Yet another grouping of estate agents has emerged to battle in the increasingly cut-throat world of auctioneering. These days it seems you are no one unless you are part of a marketing group, flying under a single banner. Enter Property Team, the brainchild of Martin O'Mahony, the Goatstown-based agent and one of the most astute players in the game. He has assembled an interesting bunch of Dublin local agents who pride themselves on their close contacts with the different communities, something the larger agents are still trying to foster. Property Team expects to have 25 agents in the group within the next few months. All will be linked by computer so customers can see the entire range of properties on the market from any given branch.

Apart from O'Mahony the other well-known players at this stage include Joe Kelly in Sutton, his brother Noel Kelly in Portmarnock, McCourtney & Sons in Churchtown and Nolan & Fahy in Donabate. Sherry FitzGerald, who started the franchise game rolling last year, has representations in cities, towns and even villages and so far it seems to be working with their boards up throughout the country.