15 reasons why Estate Agents are idiots
This article was written on 20 Jan 2007
The message i’m trying to get across here is, “don’t trust your Estate Agent, he/she is probably an idiot”
The majority of this list is based on acts of ‘deceit’, ‘immorality’ and just basic ‘idiocy’. The list is not fictional, every example is common practise used by Estate Agents nationally, from the bottom man, all the way to the management. I urge you, my friends, please be careful when dealing with these rodents, because they will fuck you over at any given opportunity.
1) No qualifications or regulations
There’s no real science or mystical theory to why Estate Agents are mentally inadequate. In fact, it’s quite simple- the Estate Agent industry in the UK is unlicensed and unregulated, so any old fool off the street without qualifications or experience can set up shop as an Estate Agent. There is no official training required. That explains a lot already, doesn’t it?
2) Who would want to be an Estate Agent?
Continuing from my first point, you have to ask yourself, what kind of person would actually want to be an Estate Agent? A profession that includes backstabbing to the ultimate level; manipulating people into buying homes because their salary depends on it; a life of working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day; an occupation that requires no qualification at all, and has no consumer protection. In my honest opinion, the answer to that question is, ‘a devious idiot that carries a joy for inflicting misery’
3) You have more protection when buying a tin of soup
Estate Agents are protected, because as mentioned, there is currently no regulation. They can be sneaky little snakes, and laugh at your expense, which they do- in fact, they laugh all the way to the bank without carrying fear of prosecution. It’s extremely hard to claim anything against Estate Agents, unless they do something blatantly illegal. It’s amazing how British consumers have more rights when buying a tin of soup than when they buy a house.
4) Commission-based salary
Their commission-based salary means they will try to sell you anything at any cost. ‘Deception’ and ‘manipulation’ is usually their weapons of choice. Don’t be fooled by their kind nature because it is only skin deep, if that.
5) “This property is really popular”
A favourite trick would be to arrange two viewings to “accidently” coincide, so the property appears to be in demand. Additionally, the agent will often get someone from the office to ring while taking a viewing and pretend that someone has just put an offer in.
6) That house is perfect for you, sir (NOT)
Estate Agent’s will lie through their teeth about every little detail in order to persuade you to sign on the dotted line.
Example:
Hey Mr Estate Agent, is that barn an appropriate living environment for my wife and my newly born child?
Well, let me see; according to my calculations, I get 1.5% of the sale price. So if I worked this out correctly- then YES, it’s a perfect living environment for you and your family
I’ve never heard any Estate Agent say, “No, that would be a bad buy, my friend”
7) The Estate Agents perfect deal
Estate Agents don’t try and get you the best deals; they try and get themselves the best deals. Again, this relates to the commission based salary scheme, and their love for money. Regardless of whether you’re a buyer or seller, they have tactical methods of trying to exploit anyone at either end of the chain. If you’re a buyer, the Estate Agent may try and make you pay as much as possible for a property, because that has direct impact on how much commission they earn from you. If you’re a seller, an Estate Agent may try to under value your property, and then quickly buy the property via a “friend”.
8.) They’re all the same
Estate Agents are all manufactured from the same factory in Taiwan- cheap, and well presented. They all step off the production line in a cheap River Island suit, slicked hair, and a slimy personality that makes them think they’re hot sh*t. Estate Agents should be required to have a qualification other than that of a sharp suit. But they aren’t.
9) Estate Agents waste time
Time wasters. There’s no point even being specific about what type of property you want to buy. It’s in the ‘Estate Agents Bible’ that they must show you properties out of your price range or/and properties that don’t match your original dimensional criteria. Why do they do that? Well, it’s usually when they don’t have enough properties in their books that match your criteria, so instead if losing a sale they show you random properties, in hope you will bite the bate.
10) They will shut up when the time is right
You would think as sales people Estate Agents would never shut up since they have the gift of the gab. Oh, how wrong. Estate Agents know exactly when to jump into mute mode. Estate Agents want to sell property, but only at a rate that will suit them. So if you make a low offer, expect them to go into mode mute and not pass on the offer to the seller. God forbid a seller accepting an offer significantly lower than their asking price. There’s nothing more an Estate Agent fears than ‘a good deal’ from a buyer’s end.
11) Estate Agents run their own shop…from their suit jackets
Estate Agents will try and sell you ANYTHING, not just property. I wouldn’t be surprised if an Estate Agent pulled out stainless steel cutlery out of his/her polyester suit in the middle of a viewing, “Madam, this fine set of cutlery would go lovely with this house. I can make you a deal if you buy both today”
Beware of Estate Agents that come baring mortgage deals and home insurance offers. They can also make commission from those ‘extras’. Once you show passion for a particular home, they can pull out lines like, “I forgot to mention, we only sell property based on the policy that you use one of our mortgage brokers”
12) They hate their own kind
Estate Agents hate Estate Agents, so what chance do we have? And I’m not just talking about feuds between rival companies; I’m talking about in-house war, too. They backstab each other by taking each others leads, and take severe pleasure from their fellow peers losing out on sales. If more than one negotiator is showing a particular property, it’s not abnormal for keys to get misplaced just as a rival’s client turned up for an appointment.
13) Flyboarding
A lot of Estate Agents try and cut corners in every possible situation, and their marketing strategy certainly doesn’t escape the trend of being “cheap”. A lot of Estate Agents have been known to use a marketing method known as ‘flyboarding’. This refers to the activity of putting ‘For Sale’ or ‘Sold’ signs outside of properties that aren’t actually for sale. It’s merely a cheap way of advertising. Not surprising, really.
14) Estate Agents are Skitzo
If the property market is ‘hot’ and there are is plenty of demand for property, Estate Agents may treat you like last years clothing line. Their level of communication will be at an all time low and their clock maybe ticking a lot slower than everyone else’s. However, if the market is dead, you may get the best out of them. They’ll probably pop round and drop off some sugar; build some common ground and try to ‘relate’. Once again, deceitful. You could say they’re like ice-cream; a seasonal commodity.
15) They know the answer to every question
When an Estate Agent doesn’t know an answer to your question, don’t expect a confession, nor should you expect a respectable response like, “I’m not entirely sure, but I will find out for you and get back to you”. Strap on your seatbelt and expect a train of verbal trash. In most cases, an Estate Agent won’t comprehensively know the in’s and out’s of all the areas they deal in.
Example:
Hey, Mr Estate Agent, what are the local schools like around here?”
errr…well, they’re very good. Yeah, my daughter goes to the one around the corner. Highly recommended. Your children will be safe and well educated there”
The Estate Agent is lying. He doesn’t have a kid. He hasn’t even had sex with a human before, only with money. He lied about having a daughter to strengthen his response- who would lie about having a daughter? Estate Agents.
Please note, I don’t actually think every Estate Agent out there is dodgy; I just think the majority have committed at least one of the sins above. I have no doubt in my mind that there are a few good men standing.
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Talk / 79 Comments
The Landlord wrote this on 2007-02-07 21:31:39
Hey Wayne,
The title of the article is "15 reasons why estate agents are idiots" Of course it's going to be one-sided; didn't you expect that before you entered this article? I merely highlighted issues that exist in estate agents. I'm just making people aware of the methods some estate agents are willing to use, and do use. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to believe that EVERY individual estate agent commits those sins- i'm just trying to get a message across- "BE CAREFUL"
I truly do appreciate the fact that not all estate agents are "idiots". Kinda :)
This article is like one of those "stop smoking" adverts. The adverts don't simply say "stop smoking, SOME people die from it". They show hard-hitting images, like an old woman barely being able to talk, and struggling for every breath of air. They do that to emphasise a point.
I was contemplating to write an article called "15 reasons why estate agents are awesome" (just to balance the scales), but I couldn't think of 15 reasons. If you want to write the article for me, i'll happily publish it.
Kind regards :)
The title of the article is "15 reasons why estate agents are idiots" Of course it's going to be one-sided; didn't you expect that before you entered this article? I merely highlighted issues that exist in estate agents. I'm just making people aware of the methods some estate agents are willing to use, and do use. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to believe that EVERY individual estate agent commits those sins- i'm just trying to get a message across- "BE CAREFUL"
I truly do appreciate the fact that not all estate agents are "idiots". Kinda :)
This article is like one of those "stop smoking" adverts. The adverts don't simply say "stop smoking, SOME people die from it". They show hard-hitting images, like an old woman barely being able to talk, and struggling for every breath of air. They do that to emphasise a point.
I was contemplating to write an article called "15 reasons why estate agents are awesome" (just to balance the scales), but I couldn't think of 15 reasons. If you want to write the article for me, i'll happily publish it.
Kind regards :)
2
Simon wrote this on 2007-03-24 01:08:29
I think this is pretty much the case of many agents in the south of spain and resorts....but i also am an agent and we have a resturant buisness as well so our name is very important to us so all shouldnt be painted with the same brush.(as was stated at the end...noted ;) )
3
Gerhard wrote this on 2007-03-28 03:46:22
I'm a real estate agent with a question: What are idiots?
4
David wrote this on 2007-04-30 12:37:08
I am sure that there are some intelligent estate agents out there, although most of them are quite simple. I have to say that the estate agents I have dealt with have been the worst people I have ever met in my life. Everytime, without fail, they have been scum, not all completely stupid, but scum.
5
The Landlord wrote this on 2007-04-30 14:58:10
Hi David,
I think a lot of the traits develop because it's a commission based job. Consequently, it's every man for himself.
Of course, as you stated, i'm sure there are intelligent/decent estate agents out there, but they're as rare as gold dust.
Kind regards
I think a lot of the traits develop because it's a commission based job. Consequently, it's every man for himself.
Of course, as you stated, i'm sure there are intelligent/decent estate agents out there, but they're as rare as gold dust.
Kind regards
6
Eddie O'Hara wrote this on 2007-04-30 19:14:58
Hi,
V.Good and entertaining website, in principle sadly I don't disgaree with anything you have said.
Being myself fed up with the whole house buying process, which as you imply is characterised by shady deals, deceit and wasted costs (which even extends to some of those professionals who are qualified), I have set up my own website which I think is a positive step in the right direction to reduce cost and create a bit more transparancey into the whole situation.
Please do visit us and see what you think. Ideally, I'd really welcome your views on my site.
All the very best.
Kind regards
Eddie O'Hara
V.Good and entertaining website, in principle sadly I don't disgaree with anything you have said.
Being myself fed up with the whole house buying process, which as you imply is characterised by shady deals, deceit and wasted costs (which even extends to some of those professionals who are qualified), I have set up my own website which I think is a positive step in the right direction to reduce cost and create a bit more transparancey into the whole situation.
Please do visit us and see what you think. Ideally, I'd really welcome your views on my site.
All the very best.
Kind regards
Eddie O'Hara
7
The Landlord wrote this on 2007-05-15 16:04:24
Eddie, you need to work on the appearance of your site- it doesn't whisper "professional", let alone scream it out :)
8
ZED ZELKO wrote this on 2007-06-09 15:44:21
DARWOODS RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS OF ST ALBANS IN THE UK HAVE ALLEDGEDLY LET OUT FLATS WHICH DO NOT HAVE PLANNING PERMISSION AND WHICH DO NOT MEET BUILDING SAFETY REGULATIONS. THEY ALSO CHARGE £400 HOLDING DPOSITS WHICH THEY DO NOT REFUND EVEN WHEN THE FLATS ARE FOUND TO BE UNINHABITABLE.
9
pete wrote this on 2007-07-09 20:35:58
Hi
Your comments are understood. I've been an estate agent for nearly 4 years now - it was the only job offering the same flexibility and freedom that I enjoyed as a self employed sales rep. The bonus was less driving and the ability to go home after work and not think about the job.
There are a lot of idiots in estate agency. I like to think of myself as an exception. With so many cowboys out there my job is made easier. I sell viewings not properties. Stick to that theory and the need to lie is taken away - plus public appreciate honesty. Perhaps it's my higher basic package. And, yes Istill manage to sell property with this attitude!! I must admit lieing would probably increase my sales but that's bad karma.... isn't it?
A bit like tarring 100's of people with the same brush, one may argue.
Anyways keep slating the bad guys as it makes me stand out as a goodie.
It is the only sales job I might add, where the public are keen to receive sales calls - and at least we don't phone you from overseas call centres.
bye
Your comments are understood. I've been an estate agent for nearly 4 years now - it was the only job offering the same flexibility and freedom that I enjoyed as a self employed sales rep. The bonus was less driving and the ability to go home after work and not think about the job.
There are a lot of idiots in estate agency. I like to think of myself as an exception. With so many cowboys out there my job is made easier. I sell viewings not properties. Stick to that theory and the need to lie is taken away - plus public appreciate honesty. Perhaps it's my higher basic package. And, yes Istill manage to sell property with this attitude!! I must admit lieing would probably increase my sales but that's bad karma.... isn't it?
A bit like tarring 100's of people with the same brush, one may argue.
Anyways keep slating the bad guys as it makes me stand out as a goodie.
It is the only sales job I might add, where the public are keen to receive sales calls - and at least we don't phone you from overseas call centres.
bye
10
Sean wrote this on 2007-07-24 13:30:41
Hi, i am guessing that you have been let down by an agent, but let me tell you a few other jobs that also get a bad reputation.
Plumbers
Electricians
solicitors
locksmiths
i could go on, but i have been selling houses for over 15 years and dont even own a house, i am a council tennant and i love the job, of course the money is good, why work for peanuts, do you?
i put in 15 hour days 6 days a week and i get a good wage, i, like many agents i know dont Gazump or backstab or steal.
You sound like a very bitter person to me and remember........you dont have to use an agent to buy or sell a house.
Plumbers
Electricians
solicitors
locksmiths
i could go on, but i have been selling houses for over 15 years and dont even own a house, i am a council tennant and i love the job, of course the money is good, why work for peanuts, do you?
i put in 15 hour days 6 days a week and i get a good wage, i, like many agents i know dont Gazump or backstab or steal.
You sound like a very bitter person to me and remember........you dont have to use an agent to buy or sell a house.
11
The Landlord wrote this on 2007-07-24 13:38:10
Hey Sean,
I actually have never been let down by an estate agent. Well, actually, once, an estate agent tried to walk away from the bar I used to work at without paying. And then when I approached him about it, he threatened to hit me. Ha, Good times.
I'm aware there are rogues in every trade, but this site is about property....so getting into the inadequacies of a postman would be pointless.
I have no doubt in my mind that there are good, hardworking estate agents out there, as mentioned in the disclaimer at the bottom of my article.
This article was merely highlighting the tactics that a lot of estate agents use in practise (not even you can deny that). I'm just highlighting the point, "be careful"
I'm not bitter; I’m a barrel of joy :)
Right, so onto business, you going to hook me up with a bargain, or what?
I actually have never been let down by an estate agent. Well, actually, once, an estate agent tried to walk away from the bar I used to work at without paying. And then when I approached him about it, he threatened to hit me. Ha, Good times.
I'm aware there are rogues in every trade, but this site is about property....so getting into the inadequacies of a postman would be pointless.
I have no doubt in my mind that there are good, hardworking estate agents out there, as mentioned in the disclaimer at the bottom of my article.
This article was merely highlighting the tactics that a lot of estate agents use in practise (not even you can deny that). I'm just highlighting the point, "be careful"
I'm not bitter; I’m a barrel of joy :)
Right, so onto business, you going to hook me up with a bargain, or what?
12
pete wrote this on 2007-07-28 21:41:19
Hi admin,
Never read your disclaimer before submitting my last comment. So take back the tone of previous message!
You're very accurate in some of your points/observations - but you can't generalise.
I do agree that many agents hate each other - that's the joy of sales jobs though.
Rivalry!
On a positive note it can be motivating to sell the same property as another firm - probably seems egotistical to many. Good for the vendor- a potential nightmare for a buyer on the other hand - so watch out buyers for houses marketted by more than one firm!
On a similar note - clients phoning in or wandering in off the street could potentially be another agent. A tip to buyers -always dress casually - no suit when visiting an estate agebts office otherwise attitudes may seem negative. An agent new to a firm will tout the hell out of the competition - very annoying as frequently on the receiving end!
Out of interest admin, I do get moments when I'd like a change of career. Do you know what the most popular career change is for an agent?
Good luck buyers - there are sharks but there are some good guys.
Never read your disclaimer before submitting my last comment. So take back the tone of previous message!
You're very accurate in some of your points/observations - but you can't generalise.
I do agree that many agents hate each other - that's the joy of sales jobs though.
Rivalry!
On a positive note it can be motivating to sell the same property as another firm - probably seems egotistical to many. Good for the vendor- a potential nightmare for a buyer on the other hand - so watch out buyers for houses marketted by more than one firm!
On a similar note - clients phoning in or wandering in off the street could potentially be another agent. A tip to buyers -always dress casually - no suit when visiting an estate agebts office otherwise attitudes may seem negative. An agent new to a firm will tout the hell out of the competition - very annoying as frequently on the receiving end!
Out of interest admin, I do get moments when I'd like a change of career. Do you know what the most popular career change is for an agent?
Good luck buyers - there are sharks but there are some good guys.
13
Kamal wrote this on 2007-09-11 16:06:29
Well written !!! Absolutely true....
14
Screwed wrote this on 2007-10-16 08:21:56
my current agents are a pack of theiving assholes - if you live in western australia and are looking at finding a place , to buy or rent, north of the river; avoid professionals malaga (used to be century 21)
15
The Landlord wrote this on 2007-10-16 08:23:20
What did they do, out of curiosity?
Hope things work out for the best.
Hope things work out for the best.
16
Badger wrote this on 2007-10-23 08:30:50
The posts on here reflect that EA `S are toss pots, gaining their money through over inflated prices and spinning the yarn, i know a few EA`S and they all admit to dodgy dealings one way or another. One EA tried to buy the house of a disabled person who was being cared for in the carers home. Soon as he had the lead he saw money flash up.
Total bollocks
Total bollocks
17
Dan wrote this on 2007-11-23 17:46:40
To the person that wrote this post:
I find it a shame that someone who clearly has no proof/experience/idea of what an estate agent does on a day to day basis would bother to sit down & write all that. I'm an estate agent & thankfully love my job. If i didn't i'd have packed it in a long time ago after constantly being "painted with the same brush", time & time again by people who really have little or no understanding of what our job involves.
Imagine dealing with (personally, as an example) over 150 applicants & over 40 properties. Now i don't think i do bad but it's unreasonable to expect ANYONE to know every detail of every applicant & every property on their books just from a name...
"Hi Dan it's Mrs Smith..."
then get insulted when i have to ask what they're calling about. I use Smith as an obvious example, & personally have 11 of them as just my applicants!!!! But of course, we're all useless & so would have no clue what they're on about anyway.
"based on acts of ‘deceit’, ‘immorality’ and just basic ‘idiocy’. The list is not fictional, every example is common practise used by Estate Agents nationally, from the bottom man, all the way to the management." - this had me physically laughing out loud. It has been passed around the office since. I'm not quite sure what you think estate agents are, but we are all human, & yes, not all humans are nice people & do everything "by the book" (humans do do other jobs aside from estate Agency from time to time), but that paragraph just shows complete & utter ignorance. You make it sound like we're all criminals! Especially when you go on to say that Estate Agency isn't regulated. Look these up & then tell me we're not regulated...
Estate Agents Act 1979 & subsequent regulations & orders
Property misdescriptions act 1991
The sex discrimination act 1975
The disability discrimination act 1995
Health & Safety at work act 1974
Data protection act 1998
Financial services & markets act 2000
Town & country planning acts
Matrimonial homes act 1983
Housing act 2004
Anti terrorism crime & security act 2001
Proceeds of crime act 2002
Money laundering regs 2003
RICS, HAEA & other professional bodies where applicable.
I appreciate some are fairly broad & relate to most industries, but i think you'll find most as being fairly specific.
I wonder if you'd be good enough to tell us what you do?
I also put it to you to find specific examples of the kind of horrors you refer to. Seeing as most of what you talk about is "common practise & used by estate agents nationally". The worst example of 'immorality' that i've seen in my time doing what i do was when a rival company was actually instructing their sign man to take down other competitors boards when erecting theirs! The only reason we found out was because that same board man (who we also use) is actually a friend of my father. Not quite sure how that harms Joe Public though...?
If you need help with that "15 reasons why estate agents are awesome" then flease feel free to drop me an e-mail. You see i've worked & still do in the industry & see both sides of the argument every single day. I bet the guy i saw yesterday hasn't got a good word to say about me after he demanded i release our applicants personal details (he was one of our vendors!) & i wouldn't give them to him. Small matter of Data Protection that we have to abide by by law so i wouldn't get struck off & fined heavily. But of course, i'm an estate agent & so just trying to be awkward & was obviously "trying to fleece him & make a better deal with the applicant. Don't forget who's paying your wage sonny!" - lovely!
Now i know i must come across as being a little upset here, but mainly because i object to being labelled as being an idiot for what i choose to do for a living. I know you'll probably come back saying i should have read your disclaimer but i find that a little weak & is something that i as an Estate Agent come into contact with quite frequently to make it sound as if something isn't your fault if there's a problem. Very weak. You'd make a good estate agent though!
By the way, my favourite comment about us trying to get as much money as possible for a property because all we're thinking about is the commission...for example:
if you asked me to sell your house for £250'000, then that's what i'd try to do, because i'm a salesman & that'd be the only way that i'd have 100% done my job properly. & the more money i earned as commission was purely & simply because i sold YOUR house for more money, because YOU are paying me to do that service for you, making financial sense for us both & therefore spurring me into doing a better job! Simple when you think about it really! But then it'd take an idiot not to realise that...! ;o)
I find it a shame that someone who clearly has no proof/experience/idea of what an estate agent does on a day to day basis would bother to sit down & write all that. I'm an estate agent & thankfully love my job. If i didn't i'd have packed it in a long time ago after constantly being "painted with the same brush", time & time again by people who really have little or no understanding of what our job involves.
Imagine dealing with (personally, as an example) over 150 applicants & over 40 properties. Now i don't think i do bad but it's unreasonable to expect ANYONE to know every detail of every applicant & every property on their books just from a name...
"Hi Dan it's Mrs Smith..."
then get insulted when i have to ask what they're calling about. I use Smith as an obvious example, & personally have 11 of them as just my applicants!!!! But of course, we're all useless & so would have no clue what they're on about anyway.
"based on acts of ‘deceit’, ‘immorality’ and just basic ‘idiocy’. The list is not fictional, every example is common practise used by Estate Agents nationally, from the bottom man, all the way to the management." - this had me physically laughing out loud. It has been passed around the office since. I'm not quite sure what you think estate agents are, but we are all human, & yes, not all humans are nice people & do everything "by the book" (humans do do other jobs aside from estate Agency from time to time), but that paragraph just shows complete & utter ignorance. You make it sound like we're all criminals! Especially when you go on to say that Estate Agency isn't regulated. Look these up & then tell me we're not regulated...
Estate Agents Act 1979 & subsequent regulations & orders
Property misdescriptions act 1991
The sex discrimination act 1975
The disability discrimination act 1995
Health & Safety at work act 1974
Data protection act 1998
Financial services & markets act 2000
Town & country planning acts
Matrimonial homes act 1983
Housing act 2004
Anti terrorism crime & security act 2001
Proceeds of crime act 2002
Money laundering regs 2003
RICS, HAEA & other professional bodies where applicable.
I appreciate some are fairly broad & relate to most industries, but i think you'll find most as being fairly specific.
I wonder if you'd be good enough to tell us what you do?
I also put it to you to find specific examples of the kind of horrors you refer to. Seeing as most of what you talk about is "common practise & used by estate agents nationally". The worst example of 'immorality' that i've seen in my time doing what i do was when a rival company was actually instructing their sign man to take down other competitors boards when erecting theirs! The only reason we found out was because that same board man (who we also use) is actually a friend of my father. Not quite sure how that harms Joe Public though...?
If you need help with that "15 reasons why estate agents are awesome" then flease feel free to drop me an e-mail. You see i've worked & still do in the industry & see both sides of the argument every single day. I bet the guy i saw yesterday hasn't got a good word to say about me after he demanded i release our applicants personal details (he was one of our vendors!) & i wouldn't give them to him. Small matter of Data Protection that we have to abide by by law so i wouldn't get struck off & fined heavily. But of course, i'm an estate agent & so just trying to be awkward & was obviously "trying to fleece him & make a better deal with the applicant. Don't forget who's paying your wage sonny!" - lovely!
Now i know i must come across as being a little upset here, but mainly because i object to being labelled as being an idiot for what i choose to do for a living. I know you'll probably come back saying i should have read your disclaimer but i find that a little weak & is something that i as an Estate Agent come into contact with quite frequently to make it sound as if something isn't your fault if there's a problem. Very weak. You'd make a good estate agent though!
By the way, my favourite comment about us trying to get as much money as possible for a property because all we're thinking about is the commission...for example:
if you asked me to sell your house for £250'000, then that's what i'd try to do, because i'm a salesman & that'd be the only way that i'd have 100% done my job properly. & the more money i earned as commission was purely & simply because i sold YOUR house for more money, because YOU are paying me to do that service for you, making financial sense for us both & therefore spurring me into doing a better job! Simple when you think about it really! But then it'd take an idiot not to realise that...! ;o)
18
The Landlord wrote this on 2007-11-24 02:54:41
1. I'm well aware of what an estate agent does on a daily basis. I've dealt with estate agents and two of my close friends are agents. I also have a friend that specialises in child psychology; she deals with a lot of anger management issues. If you want her number, just let me know.
2. If the majority of estate agents were decent, then they wouldn't be brushed with such a negative brush. Don't cry to me, cry to those in your industry that gave you the bad name. Black people blamed all white people for slavery for years and years after slavery had been abolished. It's life.
3. I don't understand your argument in general. Basically, you haven't denied that some agents commit the sins on my list, you're just going on about how great of an agent you are. Well, congrats.
4. Unregulated in the sense that anyone can be an estate agent, and anyone can trade as an estate agent without any official training/certification.
5. I'd love to read your "15 reasons why estate agents are awesome" essay. I'll even publish it. See, I don't think all agents are bad if I’m willing to authorize your essay.
6. calm down. We're all friends here, sonny.
7. Google "problem with estate agent" and read the articles in the top 20 results. I guarantee you will die of a heart attack. And perhaps you'll get a better insight into the industry and realise that shit happens.
8. Have you complained to ITV about their new TV comedy called "SOLD" yet? There's a representation of a few "dodgy" agents and a few "good" agents. I wonder where they got the idea of some agents being dodgy...I guess they just made it all up.
I look forward to receiving your essay. You can just send it via the contact form.
2. If the majority of estate agents were decent, then they wouldn't be brushed with such a negative brush. Don't cry to me, cry to those in your industry that gave you the bad name. Black people blamed all white people for slavery for years and years after slavery had been abolished. It's life.
3. I don't understand your argument in general. Basically, you haven't denied that some agents commit the sins on my list, you're just going on about how great of an agent you are. Well, congrats.
4. Unregulated in the sense that anyone can be an estate agent, and anyone can trade as an estate agent without any official training/certification.
5. I'd love to read your "15 reasons why estate agents are awesome" essay. I'll even publish it. See, I don't think all agents are bad if I’m willing to authorize your essay.
6. calm down. We're all friends here, sonny.
7. Google "problem with estate agent" and read the articles in the top 20 results. I guarantee you will die of a heart attack. And perhaps you'll get a better insight into the industry and realise that shit happens.
8. Have you complained to ITV about their new TV comedy called "SOLD" yet? There's a representation of a few "dodgy" agents and a few "good" agents. I wonder where they got the idea of some agents being dodgy...I guess they just made it all up.
I look forward to receiving your essay. You can just send it via the contact form.
19
Luke wrote this on 2008-02-09 14:13:54
It makes me laugh that alot of the people on here including the writer of this article believe that they know everything about estate agents and their so called "tricks". firstly you mention that we try and charge the buyer as high a price a possible to effect our commision although if you actually worked it out the commission as you say is 1.5% on the property so lets say that the property is worth £200.000 that makes the offices commission £3000 and the individual agent will get a small part of the office commission lets say 5% of £3000 which is £150 pounds. If he sold the property for £180.000 the office gets £2700 and the agent gets £135 a difference of £25 woo bloody hoo. The reason the estate agent tries to get a high price is because we try to get our customers the best possible price for their home, if you were selling your house would you prefer we sold it for less than its worth?? also you say you have never heard any estate agent say "No that would be a bad buy my friend" what a load of rubbish, again if you were selling your house how would you feel if you overheard an estate agent saying that about your house??, you say the estate agents are idiots but your making the general public out to be idiots, do you really believe that people can be forced into buying a property they dont want? if theyre looking for a 3 bedroom house do you think they could be pushed to buy a one bedroom flat??
Also you mention that the commission we get is alot, well it costs £800 a page a week to advertise in a local paper (we have roughly 3 a week) it costs £300 a month to advertise on 1 website, we advertse on four, offices in town centre locations in order to utilise the windows and achieve as much foot-fall as possible.
To sell a home we have to market it to the widest possible audience to achieve a good and fair price, how much do you think we get paid for the properties we are unable to sell?? nothing, so who pays us for all the costs we incurred trying to sell that property? no one, it is a risky and tough business, so you may ask why do i do it and i can safely say it is all worth it when you have been chasing a sale and solicitors in order to push a sale safely through to completion and the family you have forged a relationship with for 6 months or so thanks you for all your hard work.
1.The sterotype of estate agents is an old, outdated and frankly boring one the tv show you talk about is how estate agents were 10 yrs ago and not the keen dedicated and generally proffessional people of today.
2.
Why do you feel the need to put numbers before every sentence??
Also you mention that the commission we get is alot, well it costs £800 a page a week to advertise in a local paper (we have roughly 3 a week) it costs £300 a month to advertise on 1 website, we advertse on four, offices in town centre locations in order to utilise the windows and achieve as much foot-fall as possible.
To sell a home we have to market it to the widest possible audience to achieve a good and fair price, how much do you think we get paid for the properties we are unable to sell?? nothing, so who pays us for all the costs we incurred trying to sell that property? no one, it is a risky and tough business, so you may ask why do i do it and i can safely say it is all worth it when you have been chasing a sale and solicitors in order to push a sale safely through to completion and the family you have forged a relationship with for 6 months or so thanks you for all your hard work.
1.The sterotype of estate agents is an old, outdated and frankly boring one the tv show you talk about is how estate agents were 10 yrs ago and not the keen dedicated and generally proffessional people of today.
2.
Why do you feel the need to put numbers before every sentence??
20
The Landlord wrote this on 2008-02-09 14:57:18
You seem to be pretty confused. I suggest you read the article again...
You seem to be speaking for EVERY estate agent out there. Are you telling me that NO estate agent is corrupt? Please, spare me.
Secondly, how an estate agent spends their marketing budget has nothing to do with anything. That's your call.
That's like me saying, "I earn £500k a year, but I spend £480k on alcohol a year, so I earn peanuts!!"
Thanks again for demonstrating why Estate Agents are idiots.
You seem to be speaking for EVERY estate agent out there. Are you telling me that NO estate agent is corrupt? Please, spare me.
Secondly, how an estate agent spends their marketing budget has nothing to do with anything. That's your call.
That's like me saying, "I earn £500k a year, but I spend £480k on alcohol a year, so I earn peanuts!!"
Thanks again for demonstrating why Estate Agents are idiots.
21
Watcyn Youd wrote this on 2008-02-27 23:07:23
House prices directly affect the accessibility and availability of housing for everyone, but especially the working class - for us, particularly, the housing squeeze is increasing.
The social housing stock is decreasing whilst waiting lists increase. This inevitably leaves the options down to private rentals or owner occupation. However housing costs impact on rents, private rentals being considerably more expensive than those for social housing, and clearly purchase price puts most houses well out of reach for many people.
The trouble with Foxtons, and their ilk, is that they artificially inflate prices to increase their commissions. They also expand their operations into traditional working class areas which, together with their pricing policies, further restricts housing availability for the working class.
The social housing stock is decreasing whilst waiting lists increase. This inevitably leaves the options down to private rentals or owner occupation. However housing costs impact on rents, private rentals being considerably more expensive than those for social housing, and clearly purchase price puts most houses well out of reach for many people.
The trouble with Foxtons, and their ilk, is that they artificially inflate prices to increase their commissions. They also expand their operations into traditional working class areas which, together with their pricing policies, further restricts housing availability for the working class.
22
the best wrote this on 2008-03-09 23:08:22
It seems the original poster is now cornered and having lost the argument putting in silly replies to justify the grossly ott original posting. I think both e/a posters have put across very well the professionalism they put into their job and the challenges that they face doing the job. I would like to add something that they havent. The biggest problem the industry has is the general public, that great mass of idiocy that loses all reasonableness and intelligence when it comes to SELLING ITS HOUSE. The upshot is the agent, as this mass of stupidities representative, gets tarnished with the poor reputation/etc,etc.
*Agents overprice = vendor insists you market their house at unreasonable level.
*Poor little 1st time buyer gazumped = greedy vendor refused to take property off market for 1st time buyer and subsequently went back on their word to this person.
*Properties overpriced = vendors wont listen to professional advice and drop their price, because their house is better than everyone elses.
This dosent take into account that most buyers are lyers, and that their is ZERO tolerance or quarter given to estate agents as human beings.
I will put a caveat in here and say I am a generalising and that not all the public are like this. Indeed they often give e/a a very warm reception and treat us well, I just wish they would listen to advice more readily sometimes
*Agents overprice = vendor insists you market their house at unreasonable level.
*Poor little 1st time buyer gazumped = greedy vendor refused to take property off market for 1st time buyer and subsequently went back on their word to this person.
*Properties overpriced = vendors wont listen to professional advice and drop their price, because their house is better than everyone elses.
This dosent take into account that most buyers are lyers, and that their is ZERO tolerance or quarter given to estate agents as human beings.
I will put a caveat in here and say I am a generalising and that not all the public are like this. Indeed they often give e/a a very warm reception and treat us well, I just wish they would listen to advice more readily sometimes
23
ScratchWeasel wrote this on 2008-04-18 11:30:22
I think there should be strict laws imposing timescales on various things like getting references sorted, refunding your deposit or fixing that leaking tap in your bathroom - basically so that it would stop agents earning money for doing absolutely nothing at all. That way they would stop sitting there with their fingers up their ar$£s and thinking that delaying/drawing processes out for as long as possible is a good (lucrative) way to conduct themselves.
On the flip side, I've had dealings with many nice agents.
Thing is: as soon as things go wrong or they have to put themselves out, they all seem to have the same knee-jerk reaction - to run as far from the office as possible so when you call, they're always 'out of the office' - even though half the times you call, the idiots don't put you on hold and attempt to muffle the "it's the tennant from 12C Cambridge Grove - are you in the office?" conversation before returning to the phone to advise "ooh, i'm sorry, she's just popped out for a viewing".
On the flip side, I've had dealings with many nice agents.
Thing is: as soon as things go wrong or they have to put themselves out, they all seem to have the same knee-jerk reaction - to run as far from the office as possible so when you call, they're always 'out of the office' - even though half the times you call, the idiots don't put you on hold and attempt to muffle the "it's the tennant from 12C Cambridge Grove - are you in the office?" conversation before returning to the phone to advise "ooh, i'm sorry, she's just popped out for a viewing".
24
ScratchWeasel wrote this on 2008-04-18 11:53:11
Although....I just realised this original post was about Estate Agents not letting agents so more fool me eh?!?!
Ahhh well, I'm sure everyone here's had dealings with letting agents?
Ahhh well, I'm sure everyone here's had dealings with letting agents?
25
ScratchWeasel wrote this on 2008-04-18 11:53:45
and lol@ the best, nice w@nker star by your post! :)
26
The Landlord wrote this on 2008-04-18 11:54:33
His comment was wanker'ish. He deserved it :)
27
The Landlord wrote this on 2008-04-18 11:55:30
Ha, letting agents / estate agents, they walk/talk with the similar swagger!
28
diesel mc wrote this on 2008-04-25 22:24:31
yer right mate, letting agents are not as bad, they are WORSE. if anybody needs to move quickly due to, eg, the property they currently rent through an agent falling down around their ears, I'd reccommend a letting agent if they want to be given a load of misinformation, have time wasted and get fucked over, especially if you want to see your family in some crappy homeless unit in shitsville. I have also found them to be highly trained in the ancient art of snobbery unless they think they can get 6 months rent up front out of you which is illegal! if anyone wishes to be treated in this manner i particularly recommend those in darlington and north yorks
PS my other half's an electrician and to the best of my knowledge he has not contributed to putting anyone's kids on the streets to date!
PS my other half's an electrician and to the best of my knowledge he has not contributed to putting anyone's kids on the streets to date!
29
adclixpro wrote this on 2008-04-30 19:08:17
I work with an estate agent in Spain, and I have read all of the above with interest. It's true, of course, as in any business or occupation, you get the good with the bad, but we at Apple Estate Agents in Spain do try our best to give concise information and good customer service. I guess the only thing I would like to point out is that the customer is not always right, and can give you a fair old run around and waste your time. It's hard not to get frustrated when you have a living to make.
30
The Landlord wrote this on 2008-04-30 20:54:11
Hey,
I agree whole heartedly, in every field you get the good and bad. I would never dispute otherwise.
I work with customers every day, I realise how much a pain they can also be :)
I agree whole heartedly, in every field you get the good and bad. I would never dispute otherwise.
I work with customers every day, I realise how much a pain they can also be :)
31
Nuts wrote this on 2008-07-14 21:36:03
Did any of you actually read what Luke said? Figure it out for yourselves, he is correct on all counts and if you are as intellegent as you say you are then you should just about be able to.
Most estate agents endeavour to find a property for a family that suits their needs and try very hard to ensure the sale goes as smoothly possible.
Maybe Luke was slightly too technical for you guys. Let me spell out. No sale No fee...the longer they have to market a property the more it cost them in advertising and they dont get paid back for that advertising if the property doesnt sell.
They are in the business of selling on behalf of a vendor. No, they don't make horrible remarks about someones property the applicant is perfectly capable of making decisions for themselves, being the more intellectual apparently!
Your comparison was a little on the pathetic side and proves quite the opposite to all reading.
No, I am well aware that not all Estate Agents are as genuine as they should be. However, you could say that with every occupation now couldn't you!!
Most estate agents endeavour to find a property for a family that suits their needs and try very hard to ensure the sale goes as smoothly possible.
Maybe Luke was slightly too technical for you guys. Let me spell out. No sale No fee...the longer they have to market a property the more it cost them in advertising and they dont get paid back for that advertising if the property doesnt sell.
They are in the business of selling on behalf of a vendor. No, they don't make horrible remarks about someones property the applicant is perfectly capable of making decisions for themselves, being the more intellectual apparently!
Your comparison was a little on the pathetic side and proves quite the opposite to all reading.
No, I am well aware that not all Estate Agents are as genuine as they should be. However, you could say that with every occupation now couldn't you!!
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The Landlord wrote this on 2008-07-14 22:55:25
Yes, Heather, we could list the negatives about any occupation. But this is about Estate Agents. Ok?
Oh sorry, was that too “technical” for you to figure out?
Oh sorry, was that too “technical” for you to figure out?
33
Rick wrote this on 2008-11-03 13:15:36
Oh dear....someboddy really is bitter ....aren't we ??
'The property Amateur' by name.....and nature it seems.
You're a pratt !!; who seemed to have jumped onto a band wagon.
Do more research !!
'15 reasons why ALL estate agents are idiots' ? and then you have a disclaimer at the bottom? A bit of a pratt and dare I say a little cowardly not being able to follow up on your convictions?
Do more research !!
You have got such a one sided opinion.
Do some research !!
Can I just say....you don't need qualifications to be a soldier.....but you can die for your country !!
In this day and age many people make a living in which ever way they can.....each to their own.
Finally.....do some research; you may then be able to drop the 'property amateur' tag !!
Have a good day !!
'The property Amateur' by name.....and nature it seems.
You're a pratt !!; who seemed to have jumped onto a band wagon.
Do more research !!
'15 reasons why ALL estate agents are idiots' ? and then you have a disclaimer at the bottom? A bit of a pratt and dare I say a little cowardly not being able to follow up on your convictions?
Do more research !!
You have got such a one sided opinion.
Do some research !!
Can I just say....you don't need qualifications to be a soldier.....but you can die for your country !!
In this day and age many people make a living in which ever way they can.....each to their own.
Finally.....do some research; you may then be able to drop the 'property amateur' tag !!
Have a good day !!
34
The Landlord wrote this on 2008-11-03 15:10:01
"you don't need qualifications to be a soldier…..but you can die for your country"
errr...yeah, great point.
errr...yeah, great point.
35
Rick wrote this on 2008-11-03 18:24:35
apologies as probably did not make that point too clear....just trying to highlight that there are many careers where qualifications are not required; your first point is insinuating that a career where a qualification is not needed is fair game for ridicule !!
I believe the bottom line is; nobody is forced into buying anything they do not wish to. Home buying is an emotional choice, and lets face it, there is ample time for either party to pull out.
But as I said before......do more research before making assumptions as to how ANY profession conducts itself. Nothing is perfect in this world, and it's about time you brush that chip off your shoulder, after all Landlors dont have the greatest of reputations, are you the exception?
I believe the bottom line is; nobody is forced into buying anything they do not wish to. Home buying is an emotional choice, and lets face it, there is ample time for either party to pull out.
But as I said before......do more research before making assumptions as to how ANY profession conducts itself. Nothing is perfect in this world, and it's about time you brush that chip off your shoulder, after all Landlors dont have the greatest of reputations, are you the exception?
36
The Landlord wrote this on 2008-11-03 20:01:02
I don't understand your arguments. They're completely irrelevant to the issue.
This article is about Estate agents, so whether other profressions require qualifications is neither here nor there. I'm not claiming that this is the only industry with in that bracket.
I'm not making any assumptions. As stated, these are all known practises used with in the industry.
So please, quit preaching to me with your baseless bullshit- it's boring.
This article is about Estate agents, so whether other profressions require qualifications is neither here nor there. I'm not claiming that this is the only industry with in that bracket.
I'm not making any assumptions. As stated, these are all known practises used with in the industry.
So please, quit preaching to me with your baseless bullshit- it's boring.
37
ann see wrote this on 2008-11-26 14:59:45
Completely unfair article, been an agent for five years since graduating got into it after wanting to learn more about proprty investment after being left a small inheritance. I love my job and the people I get to meet.I live in the area I sell so take pride in the way I work and my reputation. My collegues are honest, hardworking and intelligent people who strive to complete a transaction to the satisfaction of all parties, you'd be surprised of the demands and the requests by certain buyers/sellers which the agent gets the blame for ie guzumping/guzundering,petty squabbling over a washing machine etc. we have to be pretty thick skinned as the stress of buying a house makes people behave towards you in a way they would never normally. There is the odd bad agent or agency as in every industry but after working for two large London agents I know this is not the norm, go with your instinct as you would in alot situations (maybe us girls use that more ;))
if you don't trust the individual and you dont get a good feeling about them then don't use them but to start off the transaction rude because of the general assumptions you have heard about agents is unfair. Treat it on a case by case basis, don't tar us all with the same brush. The vast majority work in an ethical way. ps they are certainly not "known practises in the industry"
if you don't trust the individual and you dont get a good feeling about them then don't use them but to start off the transaction rude because of the general assumptions you have heard about agents is unfair. Treat it on a case by case basis, don't tar us all with the same brush. The vast majority work in an ethical way. ps they are certainly not "known practises in the industry"
38
Danivon wrote this on 2009-01-23 20:08:11
Rick - you do know that soldiers have to complete basic training before they are sent out to be shot at? If they don't pass that they are drummed out. So your lame comparison is even lamer than it first appears.
Essentially, the main problem people have with estate agents is that they appear (I stress 'appear') to many of us to be getting money for nothing. When the market is good, houses will be bought and sold regardless, and when it is low, no amount of marketing is going to get people to buy more houses. And lettings agents are not much different.
Yeah, I'm sure that there are good agents out there. In fact, I have dealt with them. But there are clearly a load of cowboys because anyone who has bought, sold, let or rented has met them.
As a one time and soon to be tenant through an agency, I resent the up front 'admin fees', the high charge for setting up standard legal agreements (anyone else paid £50 on renewal for someone to change the dates on an agreement?). They are already getting at least 10% from the landlord. The landlord usually still has to pay for all repairs and maintenance so is paying quite a bit for the service.
And price inflation is certainly a real concern. Could it be that Agents (as well as eager vendors) are in some small way responsible for the housing bubble we've just seen on both sides of the Atlantic?
Essentially, the main problem people have with estate agents is that they appear (I stress 'appear') to many of us to be getting money for nothing. When the market is good, houses will be bought and sold regardless, and when it is low, no amount of marketing is going to get people to buy more houses. And lettings agents are not much different.
Yeah, I'm sure that there are good agents out there. In fact, I have dealt with them. But there are clearly a load of cowboys because anyone who has bought, sold, let or rented has met them.
As a one time and soon to be tenant through an agency, I resent the up front 'admin fees', the high charge for setting up standard legal agreements (anyone else paid £50 on renewal for someone to change the dates on an agreement?). They are already getting at least 10% from the landlord. The landlord usually still has to pay for all repairs and maintenance so is paying quite a bit for the service.
And price inflation is certainly a real concern. Could it be that Agents (as well as eager vendors) are in some small way responsible for the housing bubble we've just seen on both sides of the Atlantic?
39
Chris wrote this on 2009-03-19 10:49:35
What everyone must note is that estate agents don't work for buyers we work on behalf of the seller!!! Our job is to make them as much money as possible and push the sale through as quickly and smoothly as we can. We also can't force someone to purchase a property they don't want and we can't force them to pay over the odds. If you believe a property to be over valued don't buy it!! It really is as simple as that. If people think agents are a waste of time try selling you property privately. Then maybe you might understand the work and stress an agent has to put up with.
40
Mike wrote this on 2009-04-03 17:57:58
What a horribly classist article. Have you not thought that people just want to make a living. Do you also insult art merchants, or antique salesmen, private bankers? Because their salaries also depend on commission..
41
jules wrote this on 2009-04-05 12:00:49
It was so cold the other day,i saw an estate agent with his hands in his own pockets!!!!
42
Adrian wrote this on 2009-04-14 18:57:02
Estate agents are slime and like a lot of sales people they will do anything to get the most out of the deal. They need regulating and it is a complete joke how you can have a bid accepted which meets the asking price only for some slimey person to deal behind your back and play potential buyers against each other to gget an extra 1000k without you even having a chance.
43
Steve R wrote this on 2009-04-23 10:37:27
Our job is to make them as much money as possible and push the sale through as quickly and smoothly as we can.
Maybe that's why the country has gone the shitter.
How can a house that sold for 80 K in 1998 be "worth" almost 250 K less than 10 years later, when wages have gone up perhaps 10 to 15% in that time.
How come the average house price is 8 to 9 times the average wage these days?
All this "talking up" means that most everybody is now screwed.
Thanks!
Maybe that's why the country has gone the shitter.
How can a house that sold for 80 K in 1998 be "worth" almost 250 K less than 10 years later, when wages have gone up perhaps 10 to 15% in that time.
How come the average house price is 8 to 9 times the average wage these days?
All this "talking up" means that most everybody is now screwed.
Thanks!
44
emma wrote this on 2009-05-12 15:13:31
This makes me sick!! The idiot who wrote this article is full of S**T if you ask me!
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The Landlord wrote this on 2009-05-12 15:36:30
Thanks, Emma :)
46
lydia wrote this on 2009-06-07 20:16:53
The idiot that wrote this article obviously has far too much time on their hands. Get a life.
47
Agent X wrote this on 2009-07-13 18:25:50
Seek and you shall find. If you're an asshole willing to gouge a seller or a buyer to get a good deal, chances are you'll attract an agent who will also be an asshole, completing the party.
There are humans who operate in all occupations with honor and integrity then there are others in the world whose life scripts are to play victim and villain and they will always find each other and write posts like this.
There are humans who operate in all occupations with honor and integrity then there are others in the world whose life scripts are to play victim and villain and they will always find each other and write posts like this.
48
The Landlord wrote this on 2009-07-13 18:29:25
I'm glad you found me, Agent X!!
49
Paul wrote this on 2009-07-16 17:18:21
Having just read this little lot
Maybe someone here can advise me with a situation we have, Live in Swindon Wiltshire,
In Aug 2008, we Put our House on the Market for £225,000. We now have the house on the Market for £180,000.
in this period we had sold the Property Twice, Subject to Contract, However on both Occasions due to Potential Buyers Financial situation they have fallen through,
We are Now with a third estate agent, have been for past 10 weeks, in this time we have had Approx 12 No, Potential Buyers' that had made Appointments via the Estate agent in wanting to view the Property, we have been informed via telephone of a viewings, EG, would the time be convenient, etc' yes not a problem, we would do the usual making sure everything is presentable,and so on
THE ISSUE !
We Had 5 no Viewers/Potential buyers look at the Property over 3-4 weeks, the third couple made offer However it was not acceptable, With respect the hole in which this couple were making this offer from required more depth,
In the following 6 weeks with this agent we have had the estate agent ring us to arrange times for viewing on 7 no occasions one after the other and on 7 no occasions we have had No shows, time wasters!??
I ask you is this normal SEVEN' NO SHOWS!, one after the other??? And one other thing very strange, after the second No Show, We had been asked by the estate agent, on the next viewing (this would be No Show Number 3!)
Could WE - Me and my Wife Vacate the Property for an hour or so prior! the potential Buyer arriving, so the estate agent can show them around by himself,?? AGAIN People I Ask you is this Normal!
OH'I want to show someone your house please LEAVE!
We Feel Maybe 2 out of these 7 viewers / couples could have been no shows but not 7 in a row, we think we have been fed a spin Only there is not a lot we can do about it to find out,
The please leave issue, well i just don't know,
your opinions will be most appreciated
regards Paul
Maybe someone here can advise me with a situation we have, Live in Swindon Wiltshire,
In Aug 2008, we Put our House on the Market for £225,000. We now have the house on the Market for £180,000.
in this period we had sold the Property Twice, Subject to Contract, However on both Occasions due to Potential Buyers Financial situation they have fallen through,
We are Now with a third estate agent, have been for past 10 weeks, in this time we have had Approx 12 No, Potential Buyers' that had made Appointments via the Estate agent in wanting to view the Property, we have been informed via telephone of a viewings, EG, would the time be convenient, etc' yes not a problem, we would do the usual making sure everything is presentable,and so on
THE ISSUE !
We Had 5 no Viewers/Potential buyers look at the Property over 3-4 weeks, the third couple made offer However it was not acceptable, With respect the hole in which this couple were making this offer from required more depth,
In the following 6 weeks with this agent we have had the estate agent ring us to arrange times for viewing on 7 no occasions one after the other and on 7 no occasions we have had No shows, time wasters!??
I ask you is this normal SEVEN' NO SHOWS!, one after the other??? And one other thing very strange, after the second No Show, We had been asked by the estate agent, on the next viewing (this would be No Show Number 3!)
Could WE - Me and my Wife Vacate the Property for an hour or so prior! the potential Buyer arriving, so the estate agent can show them around by himself,?? AGAIN People I Ask you is this Normal!
OH'I want to show someone your house please LEAVE!
We Feel Maybe 2 out of these 7 viewers / couples could have been no shows but not 7 in a row, we think we have been fed a spin Only there is not a lot we can do about it to find out,
The please leave issue, well i just don't know,
your opinions will be most appreciated
regards Paul
50
Choochie Coo wrote this on 2009-07-27 18:10:49
ALL TRUE! I Am currently trapped in the centre of the vortex of house buying and am only too familiar with these types.
My boyfriend refers to tehm as 'coked up rapists' and I don't think it's too harsh an insult. I have seen nothing short of the sleaziest behaviour since men in overcoats exposed themselves in parks to children. they are also terrible liars which is why we all know this stuff.
Also, has anyone noticed why so so many of them are really tiny men in oversized Burton suits?
My boyfriend refers to tehm as 'coked up rapists' and I don't think it's too harsh an insult. I have seen nothing short of the sleaziest behaviour since men in overcoats exposed themselves in parks to children. they are also terrible liars which is why we all know this stuff.
Also, has anyone noticed why so so many of them are really tiny men in oversized Burton suits?
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Choochie Coo wrote this on 2009-07-27 18:11:43
'scuse my typos... was mid rant you know...
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Kevin wrote this on 2009-07-31 08:49:09
Have you got nothing better to do..... I am not nor have I ever been an estate agent and reckon your comments are lame. You seem like an idiot yourself. You know not everybody is the same. Get a life
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The Landlord wrote this on 2009-07-31 09:27:34
Nope, I have nothing better to do.
And yes, I agree not everyone is the same, which is exactly what I put in my disclaimer at the bottom of the article. IDIOT.
And yes, I agree not everyone is the same, which is exactly what I put in my disclaimer at the bottom of the article. IDIOT.
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coochie coo wrote this on 2009-07-31 10:59:45
Please grown a sense of humour if possible....
55
The Landlord wrote this on 2009-07-31 11:11:37
haha @ tiny men in oversized Burton suits!
That's so true!
And I imagine they wear Old Spice aftershave! Probably not true, but it soundings fitting!
That's so true!
And I imagine they wear Old Spice aftershave! Probably not true, but it soundings fitting!
56
VEVE wrote this on 2009-08-14 18:39:59
these statements go for capitalism in general. you can actually see people transform into slimy creatures in countries that have gone from comunism to capitalism. the big reason why estate agents seem dodgier is because more money is at stake. whenever a lot of money is at stake, things get magnified. so if you put down a 3000 deposit and lose it, you will really feel it. estate agents also have the potential to waste your time. a lot of them will show properties when its convenient for them, regardless of the fact that you traveled an hour to see a property. they also deal with a lot of people, so it is not uncommon for them to not know who you are or that you had an appointment. you will probably notice a lot of the same personalities in car sales men. i have also seen mobile phone sales men act like this. ive met some decent estate agents, but id say the majority of them dont appeal to me.
57
Tom wrote this on 2009-08-23 15:27:25
Hi,
From my experience of agents, promising me deposits back and never getting them, being laughed at to my face, this sums it up.
I will never use an agent again. Period.
From my experience of agents, promising me deposits back and never getting them, being laughed at to my face, this sums it up.
I will never use an agent again. Period.
58
Elena wrote this on 2009-08-29 09:45:27
My vote is for the Landlord. Agents who responded here just feel threatened their tactics are being exposed; their first response is to attack. They believe the best defence is a good offence.
We do need a regulating body, say in a shape of voluntary 'Estate/letting agents' Good Practice Code'
Dear Agents! Work that out and I will believe you are honest and mean well.
Best to all,
Elena
We do need a regulating body, say in a shape of voluntary 'Estate/letting agents' Good Practice Code'
Dear Agents! Work that out and I will believe you are honest and mean well.
Best to all,
Elena
59
Laura wrote this on 2009-08-30 21:54:17
it's not just that the busimess is based on commission, it's that the agent can only ever work for either the buyer or seller. and those are the decent ones.
the scum bags work only for themselves, screwing both buyer and seller over.
same case for letting agents. those slimeballs charge *both* the tenant and the landlord hundreds of pounds just to get an application underway. urg i can't see how that's anything but evil.
i just wish they could be honest and say: look we're working for the landlord when dealing with prospective tenants and that other agents might exist who work for the tenants. someone with knowledge of property to hire - by either but only ever one party.
the scum bags work only for themselves, screwing both buyer and seller over.
same case for letting agents. those slimeballs charge *both* the tenant and the landlord hundreds of pounds just to get an application underway. urg i can't see how that's anything but evil.
i just wish they could be honest and say: look we're working for the landlord when dealing with prospective tenants and that other agents might exist who work for the tenants. someone with knowledge of property to hire - by either but only ever one party.
60
Sophie wrote this on 2009-11-26 16:27:26
Also another classic line that comes out an Agents mouth... (for letting) "You will need to make a quick decission on this property as we have 3 other viewings today" I have to work with Agents myself on a daily basis and yes there are a few good guys out there but in my 4 years experience most of them are cowboys!!!
61
Sophie wrote this on 2009-11-26 16:28:24
May I add I am NOT and agents myself!!!!
62
Rick wrote this on 2009-11-26 18:33:05
the language being used on this site to describe a profession is a little strong. Scum, slimeballs, and then of course the name calling. If agents are so poor, bad, mistrusting, then a majority who have made comments on this site are just bloody childish.
The name calling, and is similar to that directed at rapists and murders. Please remember, that these people pay income tax like any other worker; do you propose that they all sign on tomorrow. You could then refer to them as good for nothing lay about money sponging blah blah blah
The name calling, and is similar to that directed at rapists and murders. Please remember, that these people pay income tax like any other worker; do you propose that they all sign on tomorrow. You could then refer to them as good for nothing lay about money sponging blah blah blah
63
KM wrote this on 2009-12-04 02:27:17
I endorse every 15 reasons, if you think otherwise then go do a deal with Alexander Chase.
I think Rick is an estate agent, may be he works for Alexander Chase too.
I think Rick is an estate agent, may be he works for Alexander Chase too.
64
Andy wrote this on 2010-01-13 21:45:26
I was just getting very indignant about these slanderous remarks about my chosen profession when I realised at No.13 that my amazing idea for promoting the business is already known and hated as 'Flyboarding'. Goddammit!!!! Now where did I put that contract with devil, he's bloody swizzed me, the damn shit.
65
Sarah wrote this on 2010-01-17 00:35:05
Estate agents should never be trusted. Never work in one, it really is the pits.
66
Mark from Robinsons in Dunstable wrote this on 2010-01-25 17:56:10
Yeah I'm a lousy estate agent, I love winding up my customers. To be honest we do it because we are all after screwing as many people over as we can. You know as a race we could be redundant. That's right, we're not actually needed. All you we really do is advertise your house then cock up all the paperwork. Any bugger can do that. I have to say that I don't know a single estate agent that wouldn't sell his first born for a hand job, I mean that as in a back hander, ahem. I'm arrogant and know everything. Everything you can do I can do better. Don't forget who's name is above the door. That's right mine! Just like a pub. I'm the landlord and you're barred! Haha. Seriously I hate normal people like you because I am slime.
67
The Landlord wrote this on 2010-01-25 18:03:10
I admire your honesty, Mark. See, you're not the average Estate Agent, entirely :)
68
Pissed Off wrote this on 2010-01-27 16:19:50
Just started looking for our first house and already with the first house that we really liked the Estate Agent managed to start a bidding war. Bastard. My advice for anyone inexperienced with them is to tell them exactly what you expect them to do. I.e. Pass on my offer immediately...
Also just so people know ES are legally bound to pass on your offer immediately and (If you could ever prove it) it is illegal for ES to create phantom bids...
Also just so people know ES are legally bound to pass on your offer immediately and (If you could ever prove it) it is illegal for ES to create phantom bids...
69
Rick wrote this on 2010-01-28 18:37:13
Re: previous comment from 'pissed off'.
so lets get this right.....
you walked into, and fell in love with a house. The chances are you are not the only buyer in the world, all be it a little precious, and other people wanted to view this property also. The agent (bastard), managed to arrange other viewings on the proeprty 9the cheek of it). I would imagine other viewees of the house also liked it just as much as you, and they also offerd, (bet you loved it more though).
note: Now, as you have clearly stated, and correctly so, all offers have to be submitted to vendors, both verbally and in writing.
The vendor by now has several offers to which to choose from. Again using my imagination (feel free to use common sense Mr/Ms 'pissed off') the vendor probably went with the highest offer to a buyer in a 'proceedable' position.
The bottom line here is, you did not offer enough on the house and subsequently missed out. The agent did not create the bidding war......that is down to 'supply and demand'. If you had offered a higher ammount at the outset, you could have probably clinched the house.
Result here is...The vendor got the best price on the day for their property. This equates to the agent doing their job for their client.....the vendor.
Could everybody please remember, a house can only be sold once, and ultimately it is the vendor who decides what level of offer to accept, not the agent.
So don't be bitter, carry on the search and find your property utopia.
so lets get this right.....
you walked into, and fell in love with a house. The chances are you are not the only buyer in the world, all be it a little precious, and other people wanted to view this property also. The agent (bastard), managed to arrange other viewings on the proeprty 9the cheek of it). I would imagine other viewees of the house also liked it just as much as you, and they also offerd, (bet you loved it more though).
note: Now, as you have clearly stated, and correctly so, all offers have to be submitted to vendors, both verbally and in writing.
The vendor by now has several offers to which to choose from. Again using my imagination (feel free to use common sense Mr/Ms 'pissed off') the vendor probably went with the highest offer to a buyer in a 'proceedable' position.
The bottom line here is, you did not offer enough on the house and subsequently missed out. The agent did not create the bidding war......that is down to 'supply and demand'. If you had offered a higher ammount at the outset, you could have probably clinched the house.
Result here is...The vendor got the best price on the day for their property. This equates to the agent doing their job for their client.....the vendor.
Could everybody please remember, a house can only be sold once, and ultimately it is the vendor who decides what level of offer to accept, not the agent.
So don't be bitter, carry on the search and find your property utopia.
70
Lisa wrote this on 2010-02-03 18:54:38
Hi Landlord firstly can I say in your defence. The person who set up this site(Landlord)set it up to try and help people, I do belive that the 15 reasons to hate Estate Agents is not meant to be really serious and I think its meant to be light hearted fun. I see he does say time and time again in his posts that he does not tar all agents with the same brush.I know not all Agents will find it funny but you have to have a sence of humour. Post 67 is the funniest. There are some very good Agents and to be very honest some bloody dodgy as hell ones, its those ones that ruin it for the good ones.Once someone has had a bad experiance with anything you will tell 10 people how bad it was, but when you have a good experiance you only tell one.
Me personally i'll focus on the Tax Man this time of year now thats where we can all agree we get well and truly shafted.
Me personally i'll focus on the Tax Man this time of year now thats where we can all agree we get well and truly shafted.
71
natalie wrote this on 2010-02-11 07:29:43
All the issues mentioned in the article are correct, they do occur. Not by every estate agent but by some.
The trouble is the good agents are fewer and well hidden amongst the louder idiots. Hence the awful public perception of estate agents.
The trouble is the good agents are fewer and well hidden amongst the louder idiots. Hence the awful public perception of estate agents.
72
Mike Cole wrote this on 2010-02-17 17:36:06
I thought it was really sad to see such a negative view that at best can only be justified against a minority of agents. Equally, you would find the majority of respectable agents are just as frustrated by the practices of that minority.
Factually you are incorrect in so many ways it's frightening;
Agents ARE accountable via The Property Ombudsmen, of which almost all are now members. There is a legal obliagtion to be a member of some form of redress scheme on Sales Agent. This wholly independent Ombudsmen can and does fine mispractise to the benefit of the complainee. I think few industries offer that kind of accountability.
On the lettings front agents can join The Proeprty Ombudsman again, or ARLA or NALS. Although they are not legally obliged to yet, if you are displaying any of those, or often a combination of those kite marks you are accountable and are regulated. Clients as with any agenct based purchase be they travel agents, mortgage brokers, even football agents can readily see if the agent they choose to use is verified in this fashion.
More of an issue is that often the agents who are not regulated are cheaper. If you choose to take the cheap option of course you increase the risk of dealing with someone unscrupulous. I would suggest an individual should be looking in the mirror at their own choices before then bemoaning the service they receive.
We do not 'hate our own kind' as standard. What you refer to is that we are in a very competitive business. Alex Ferguson is not going to go line dancing for a night out with Arsene Wenger, they are hard rivals, it would be inappropriate. They will always be looking to gain a competitive edge over each other. That's business in general and such that encourages businesses to invest in better staff or more marketing or better premises etc... all of which clients can then benefit from.
You are right to say qualifications aren't required, but then this isn't rocket science we are dealing with. The process of understanding how a sale works is not difficult to learn and categorically couldn't be made challenging enough to put off soemone interested in entering the business for ill gotten gain. You can learn 95% of estate agency in 6 months on the job, the other 5% may take you 6 years as it will deal with rare events that have no impact on service standards any way. More relevant would be greater training in actual sales skills, but your arguement seems to intimate that the principal of selling a product to someone is automatically seedy. Quite untrue again.
A good sales person matches their product to a clients needs. They may well try and broaden a clients horizons, but what is wrong in that. If I only told applicants about the exact type of property they wanted I'd hardly ever do a deal. Usually clients are a little naive on what may be available or on what their budget should entail. Some are overly ambitious, some are pessimistic, but most havea greater level of flexibility than they had originally started out with. I'm not abusing my position or failing to listen in any way whatsoever. I'm opening their eyes to possibilities that they have every right to tell me is pointless if they see fit. If you don't like a programme on telly - don't watch it then - but don't complain you have the option to watch it.
You suggest that becasue commission is earnable it automatically promotes underhand tactics. That's like saying to any business if you are making a profit you must be dodgy. Earning commission to the positive thinker opens the opportunity to get out of a job what you put in. In the same way someone going self employed and starting their own busines would think. It means if you work harder than the person next to you, you can potentially earn more money. It means you ahev some control over your own destiny. That to me seems an altogether healthy way to persaude people to work the unsocial and very long hours agents do. And let's be clear that landlords and vendors expect us to do. Try finding staff to work 60 hours and weekends without incentives! That some people may seek to abuse the system for personal gain is an inherant human problem the world over, just as you get certain governments and big business that manipulate and defraud. It's a socail comment I could agree with wholeheartedly, but not an estate agency based one.
You initmate agents lie to get a result. That is a quick way to the poor house!!! As with most businesses, reccomendations are crucial to an agent surviving and flourishing. You simply don't get that business if you don't have a good reputation and you don't get a good reputation by lying.
Your 'mute' mode comment was ridiculous. Agents are legally bound to put offers, all offers forward. But don't expect us to be happy when you make a sily low offer as we are going to get it in the neck from the owner not you. Remember it's easy for you to pick a side here. In some of your points you are a buyer in some a seller, yet you can't have it both ways. If you were the seller and someone made you a silly offer, you would then probably be complaining we had encouraged a client to make such an offer and told us what we can do with it. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Equally if you were a seller and we weren;t getting you many viewings because we weren't encouraging people to be flexible oin their criteria you would then complan at lack of interest and suggest we werent doing anything for our money.
That brings us on to my final point. For all your criticisms of estate agents, most of which are completely flawed, I could name the same and more that the average man in the street does to us and to other members of the publicnthat we have to put up with.
GAZUMPING - A totally greed induced pastime of no possible benefit to an agent.
NO SHOWS - Not turning up on viewings with no call to apologise or to forewarn.
TURN UP AND RUN - Get to a house, not like the look and not even have the courtesy to tell the owner who is waiting for you.
WITHDRAW FROMM SALE - Clients pulling out of a transaction, often late in the day, for often very selfish reasons and with no financial comeback whatsoever. There should be regulation against this if you are so keen for more regulation.
VIEW PROPERTY WAY BEYOND BUDGET - Wasting everyones time by viewing something you can't afford in the hope to knock down an unsuspecting owner who has accomodated you in to their home.
DROP OFFERS ON EXCHANGE - Clients who abuse the urgency of someone to move, by reducing the agreed price late in the day when a seller may be forced to work somthing out rather than start again.
GO PRIVATE - Clients knocking on doors of houses we have shown them to see if they can do a private deal and cut the agent out.
I could go on and on. These are every day occurances that are thoroughly miserable for agents to deal with. Agents who remember are on a NO SALE, NO FEE deal whereby they earn nothing when these sales go abortive, but still have to deal with the fall out.
That however does not give me the right to say the house buying / letting population of Britain are all lying, cheating scumbags. It is a minority, the same sort of percentage minority that are lying cheating estate agents.
Of course some exist, I'm certainly not lacing estate agents as saintly, but your portrayal is miles off the mark.
Your article is a reflection on a percentage of humans, may be a growing percentage, in a commercial society that often seems to encourage the individual to look out for himself, whatever the cost to others. That some peole's moral compass allows them to fall under this spell, especially if they can make financial gain, is very frustrating for the decent people in this world.
To tar estate agents in this day and age, as needing some sort of health warming over their head any more than any other industry type is out dated, unresearched, stereotyping of the laziest type.
There is the opportunity to earn good money in my business. However it requires incredibly hard work, a lot of investment and a certain amount of talent all to be practised over a concerted period of time. It is not a way to make a fast buck in any shape or form and trying to do so fails miserably in this day and age.
Respectfully.
Mike Cole - Imagine Watford www.twitter.com/imaginewatford
Factually you are incorrect in so many ways it's frightening;
Agents ARE accountable via The Property Ombudsmen, of which almost all are now members. There is a legal obliagtion to be a member of some form of redress scheme on Sales Agent. This wholly independent Ombudsmen can and does fine mispractise to the benefit of the complainee. I think few industries offer that kind of accountability.
On the lettings front agents can join The Proeprty Ombudsman again, or ARLA or NALS. Although they are not legally obliged to yet, if you are displaying any of those, or often a combination of those kite marks you are accountable and are regulated. Clients as with any agenct based purchase be they travel agents, mortgage brokers, even football agents can readily see if the agent they choose to use is verified in this fashion.
More of an issue is that often the agents who are not regulated are cheaper. If you choose to take the cheap option of course you increase the risk of dealing with someone unscrupulous. I would suggest an individual should be looking in the mirror at their own choices before then bemoaning the service they receive.
We do not 'hate our own kind' as standard. What you refer to is that we are in a very competitive business. Alex Ferguson is not going to go line dancing for a night out with Arsene Wenger, they are hard rivals, it would be inappropriate. They will always be looking to gain a competitive edge over each other. That's business in general and such that encourages businesses to invest in better staff or more marketing or better premises etc... all of which clients can then benefit from.
You are right to say qualifications aren't required, but then this isn't rocket science we are dealing with. The process of understanding how a sale works is not difficult to learn and categorically couldn't be made challenging enough to put off soemone interested in entering the business for ill gotten gain. You can learn 95% of estate agency in 6 months on the job, the other 5% may take you 6 years as it will deal with rare events that have no impact on service standards any way. More relevant would be greater training in actual sales skills, but your arguement seems to intimate that the principal of selling a product to someone is automatically seedy. Quite untrue again.
A good sales person matches their product to a clients needs. They may well try and broaden a clients horizons, but what is wrong in that. If I only told applicants about the exact type of property they wanted I'd hardly ever do a deal. Usually clients are a little naive on what may be available or on what their budget should entail. Some are overly ambitious, some are pessimistic, but most havea greater level of flexibility than they had originally started out with. I'm not abusing my position or failing to listen in any way whatsoever. I'm opening their eyes to possibilities that they have every right to tell me is pointless if they see fit. If you don't like a programme on telly - don't watch it then - but don't complain you have the option to watch it.
You suggest that becasue commission is earnable it automatically promotes underhand tactics. That's like saying to any business if you are making a profit you must be dodgy. Earning commission to the positive thinker opens the opportunity to get out of a job what you put in. In the same way someone going self employed and starting their own busines would think. It means if you work harder than the person next to you, you can potentially earn more money. It means you ahev some control over your own destiny. That to me seems an altogether healthy way to persaude people to work the unsocial and very long hours agents do. And let's be clear that landlords and vendors expect us to do. Try finding staff to work 60 hours and weekends without incentives! That some people may seek to abuse the system for personal gain is an inherant human problem the world over, just as you get certain governments and big business that manipulate and defraud. It's a socail comment I could agree with wholeheartedly, but not an estate agency based one.
You initmate agents lie to get a result. That is a quick way to the poor house!!! As with most businesses, reccomendations are crucial to an agent surviving and flourishing. You simply don't get that business if you don't have a good reputation and you don't get a good reputation by lying.
Your 'mute' mode comment was ridiculous. Agents are legally bound to put offers, all offers forward. But don't expect us to be happy when you make a sily low offer as we are going to get it in the neck from the owner not you. Remember it's easy for you to pick a side here. In some of your points you are a buyer in some a seller, yet you can't have it both ways. If you were the seller and someone made you a silly offer, you would then probably be complaining we had encouraged a client to make such an offer and told us what we can do with it. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Equally if you were a seller and we weren;t getting you many viewings because we weren't encouraging people to be flexible oin their criteria you would then complan at lack of interest and suggest we werent doing anything for our money.
That brings us on to my final point. For all your criticisms of estate agents, most of which are completely flawed, I could name the same and more that the average man in the street does to us and to other members of the publicnthat we have to put up with.
GAZUMPING - A totally greed induced pastime of no possible benefit to an agent.
NO SHOWS - Not turning up on viewings with no call to apologise or to forewarn.
TURN UP AND RUN - Get to a house, not like the look and not even have the courtesy to tell the owner who is waiting for you.
WITHDRAW FROMM SALE - Clients pulling out of a transaction, often late in the day, for often very selfish reasons and with no financial comeback whatsoever. There should be regulation against this if you are so keen for more regulation.
VIEW PROPERTY WAY BEYOND BUDGET - Wasting everyones time by viewing something you can't afford in the hope to knock down an unsuspecting owner who has accomodated you in to their home.
DROP OFFERS ON EXCHANGE - Clients who abuse the urgency of someone to move, by reducing the agreed price late in the day when a seller may be forced to work somthing out rather than start again.
GO PRIVATE - Clients knocking on doors of houses we have shown them to see if they can do a private deal and cut the agent out.
I could go on and on. These are every day occurances that are thoroughly miserable for agents to deal with. Agents who remember are on a NO SALE, NO FEE deal whereby they earn nothing when these sales go abortive, but still have to deal with the fall out.
That however does not give me the right to say the house buying / letting population of Britain are all lying, cheating scumbags. It is a minority, the same sort of percentage minority that are lying cheating estate agents.
Of course some exist, I'm certainly not lacing estate agents as saintly, but your portrayal is miles off the mark.
Your article is a reflection on a percentage of humans, may be a growing percentage, in a commercial society that often seems to encourage the individual to look out for himself, whatever the cost to others. That some peole's moral compass allows them to fall under this spell, especially if they can make financial gain, is very frustrating for the decent people in this world.
To tar estate agents in this day and age, as needing some sort of health warming over their head any more than any other industry type is out dated, unresearched, stereotyping of the laziest type.
There is the opportunity to earn good money in my business. However it requires incredibly hard work, a lot of investment and a certain amount of talent all to be practised over a concerted period of time. It is not a way to make a fast buck in any shape or form and trying to do so fails miserably in this day and age.
Respectfully.
Mike Cole - Imagine Watford www.twitter.com/imaginewatford
73
Mike Cole wrote this on 2010-02-17 17:51:08
PS - I accept the artticle was partly intended as light hearted, but it is exactly that sort of misinformation that fuels the stereotype that people then complain about and jump on the bandwaggon of bemoaning. Hence my sense of humour failure :)
74
Rick wrote this on 2010-02-18 08:41:10
I would like to state that I believe the previous two postings (Mike Cole), are with out doubt THE most level headed, and well constructed of all on this blogged debate.
In hindsight I wish I had not been sucked into name calling, and drawing on childish paralells in an attempt to get my point across. Quite clearly, an adult approach is a far superior route in establishing the truths in this 'discussion'.
Thank you Mr Cole for fighting the corner of conciencious estate agents everywhere who are just trying to do a job the best they can, and earning an honest living from it in the process.
(Love in over.)
In hindsight I wish I had not been sucked into name calling, and drawing on childish paralells in an attempt to get my point across. Quite clearly, an adult approach is a far superior route in establishing the truths in this 'discussion'.
Thank you Mr Cole for fighting the corner of conciencious estate agents everywhere who are just trying to do a job the best they can, and earning an honest living from it in the process.
(Love in over.)
75
Simon wrote this on 2010-03-03 15:48:22
HA - I can just imagine him eating salt and vinegar chip sticks furiously typing away with the occassional break to read his mums cosmopolitan and relieve himself. He never played sport at school and his mum used to write him a sick note each time his asthma played up. Rather than actually realise this is how he makes himself look writting splodge like this he will actually just probably pick me up on a grammar error .... seen it all before gayboy
76
KEITH ALVA wrote this on 2010-03-08 19:18:12
i dont know why you or anyone else brings up the qualifications bit, but in america, they require estate agents to take a course, and get licenced, yet the american estate agents are probably just as dodgy. the issue here is not that they arent qualified. greed is the motivating factor for why estate agents are so dodgy. in many cases, they know certain things are wrong, not working, not in the interest of the customer, but they choose to withold information on purpose because they want the comision. someone also said something about estate agents being dumb, but the one thing that is the most dangerous is an intelligent estate agent, one that will tell you exactly what you want to hear, then once they get their comision, they disapear.
77
deborah wrote this on 2010-03-15 13:59:19
I found this website because I typed 'letting agents are the biggest bunch of cockmunching shitheads in the world' into google and this was the first result. Unfortunately for me I cannot afford to fund a masters degree and live at the same time. The agents want 2000 upfront just to apply. cunts. Good job on the site :)
78
Lisa wrote this on 2010-03-15 22:40:29
My biggest peice of advice to anyone buying a house is Before looking at a property you are interested in ask the Agent(take their name) if they know of any repairs, damage, disputes with neighbours, floods, ect. If the Agent says "no not that I know of" take their word for it for now and have a look at the property. On your visit ask the same questions (write them down in a note book sounds sad i know but belive me if they do know this will benefit you). Legally an Agent does not have to tell you anything about the property if they do know if somthing is wrong, however legally they are not allowed to omit anything if the questions are asked directly. All agents will have a standard form asking the Vendors of any paperwork for works carried out dispute, ect. Some Vendors will lie and in those cases the Agents are not at fault when your survey comes back with problems. However a commen reason for a house sale falling through and coming back on the market is due to a bad survey in which case the Agent will know of any problems with the house, so if you have asked all the questions and they say they dont know its a lie in most cases you can get all costs refunded by the Agents by either complaining and demanding (they wont roll over easy though) If they dont take them to Court. Property Misdiscription Act is taken very seriously and the fines can be very steep.
79
I have come accross a few great real estate agents and some lousy ones as well.
1