James Wyatt, Senior Partner of Virginia Water estate agency Barton Wyatt, located in the heart of Surrey, was elected Chairman of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) Surrey branch in April 2010. As part of his duties as Chairman he has announced his future aims for the group plus the first networking event for the region.

Having been an estate agent for 26 years, early on in his career James saw the benefits of the NAEA and promptly became a member. 23 years later James is now very proud to be a voice for the industry in Surrey and wishes to continue promoting best practice, drive for more members and also increase exposure to the public.

James informs us,

“The NAEA is far more than just a label for an estate agent; it holds much more significance which is something I want to better promote to non-members and the public. One of the key offerings of the NAEA to members is the push for education. The training courses are an excellent way to gain a vocational qualification relevant to your property practice, be it, residential or commercial sales, lettings, property management or even auctioneering. On top of this property professionals have access to vital industry information including the latest government legislation and professional resources.

“For the consumer of course, knowing that they have appointed an NAEA member gives them peace of mind that they are buying or selling through professionals who are there to promote and protect their client’s interest. It is essential for all members to hold valid and up to date professional indemnity cover, for example, and it worries me that on this point alone there are estate agents trading without this insurance leaving their clients vulnerable to the financial consequences of professional negligence, simply put clients stand to lose money if things go wrong. It’s not acceptable for the trusting public to be unwillingly put in this liable position, and it’s just one thing the NAEA fights for in government.”

For his first event as Chairman, James has organised a networking event on 15^th September, a cruise down the Thames with the backdrop of Hampton Court Palace and Richmond-upon-Thames. The aim of the event is simple – to bring together all facets of the property industry in order to meet people you need to help you run your business… Developers, bankers, solicitors, estate agents, interior designers, marketers, kitchen suppliers, landlords, property managers and so on. James wants to get Surrey talking and working with each other.

With 330 current members in Surrey and a history of poor turn outs at previous events James has already had a record number of respondents to his invite and he needs to get a bigger boat!

James muses,

“Gone are the days when people have a spare day to spend in a drab hotel room being preached at, property professionals don’t have a spare minute in the current climate with the internet adding a new dimension to property promotion for example, so the networking cruise has really got people talking and it stands to be a great success.”

For further information on the NAEA visit www.naea.co.uk/, to speak to James or to find out more about his role and agency in Surrey contact 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk. If you are in a job related to the property industry and would like to network with other professionals then also contact Barton Wyatt direct.

 

— Notes to Editor —

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is the UK´s leading professional body for estate agency. Its 8,000 members both in the UK and overseas, including residential and commercial sales and letting, property management, business transfer, auctioneering and land are bound by strict rules of conduct to ensure they offer you the highest level of integrity and service, while the Association´s entry qualification means you can be sure you are dealing with an expert. www.naea.co.uk/