Getting professional

One such institution is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which has been present in Poland for three years now.

"There are 60 RICS members in Poland and the number is still growing," says the head of RICS in Poland, Małgorzata Cieœlak. "Our aim is to propagate knowledge and high standards. We work for the professional development of our members." She also argues that RICS membership helps real-estate players gain a more trustworthy image. "RICS membership means a lot for the customers, especially foreigners."

How does one become a RICS member in Poland? The first option is to graduate from an appropriate course of study with an MA in real estate, and then to pass a special interview. The second is an accelerated path designated for senior professionals. "More than half of our members are experienced professionals," says Cieœlak. RICS members in Poland include Agnieszka Jachowicz, the managing director of Arka BZ WBK, and Michael de Jong, the president of ProLogis.

"The number of professional Poles is growing and so is the standard of services," says Cieœlak, pointing to such qualifications as real-estate licenses and trainings.

AB