Online ratings of property agents will now be standardised across the real estate industry following the launch of a new guide yesterday by the Council for Estate Agencies .
Previously, real estate agencies determined the standards for consumer ratings, but the guide aims to introduce consistent standards, such as the key attributes on which agents should be rated. The ratings will now reflect whether an agent provided services above and beyond the client's expectations, such as by using digital calculators, and if the agent was open, honest and reliable, and had the necessary skills to facilitate a favourable deal for his client.
Yesterday, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of National Development Tan Kiat How said the standardisation is a necessary step to help consumers find agents who suit them when conducting their searches online. "With these key categories in place and a standard way of assessing, collecting and displaying these attributes, we can make sure that comparisons are fair, credible and consistent across the board," he said.