Strutt & Parker has been immortalised in e-print, with several agents featured in the new book, Confessions of an Estate Agent.

Estate agents, along with politicians and used car salesman, are not considered the most popular of professions, but do they really deserve their public image?

Not according to author Rosalind Russell, who for eight years edited The Diary of an Estate Agent column for the London Evening Standard's Homes & Property section. The book gives an insight into the lives of agents and their very funny, entirely true stories, some of which were so bizarre, the author was sometimes suspected of making them up. There are a total of twelve extracts from Strutt & Parker agents in the book, making them one of the most featured property agents.

Michael Fiddes, Head of Agency at Strutt & Parker believes: "Estate agents have gained a bad reputation over the years, but this just means good agents are worth their weight in gold. An agent who knows what they're doing can add real value and be the difference between a fraught, nerve-wrecking few weeks or a smooth, professionally run operation. In the case of tricky after sale negotiations a good agent acts as a valuable buffer between the vendor and buyer. It is often their expertise that becomes the glue holding the more fragile deals together"

The fantastic characters and amazing incidents in the book, which cause chaos in the lives of agents, show the often-vilified professionals in a different light. Rarely credited for their diplomacy and fortitude, they are often squeezed between tight targets, tough negotiations and looming deadlines, which may even lead to the reader feeling sorry for them.

The book demonstrates that to be a good agent, you need to combine a number of qualities that are often overlooked - organisation, tactfulness, compassion and all too often peace-making skills. Certainly not for the faint hearted!

Confessions of an Estate Agent can be obtained as an e-book by Forgotten Titles. Download from Amazon for £4.95.