Do you trust estate agents?

With the property market taking a bit of a tumble in the last few months in particular, some tough questions are being asked of estate agents and truth be told - many of them are being found wanting.

The main issue I have with estate agents is that very few of the guys and girls who show me around show houses have any idea of 'property as an investment'.

They're like used car sales people pushing properties on to you - simply because they don't know any better.

It is all good and well in a market that is rising - but what do you make of the advice that agents give you these days when prices have

A) Stopped rising
B) Started falling

?

Do you check their credentials and ask them what the last property they sold was and what they realised for it?

Do you ask them what their track record is like and how long it has taken them to sell a property?

I'm just curious - with many of the property myths including "PROPERTY ALWAYS GOES UP" - how you treat this financial advice?