprise and fuss now?


Back in 1995, I carried out some market research and consultancy work for various firms of solicitors across the country. Part of my work involved visiting and talking to numerous estate agents. Not only did it become clear that they had the power to send new conveyancing work, easily, to their favourite ('pet', as they called them) firms of solicitors, they also had the power to direct satisfied clients away from the firms they wanted to re-instruct. They would often do just that if they did not like (for any reason) the particular firm or the fee-earner who was about to be re-instructed.



Two months ago, I launched the Home Information Pack Action Group. My belief is that the introduction of the packs could give solicitors the opportunity to reclaim some control of the property market without going to the expense of setting up an estate agency. I now have more than 120 firms registered on my database, that number is growing daily. I can be contacted at robhailstone@aol.com.



Rob Hailstone, HIPAG, Bovey Tracey, Devon