Times are Changing

TIMES ARE CHANGING

It’s no secret that things have been difficult for anyone involved in property sales or lets over the last year or so and particularly for Domestic Energy Assessors. The fact that so many trained under the promise of high earnings led to a glut of assessors chasing a decreasing amount of work.

It is probably true to say that there are now a lot fewer energy assessors than there were due to the vast number who have given it up as a bad job and have had to find alternative work. I also can’t imagine that many new energy assessors are being trained.

It didn’t help that the Energy Performance Certificates were associated with the Home Information Packs which were so badly received that people’s impression of the epc was akin to the anti-christ.

It was certainly true that energy assessors were going cap in hand to Estate Agents to try to persuade them to put some work their way, and competition was so fierce that many assessors, having gained a professional qualification, were working for less than the minimum wage.

BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING.

People selling or renting their property are becoming much more aware of the epc and its requirement, most likely helped along by  the advertising of energy assessors and epc providers. Prices are now well publicised  and the whole business of providing epc’s has become much more available. Our web site has a strong presence in Gloucestershire and the number of visitors grows day by day.

Consequently we are now attracting more and more private clients who are commissioning their epc before they appoint a selling or letting agent. We have been to several clients this week who are still undecided on which agent to choose. We remain impartial, of course, as we work for a lot of different agents but it’s an interesting thought that before too long the estate and letting agents will need us more than we need them.

I didn’t see that coming – watch this space.

Tony