Time to enter the tenth ESTAs awards...

Next April sees the tenth anniversary of the Estate & Letting Agent awards, better known to most of us as the ESTAS.

The awards were launched in 2004 and quickly established themselves, but the recent trend towards online customer reviews in many industries has seen them grow dramatically in the last five years.

Simon Brown, who runs the awards, explained: “The ESTAS shortlist and winning agents are decided each year by scores based on customer ratings, providing a very powerful marketing tool for the agents involved.

“Scores and comments from customers are confidential to each agent that takes part, providing some very valuable feedback data and some great testimonials.”

The 2013 ESTAS will be awarded to agents in sales and lettings across 15-plus regions around the UK, giving them the perfect platform to market themselves locally.

Two years ago a Supplier of the Year Award was successfully introduced, and now, every agent and supplier firm that takes part receives a comprehensive and confidential Client Feedback Report showing how they have performed in their region and nationally.

Agents and supplier firms have until December 21 to enter and voting is open until January 31.

“Now is the perfect time for firms to contact clients they have worked with during 2012 and ask for their feedback,” says Brown.

“It’s a great excuse to touch base in a relatively quiet period and reinforce the agent’s commitment to quality customer service.

“Many agents are now thinking about their local marketing strategy for 2013, and taking part in the ESTAS gives them an immediate USP they can build on over the year.”

The official ESTAS shortlist will be published at the end of February and the winners will be announced at the tenth anniversary ESTAS ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane on April 19 by Phil Spencer.

The ESTAS are sponsored by Zoopla in association with LCA Recruitment.

Agents can sign up for the competition now at: