📺 What the Panorama Episode Didn’t Show – Good Agents Still Exist
The recent BBC Panorama episode has brought some troubling industry practices into the spotlight. The programme exposed how some estate agents, notably Connells Group and Purplebricks, prioritised buyers who used their in-house services, while sometimes overlooking better offers. Inflated valuations were also used as a tactic to win business.
At Leightons, this isn’t how things are done.
We’re a proudly independent, family-run agency serving Cross Hills and the surrounding villages. Built on trust, local knowledge, and proper service, not sales targets (we don’t have them at all!), we’ve spent years earning a reputation we care about.
What Leightons Does Differently
- 🧾 No conditional selling
Buyers are never pressured into using a mortgage advisor or conveyancer just because we get a kick back from them. Any suggestions made are optional and always based on what’s right for the client. - 📈 Straightforward valuations
Every property is valued based on what it can realistically achieve in the current market, not inflated to win an instruction. - 🤝 Client-first communication
Regular updates and no-nonsense advice are the standard here. As one recent client put it: “Helen, in particular, has been highlighted for her outstanding management skills and approachability. Clients appreciate the frequent updates, clear guidance…”
Another review from earlier this year reads:
“The team’s professionalism, communication, and support throughout the buying and selling processes made a potentially stressful time much easier.”
Holding Ourselves Accountable
With estate agency still largely unregulated in the UK, we believe higher standards are overdue. That’s why we’ve already put proper safeguards in place:
- 🛡️ Propertymark Protected – Membership means sticking to a strict professional code.
- ⚖️ The Property Ombudsman – A safety net for buyers and sellers who want fair, impartial dispute resolution.
- 🌱 Community-first mindset – Our team lives locally and works with transparency because reputation here matters.
We are also strongly in favour of the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA). You can read more about it HERE.
Looking Ahead
We welcome scrutiny. It forces the industry to do better, and for those already doing things properly, it’s a reminder that doing right by people is worth more than a short-term gain.
“Patient, proactive and thorough — Leightons supported us all the way through a long and tricky chain. We felt listened to and never pressured.”
Whether buying, selling, or just seeking advice, We keep things honest. No hidden agendas. Just a small, trusted team doing the job the right way.
Thanks for reading
Michael
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