Most of us who buy or sell a house will use an estate agency. Estate agents arrange the sale of property. They advise on price, negotiate between sellers and buyers and handle advertising.

Many offer additional services such as arranging mortgages, surveys and conveyancing. Remember, you don't have to use any of these services.

Usually, estate agency works for sellers. Sellers are the clients. They pay the fees and the agent puts their interests first. But agency must treat buyers fairly. If a buyer pays an estate agency to find a house, the buyer is the client.

Using an estate agency can be a complicated business, so it makes sense to know your rights, the pitfalls and how to get problems sorted out.

Here on this web site you can find out about Lawsons and Daughters and how to use use us as your estate agency when you are selling a property and when you are buying a property, and there's advice on what to do if things go wrong.

There's also a separate section that deals with using an estate agency for interior design and mortgage services.