MICHAEL JONES WINS SILVER AWARD FOR SOUTHERN REGION

Worthing based Michael Jones is one of Britain's best estate agents and that's official.  Michael Jones won a Silver Award in the 2006 Estate Agent of the Year Awards, sponsored by The Property Search Group (PSG) and supported by the Daily Express and the Royal National Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The awards were presented by top TV personality Phil Spencer from Channel 4's 'Location, Location, Location', at a glittering awards ceremony held recently at The Dorchester, Park Lane, London. Shadow Housing Minister, Michael Gove MP attended as Guest of Honour.

The Estate Agent of the Year Awards are unique and have real value because the estate agents' own customers judge the performance of the agent through both the home buying and selling process.

Tweedie Brown CBE, Managing Director of PSG said: "The awards focus on the one factor which can make the difference between a satisfied customer and a dissatisfied one; customer service, and the standard of customer care the estate agent provides, before, during and after the moving process."

He adds: "These awards are also about the estate agent's ability to address any problems that may occur during the buying, or selling process. Things can go wrong, but it's the agent's ability to act quickly and professionally that is crucial in order to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty. I would like to congratulate Michael Jones on their win."  

At the beginning of the year customers were asked to measure the estate agent's individual company performance using thirteen key service criteria. Once completed the questionnaire forms were returned by the agent's customers directly to the competition organisers where the results were collated and processed.

Jeremy Leaf, Chairman of RICS Residential Faculty said at the awards ceremony: "I like to think RICS sponsorship of the Estate Agent of The Year Awards is particularly opportune this year. At a time when recent media coverage has plunged the reputation of agents to a new low with customer expectations likely to be moving in the opposite direction with the Housing Act ushering in home buying reform in less than 12 months, a scheme rewarding excellent customer care must be worth giving our wholehearted support.

He adds: "Winning, or even being nominated for one of these awards, which are widely recognised throughout the industry, demonstrates publicly an agent's commitment to delivering the highest standards of customer service."

RICS has more than 20,000 members and is currently working with the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry on consumer protection.

Michael Jones partner, Richard Heppenstall, said:  "It was really exciting to receive this award.  We would like to thank all our customers for their excellent feedback and support.  We place a great deal of emphasis on providing the highest standard of customer service and are thrilled to be named one of Britain's best estate agents.  We regularly monitor customer satisfaction and our latest survey results show that 99% of customers say they would recommend us to their friends and family."

The results of this year's competition revealed that standards are rising. On the whole percentages improved across the 13 questions the agent's customers were asked. When asked to rate the level of extra information provided, more than 44% said that the information given was excellent as opposed to only 32% for the previous year.

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