I agree entirely with Colin Crowhurst (see [2004] Gazette, 12 February, 14) - a professional person should not need or succumb to buying work.

I was first approached by an estate agent in Bristol in 1987, asking if I would (in order to continue to receive recommendations from him) pay an introductory fee.

I told him then, politely but clearly, 'no, I would not'.

I never received any more work from him but I never went short of work.

That scenario has been replayed many times since then and I have always stood my ground.

One project I am working on at the moment is the setting up of an action group, consisting of firms who believe that the introduction of home information packs could be the catalyst for the shift of power from estate agents to solicitors.

We could and should prepare and have control of the packs.

Let us get the client to come and see us first.

We could then recommend an estate agent to them (for a fee, of course).

Shifting the balance of power is achievable.

It would not only give us some control over the property market it would also give us back our self-esteem.

Rob Hailstone, Newton Abbot, Devon