For a firm moving to London, the services of a good commercial estate agent are invaluable; they can oversee and orchestrate the move from the moment it has been decided upon - to the moment work begins in the new premises. Their London-knowledge will also be of huge benefit during the process, hopefully saving their clients valuable time and money. But what is it that sets a commercial estate agent in London apart from another? Surely they all do the same job and, therefore, one must be as good as another? The answer is: no.

The main quality in a good tenant representing commercial estate agent in London is a surprising one: loyalty. The agent should be entirely loyal to their client - the tenant and not to landlords or buildings. This means that independent commercial estate agents may have the edge, as they are not answerable to landlords and can reject premises at a moment's notice, or use their negotiating skills to secure the best terms on their client's behalf. If the agent is tied in to a landlord, they may wish to offload certain properties as quickly as possible, or charge rents that are too high. An independent tenants' commercial estate agent should have your firm's interests at heart.

As well as being loyal, a good commercial estate agent in London should also be very understanding of your company's needs and your personal tastes. They should work to understand just how your business works and what it hopes to achieve by relocating. In effect, they need to act as though they were your business partners; this way, they will offer you the most suitable properties at the most suitable prices. A good commercial estate agent in London can never ask too many questions when it comes to finding out just what the client needs.

Being knowledgeable is a great asset; a commercial estate agent in London who is constantly researching the market will have a good understanding of available buildings and be privy to insider knowledge of properties that may not yet be available. However, whilst knowledge brings the ability to source properties that are true to the client's needs, tastes and budget, it also helps if the agent is flexible; business is an ever-changing entity and what seems like a perfectly good relocation brief one day, may not be the next. If a commercial estate agent in London has patience and flexibility, then they are sure to meet their client's needs with the minimum of fuss.

This also means that a good commercial estate agent ought to be communicative; they should be able to set clear and realistic objectives to the client, from the word 'go'. Communication is extremely important during the exchange, completion and occupation phases of relocating; advice is always welcome, especially if it comes from a reliable and experienced source. There will also be the need for the agent to communicate with solicitors on behalf of the client - an open channel between these parties can help ensure the process runs as smoothly and as swiftly as possible.

A good tenant representing commercial estate agent has to have many qualities, all of which are geared to work in favour of the tenant.