UNI has released new standards for real estate agents - News from Immobiliare.it

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Recently, the Italian Standards Institute (UNI) published the standard UNI 11932:2024 "Professional Real Estate Agent - Requirements for Knowledge, Skills, Responsibilities, and Autonomy of Additional Real Estate Agents in accordance with UNI EN 15733," which is a significant step in the real estate sector in Italy. The standard, available since January 18, 2023, offers a professional model for the entire category of real estate agents and defines a standardized working procedure for real estate agents aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of intermediary transactions in both buying and selling, as well as renting properties, and in the sale and rental of businesses. This regulation aims to increase transparency and security for all parties by introducing specific requirements for the knowledge, skills, responsibilities, and autonomy of real estate agents, highlighting the importance of proper education and continuous professional development.

The procedure described in the UNI 11932:2024 standard consists of five main stages:

• Documentary verification: this stage involves the collection and thorough review of documentation related to the property. The goal is to ensure transparency and legality of the transaction at the early stages.
• Market assessment: a real estate agent conducts a market analysis to determine the appropriate value of a property. The assessment is based on various factors such as location, condition of the property, and supply and demand in the specific market.
• Agency agreement: a real estate agent formalizes their role through an agency agreement, defining the terms and conditions of their professional activities.
• Professional collaboration: a real estate agent can establish partnerships with other specialists in the field, such as notaries, architects, and engineers, to provide a comprehensive and multifunctional service.
• Proposal for purchase/rental: at the final stage, the real estate agent manages the wording and presentation of the purchase or rental offers. At this stage, negotiations take place between the parties, and a final agreement is reached.

The goal of this model is to ensure maximum transparency and security in the real estate sector, as well as to protect the interests of citizens. The standard establishes the basic criteria for ensuring high-quality service in real estate, contributing to the increased reliability and competence of these professionals. To effectively comply with the UNI En 15733 standard, real estate agents must possess certain knowledge, skills, autonomy, and responsibility. The required skills should include interdisciplinary knowledge of the legislation governing the real estate sector, contract negotiation practices, valuation methods, and marketing strategies in real estate.

A process has been established to assess the compliance of real estate agents with the established requirements, which includes not only obtaining certification confirming their competence and adherence to professional standards but also ongoing training. An important aspect of the norm is the definition of ethical and deontological principles that guide real estate agents in their interactions with clients, ensuring transparency, honesty, and integrity.

It is important not to forget about the requirement for continuous education for real estate agents. The standard requires the accumulation of 20 education units per year to ensure that real estate agents are constantly developing and improving their skills and knowledge.

As noted by the President of the National Federation of Real Estate Agents (Fiaip) Gian Battista Baccarini, this regulation not only serves as a foundational document for a potential future law governing the activities of real estate agents but also plays a crucial role in reducing disputes in the real estate sector and enhancing the professional level of the agents themselves. The UNI 11932:2024 standard is the result of an evolutionary process that began several years ago. In 2018, with the help of the UNI/PdR 40:2018 guide, Fiaip already laid the groundwork for the standardization of the profession by providing for specific quality certification and a continuous training program. As noted by the President of the Fiaip Research Center, Francesco La Commare, the development of the new standard is a complex and coordinated effort that involved active participation from UNI and various stakeholders. The main goal was to define a clear and structured professional methodology that aligns with European standards. A clear professional procedure not only helps to define its boundaries but also limits any forms of illegal or abusive activities, emphasizes the national secretary of Fiaip, Fabrizio Segalerba.