Best Estate Agent in the North East

For the second year in a row SUNDERLAND based PETER HERON CHARTERED SURVEYORS AND ESTATE AGENTS are one of Britain's best estate agents and that's official.

PETER HERON CHARTERED SURVEYORS AND ESTATE AGENTS won a GOLD 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 Institute of Chartered Surveyors. (RICS).

The award was presented for the second time in two years to Company Partner, Ashley O'Carroll 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 says: "As today's market becomes more competitive it is the service factor which is key. The message is simple, if agents don't provide the service their customers demand they will not use the agent again in the future.

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."

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... "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."

Following the award ceremony Company Partner Ashley O'Carroll was beaming with delight at winning this prestigious, he said "to win the award in 2005 took this company to its pinnacle and from there the only way was down, but the fact that we have won the award once again for 2006 is the ultimate compliment to the team at Peter Heron and I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of them for their hard work in the last 12 months.

The award also proves that by listening to our very much valued clients, and continually asking them what we can do to improve the selling process for them, we can make the right changes at the right time. This enables us to provide a more personal bespoke service, tailored around our clients' specific needs."