London Real Estate

Buying London Real Estate...:
Since the credit crunch took grip of London, the price of property in London does appear to be coming down.

Real Estate Agents:
Primarily, estate agents are working for and paid by the seller and they provide the buyer with information and details on properties. If you need a mortgage then shop around and compare prices so you're sure to get the best deal.

Surveys:
A home buyer's survey is a partial survey and will not cost you as much as a full structural survey which lets you know if any major repairs are needed.

Estate Agents provide the following services...

Arrange the sale of the property between seller and buyer (usually acting for the seller).
Advise on price and negotiate between seller and buyer.
Arrange advertising and, if the seller is their client, charge a commission which is normally a percentage of the property.

Estate Agents do the following...

If a buyer makes an offer the estate agent must give the seller a written copy of the buyer's offer.
Estate agents must not mislead in the description of a property.
They are controlled by special codes of conduct which are regulated by professional bodies.
They belong to trade associations such as The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), The Ombudsman for Estate Agents Scheme (OEA) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

When looking for an estate agent it's always best if one is recommended to you and an important point to remember is not to use the same solicitor as the seller.