Ever been so impressed/disappointed with your estate agent that you wanted to tell the world? Well now you can. The Register of Estate Agents is a new website that allows users to rate, eBay-style, those working for relocation companies, buying agents, estate agents and letting agents. Henry Pryor, its founder, says he set up the site because he was “sick and tired of the actions of a minority of agents tarnishing the reputation of the majority”. There are 7,800 agents from 1,600 firms listed on www.roea.co.uk. To rate yours, register by leaving a valid e-mail address (this is how the website’s creators hope to avoid bogus praise or criticism). About 500 users have already signed up, but so far there are only 120 ratings across the country. The website is so confident in its system that if a registered user complains about one of the agents on roea.co.uk, it will offer compensation of up to £5,000 — but only if an external regulatory body, such as the Ombudsman for Estate Agents, agrees that the agent has fallen well short. Home information pack inspectors and domestic energy assessors will be added soon.

The property market has been so competitive of late that buyers are regularly having to submit sealed bids, as reported in Bricks and Mortar. The phenomenon has bred www.sealedbidsonline.com, which allows agents or sellers to log their property details and then invite a deluge of buyers to submit their best offers. Sellers can monitor how many offers have been received, although they cannot see the sums offered. If the market cools, it remains to be seen whether the site will disappear as quickly as it arrived.

Another new kid on the virtual block is a “social networking” website created by Miller Homes. Miller residents can explore maps of their development at www.mymillerstreet.co.uk and see at a glance who lives near by — much better for community spirit than just popping in to say hello.

Got a great website? E-mail lucia.adams@timesonline.co.uk

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