Offering of support services : threat or opportunity for the estate agency branch?

Abstract: During several years influencing opinions has been working for a renewal of the Estate agents act. One of the matters that the Commission of Inquiry is handling is the question whether estate agents will be permitted to offer support services to their customers. In the light of the current investigation it has been my objective with this memorandum to describe the complexity about support services and also to what use these services could be for the consumers as well as to the estate agency branch. During my work with this memorandum I have identified two main theories. While one of the theories is emphasising customer orientation, the other theory is stating that there is a disadvantage with scattered services and that the service company should focus on its core business. When the theories were brought together with the empirics it became my opinion that estate agents should use these services to position themselves towards competitors. Above all it’s my opinion that for smaller estate agents support services can be of decisive importance for the future survival.