DIDIM – A SOCIETY representing estate agents in Didim has pledged a fresh start amid moves towards rigorous self-regulation and provision of better information to buyers.
The Didim Emlak Society, which has 60 members, wants to radically increase its membership to 500 so that it can become a recognised chamber – similar to that of the Chamber of Commerce – and establish codes of conduct and discipline.
The multi-million pound industry – which has become a bigger, and more important player, than tourism, in the town’s economy – has been beset by a number of ’bad news stories’ in the last 12 months, culminating with the highly publicised police inquiry into the town’s title deeds office.
Now the society, established three years ago, has a fresh team of board members who have pledged to heighten people’s awareness of its existence among the 1,000 or so registered and unregistered emlaks in the resort, and with potential property investors.
Vice-president Sevim Külekgi told Voices: “The time has come for the society to make great, positive strides, get some structure and organization in place, and to heighten our presence in the town.
“We want to increase our membership to 500 so that we can then become a registered association, which would enable us to better regulate our members. We also want to offer a helping hand to those looking to invest.”
Bi-lingual Ms Külekgi, the owner of Akbuk Estate, said the society had already approached mayor Mumın Kamaci to get the council, which issues licenses to those seeking to run estate agencies, to get the same applicants to join the society. It is not presently compulsory for estate agent owners to join the society.
She added the society had also approached the Didim Governor to consider granting an office, which presently lies vacant next to the Tapu office, for a base for its members to meet and operate from.
She said: “Together with the society president Osman Çoskun and its members, we, as a group, want to represent the industry in Didim as a whole so that we can advocate best practice and procedures, and better represent the area.
“At the moment, there are about 700 agents registered with the Chamber of Commerce and everyone is doing their own thing. Coming under one professional association would allow us all to pull in the same direction and achieve more in the future.”
She said the society, once established as a chamber, could set commission percentages and take action against members who fall foul of complaints from clients.
“Importantly, we also want to offer tips and help to buyers on what to do and they can contact us to see if an emlak is a recognized member,”she said
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