A FENLAND businesswoman is to challenge the monopoly of the major chains by opening her own estate agency in Chatteris. Kathleen Dack has bought the former Electromar/H Fitch and Son premises in the High Street and will open there tomorrow as Century 21.

A FENLAND businesswoman is to challenge the monopoly of the major chains by opening her own estate agency in Chatteris.

Kathleen Dack has bought the former Electromar/H Fitch and Son premises in the High Street and will open there tomorrow as Century 21.

"After many years in the property related market I know many hard working, good people involved in estate agency," she said.

"I was also aware that as many as one in four vendors had a serious problem with their estate agent. The most common complaints according to the Estate Agency News is mostly lack of information, lack of communication and an overall impression that estate agents do very little work for the money that they charge."

Mrs Dack said she considered several options before agreeing to take a franchise with Century 21, who look after the interests of 8,000 estate agents worldwide.

"All of our staff have been on the Century 21 comprehensive course and had to sit a two-part exam with a 90 per cent pass mark needed to qualify as an estate agent within the group," she said. "I am pleased to say that they all passed with flying colours."

Mrs Dack said the firm would offer a service that includes property sale or purchase, conveyancing services with a local solicitor and independent mortgage advice from an in-house adviser.

"Unlike other estate agents we do not charge a hidden premium for ourselves for provision of these services," she added.