US versus UK property industry. As someone who studied real estate in Florida, I was taught the importance of fiduciary duty. That is; acting in the best interest of clients with honesty, loyalty, and transparency. Coming to the UK, I’ve been shocked by the contrast. Too often, I’ve encountered estate agents who seem to prioritize personal gain over client trust, sometimes even resorting to outright misrepresentation. Me: “How long has the property been on the market”? Agent: “Only 36 days”. Me: *checks proprietary software* “Odd, I’m showing 154 days”. Agent: blah, blah…”it was listed with another agency previously” (lie). They lie about how many offers and number of viewings. They lie about the property condition. They lie in order to build up hype. 80% of estate agencies: “There’s a lot of demand for this property so the vendor put viewings on hold temporarily”. Me: “It’s been on the market for 237 days, how is there a sudden massive demand to view it”? In Florida, fiduciary duty is a cornerstone of real estate practice. This ensures agents put clients first. In the UK, while some agents are great, the lack of a consistent fiduciary standard can leave clients vulnerable and hesitant. Have you noticed similar differences in real estate practices between countries? Is DTV outreach the only answer?

Posted by Adam Robinson at 2025-08-04 13:52:02 UTC