Pictured: Estate agent Brian Holt said despite the power of the internet in house buying and selling, people still value the personal touch when it comes to making the most expensive purchase of their life

Homebuyers would still rather deal with human beings when making the most expensive purchase of their life even though the majority use the internet as their first port of call when house hunting, says Coventry and Warwickshire estate agency Brian Holt.

The agency's MD Brian Holt was speaking after the annual National Homes Network conference this week at which independent estate agents nationwide agreed that although the internet is a massively powerful tool in buying and selling homes, personal service is vital in helping them follow through what they've found on line.

Brian, whose company has offices in Leamington, Kenilworth, Coventry city centre and Earlsdon, said the conference findings showed personal service, local knowledge, experience, gravitas and understanding of individual customer needs were more important to home buyers and sellers than web visibility alone.

The conference, attended by many of the NHN's 250 members across the UK, focused on the latest developments in marketing and selling properties. 

"We all agreed that the internet, with its instant national and global accessibility and ability to host photo galleries, is an invaluable advertising and communication medium. It part replaces traditional newspaper advertising and correspondence by letter or telephone. However, personal contact is vital and is and always has been the most important aspect, particularly when acting as an intermediary and a negotiator, as well as having local knowledge which may turn out to be so important," explained Brian.

"Values which buyers and sellers respect in estate agents include honesty, integrity, professionalism and a caring attitude - areas on we which pride ourselves on scoring full marks!"