Our Wider Network
National and International Property Portals
Mervyn Smith properties get leads from all these sites!
Mervyn Smith were one of the first ever UK estate agents to promote properties online. We were one of the first contributors to pioneering property website findaproperty.com - whose originator lived in Ham and was arguably the first really effective property website. We have continued to believe strongly in the power of internet marketing, so much so, that besides our own website (which you are currently visiting), we also market all our properties, with full details, floorplans and downloadable brochures, on ALL THREE major national property sites at Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation. If you place your own property with Mervyn Smith, your property will be guaranteed a huge coverage, because it will be appearing in front of literally thousands of visitors to these websites. In turn all the property sections of major UK newspapers and news also pass on links from their own sites to one of the major portals we advertise on.
So, for example the Daily Mail has one of the most visited websites intenationally and if you go to their property pages and search for a property in, say, Kingston or Richmond, you will then be shown all the Mervyn Smith properties via Zoopla. The same applies to the property pages at the Telegraph, the Times and the Sunday Times, plus MSN, Mumsnet, Homes 24.co.uk, - even the Kirstie and Phil website! - they will all show your property if it's listed with Mervyn Smith. Some of our competitors don't pay to partner all these brands, so all their vendors are getting many less leads than our clients selling through Mervyn Smith.
Newspaper Advertising
Mervyn Smith are shareholders in Barrefield Media who publish many property related papers and magazines, including many differnet local editions of the distinctive MoveTo property newspapers in the South East. We advertise in BOTH the Kingston and the Richmond editions and in the special MoveTo London editions. All the editions are also available online with individual property advertisements so this also provides yet another internet presence and search optimisation for Mervyn Smith properties.
Association of Richmond Independent Estate Agents (ARIEA)
ARIEA is a grouping of like-minded independent estate agencies with offices right across all parts of Richmond Borough from Sheen through Richmond centre to St Margarets, Whitton, Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton and Hampton Wick. Mervyn Smith were one of the founder members and our managing partner Stan Shaw was Chairman from 2012-2016. We share business knowledge, insight and applicants when appropriate and it provides us with an opportunity to promote our properties through other offices right across the Borough when appropriate.
The Carter Jonas Network
Whilst Mervyn Smith is a family owned fully independent agency, we do outsource our lettings administration, management and client money handling because of the sheer scale of the man hours and resources now needed for this area of our work. Part of the benefit to our landlords and tenants is that whilst we have unrivalled local knowledge and contacts in our area, all Mervyn Smith lettings properties are also marketed through Carter Jonas who have offices across central and South West London and a national network of offices in other prime strategic towns and cities.
National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
Proprietor Mervyn Smith and Managing Partner Stan Shaw are both Licensed Members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and have each been members for over 25 years. The Association is dedicated to the goal of professionalism within high street estate agency. Its aim is to reassure the general public that by appointing an NAEA member to represent them, they will receive the highest level of integrity and service in both sales and lettings. Each NAEA member is bound by a Code of Practice and adheres to professional Rules of Conduct. Failure to do so can result in financial penalties and possible expulsion from the Association. Our NAEA membership assures our clients of our high standards of professional conduct.
Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
Proprietor Mervyn Smith and Managing Partner Stan Shaw are also Licensed Members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), the leading professional body in its field. ARLA clients receive a professional service from qualified practitioners who have to comply with rules of conduct, understand legal issues, and attend regular training to keep abreast of legal and other changes.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
RICS is the world's leading professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property, infrastructure and construction. Our managing partner Stan Shaw is proud to be a member and accredited as an RICS Registered Valuer. He has to make an annual return to RICS to record his valuations carried out to RICS 'Red Book' standard and to demonstrate he has ongoing professional indemnity insurance with an RICS accredited insurer to the required level. He is an involved member and contributes as a mentor and assessor for candidates seeking to gain Associate membership. RICS in return provides ongoing professional guidance and cutting edge information, and our clients are assured we aspire to the most professional and ethical standards.
Elmhurst Energy Services
Stan Shaw is also a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor and is accredited with the UK's largest accreditation scheme at Elmhurst Energy Services. It is a legal requirement for every property built, sold or let to have a valid current Energy Performance Certificate, so most estate agents have to arrange for a separate third party assessor to visit their properties to collect the relevant data. This will usually be more expensive for their clients. Because our manager is personally qualified to provide EPCs, we can keep costs down and it's much more convenient for our vendors to have just one visit to their property when we can draw floorplans, take details and photos and collect the data for the EPC all at the same time.
The data collection and standards for EPCs are set by Central Government so Elmhurst demand a level of continuing training, adequate insurance and professional standards which must be adhered to retain accreditation. Random samples of our surveys are regularly scrutinised to ensure his methodology and compliance with legal requirements .
The Property Ombusman Scheme (TPOS)
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme has been providing a resource for consumers dealing with property professionals for 25 years and Mervyn Smith have always been longstanding voluntary members and adhere to a mandatory code of practice. The TPOS provides consumers with a free, impartial and independent alternative dispute resolution service.
Mervyn Smith have a complaints handling procedure which is available on request. If you should happen to wish to make a complaint, we would be grateful if you could firstly contact us as stated in our company procedure. We will try our best to resolve the matter in-house. The Ombudsman can only provide a service to you if our in-house process has been tried first, but should you wish to contact the Ombudsman, or find out more about their service, their contact details are:
The Property Ombudsman
Milford House
43-55 Milford St
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2BP
Tel: 01722 333306
Email: admin@tpos.co.uk
Website: www.tpos.co.uk
