The Association of Property Finders and Buyers Agents (APFBA) members acknowledge that they adhere to our 'Code of Practice' that may surpass minimum legal standards.

Through our commitment to the following principles, our integrity, and our professionalism we serve our clients and community.

APFBA members will:

1. Act in accordance with the relevant estate agency laws.
2. Not represent any client where a conflict of interest exists or is likely to arise.
3. Advise and counsel clients based on their own professional experience, knowledge and judgement and on the results of research and enquiries. Make it clear to the client whether descriptions of a property are the selling agent's or vendors' claims or are the buyers' agents own discoveries.
4. Always act in the best interests of their clients, never do anything that might jeopardise the clients' bargaining position or other interests, and not disclose clients' confidential information.
5. Always act in accordance with the clients' lawful instructions.
6. Have a written agreement with each client, specifying the services to be provided, fees and payment schedule, the term of the agreement and the client's options and obligations for termination of the agreement.
7. Declare to the client any financial or other interest in any property or service they are referring the client to.
8. Disclose to selling agents, on first contact, that they are acting as buyers' agents and are not the purchaser. Give written authority to bid, signed by the client, to the selling agent or vendor, before the start of any auction (country laws may differ).
9. Consider and research all potential sources when conducting a property search.
10. Thoroughly research a targeted property and its surroundings whenever possible to discover all material information and relate all relevant information to the client.
11. Not undertake specialised services for which they are not qualified or licensed and make it clear to the client that they are not a substitute for professional, legal or financial advice (unless qualified to provide that advice).

We are passionate in our belief that a property buyer's best interests can only be served when a buyer’s agent exclusively represents them and that agent adheres to an official code of practice.

That is why we have sought OFT approval for our Code of Practice.

The aim of the 'Office of Fair Trading' Consumer Codes Approval Scheme is to promote and safeguard consumers' interests by helping consumers identify better businesses and to encourage businesses to raise their standards of customer service.

Whilst we recognise the hard work that other industry bodies (such as NAEA and AIPP) have done to instill best practices and codes of conduct for estate agents and developers in the UK and Overseas, we cannot accept that they are truly working in the best interest of the property buyer.

This is for the sole reason that the core members of these associations operate on the 'sell side' of the property transaction and their companies earn revenues and commissions from the property developer or vendor.

Regardless of their stance on 'consumer or buyer protection' any association working on the sell side of the transaction, like their member companies themselves have an inherent conflict of interest when they claim to represent the best interests of the buyer.

The APFBA and our members do operate entirely on the buy side of the property transaction and in doing so can be completely dedicated to working in the best interest of the property buyer. The APFBA can rightly lay claim to being the 'consumer champion' association in the property industry.

The Association of Property Finders and Buyers Agents (APFBA) is an independent alliance of property professionals who act solely on behalf of buyers in property transactions. See our Member's Charter for more details.

Find me a Buyers Agent now for my UK or Overseas Property Search

There can be no doubt that buyer confidence is at a low caused by the combination of plummeting house prices and the difficulties in the financial markets. Although we are in a 'buyers market' and there are likely to be some tremendous discounts to be achieved on properties, prospective buyers have no way of gauging what real property values are.

In general, property buyers harbour a mistrust of estate agent valuations and are worried that the media's worst case scenario of further double digit percentage drops in house prices in 2009/10 would result in anyone buying at today's asking price suffering a considerable loss in their property's equity within a year.

This lack of buyer confidence is one of the reasons why we believe it is now vital for buyers to have the protection of an industry body for buyers agents and to ensure that the conflict of interest that estate agents have is addressed by buyers having their own representation in property transactions.

It is time for 'buyers agents' to have their own industry body, rather than being mopped up within 'relocation associations' such as ARP, and have their consumer message or business purpose diluted by an organisation whose scope is too broad.

Buyers’ agents are more than just relocation agents. They are professionals that specialise in searching, negotiating and purchasing property on behalf of the buyer and ultimately giving the buyer professional representation in the transaction, often achieving healthy discounts on the asking price.

The APFBA - Restoring Buyer Confidence

APFBA’s key roles include providing help and guidance for buyers’ agents while actively campaigning to make the property market more user-friendly for the buying public. As a leading player in the property industry, APFBA offers significant benefits to both buyers’ agents and consumers.

As a respected industry body, APFBA gives buyers’ agents the credibility of being part of a professional body and the opportunity to promote qualifications through its membership. By choosing a APFBA member, buyers can be confident they are dealing with an experienced and professional property finder or buyers’ agent.

Find me a Buyers Agent now for my UK or Overseas Property Search