The managing director of the new estate agency in Chalfont St Peter says the current uncertainty affecting the property market was never going to delay the planned date to launch his business.

“We are not concerned with the market,” Sam Tamiz said “We are all about introducing a modern service focused on global coverage to the sales and lettings sector in the UK.”

He added: “There will always be people who won’t delay their decision to move, either because of force of circumstances or because they just want to move.”

The village office of the agency called Century 21 The Chalfonts opened in Market Place at the beginning of this month.

It is a franchise of one of the world’s largest real estate networks. It has something like 8,000 offices, the majority in the US.

Traditional estate agents in England are stuck in the past, maintains the new kid on the block.

Mr Tamiz has spent much of his career thus far working in the City in the financial services sector.

“My new company is very much technology orientated,” he says. What does that translate to? “Better service. In the age of the internet sellers have access to so much technology.

“All the information handed out by estate agents when they provide valuations is available on the web: how much was paid for a house the last time it was sold, the value of property in the immediate area based on recent sales, what a property looks like inside, there’s nothing a client can’t find out for themselves.”

Mr Tamiz told the Free Press he regards his role in the residential property business as “an intermediary.”

He emphasised: “Above all, [the new breed of estate agent] needs to be wholly honest from the first meeting. I learnt that in the financial services sector. Sellers appreciate honesty. They know what’s achievable.

“They’ve done their homework. They’ve been on the web.

“After agreement has been reached on the price of the property, a professional can use the benefit of past experience to give advice on marketing strategy.”