Selling your property....

[Uncle Spielberg]

When times were good they should have made provision for a rough trot.
its what everyone does....i have no sympathy for them

they were happy to take the "easy" money as you say when the market was busy for doing very little. Now they have to work hard for a bit of money and we are supposed to feel sorry for them ?......i dont think so.

Well they don't work in mines do they so I do not expect a march in London to try and save their jobs.

 

[terrymendez]

The crap estate agents should/are getting weeded out in the current climate.

Personally i find it alot easier to pay a good estate agent instead of arseing about selling something myself. If you have the time to do viewings, take photos, write a description, arrange valuations, accept offers then do it, however time is money and personally I would rather leave it to the agent...

IMO a good estate agent is worth the fee, and those fees are always negotiable...

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

When times were good they should have made provision for a rough trot.
its what everyone does....i have no sympathy for them

they were happy to take the "easy" money as you say when the market was busy for doing very little. Now they have to work hard for a bit of money and we are supposed to feel sorry for them ?......i dont think so.

A lot of estate agents are family men and women whose income supports their family, so if their jobs go to the wall it impacts on the whole family so lets not be quite so callous. Estate agents have not done themselves any favours and their refusal to want regulation gives them no respect as a profession, that is their biggest mistake. There are some very good estate agents in Town who work very hard for their money. Graham Farthing of Austin Gray is an excellent hard working agent for example. In the USA estate agents are well respected members of the community.

 

[Uncle C]

What really pisses me off is when Estate Agents put a positive spin on everything to con people into buying houses.

An agent round our way is currently saying this area is immune from the house price falls because they have had their busiest time ever. What they fail to mention is that 60% of other agents in the town have closed in the last 3 months.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Some agents are absolute Sharks no doubt and will say anything to get a sale. Thats why it is scandalous they are not regulated

House transtion

Solicitor - qualified and regulated
Surveyor - qualified and regulated
Accountant ( needed on some mortgages ) - qualified and regulated
Morthgage Broker - qualfied and regulated
Estate agents - errrrr

 

[Marshy]

A lot of estate agents are family men and women whose income supports their family, so if their jobs go to the wall it impacts on the whole family so lets not be quite so callous. Estate agents have not done themselves any favours and their refusal to want regulation gives them no respect as a profession, that is their biggest mistake. There are some very good estate agents in Town who work very hard for their money. Graham Farthing of Austin Gray is an excellent hard working agent for example. In the USA estate agents are well respected members of the community.

Agreed but all industry of whatever kind is struggling at the moment.
And as i say very hard to feel sorry for a proffesion that hs for many many years earnt very good money for very little effort.

 

[beorhthelm]

Estate agents may have earned a lot of money for a relatively easy job recently but let me tell you they are working VERY VERY hard now just to survive. Also 1% is high, are you having a laugh ?. Estate agents fees in the USA and large parts of Europe are about 6%. The thing estate agents offer is exposure and a large bank of people and / or branch network and people trying to get viewings for you.

The internet selling started 10 years ago and was expected to drive estae agents out but it has not taken off as it is hard to sell your property on your own and the property would not get the right exposure.

thats bollocks. if estate agents didnt save money during the boom years to see themselves through leaner time, i have little sympathy. the internet provides exposure to far more people than is remotly possible with shop fronts on the high street. the only real reason why they still exist is for most people its easier to leave the keys with them and filter out a few timewasters.

in these times, the clever estate agent should move their operation off the expensive high street into offices. the tradition of high street shops is for prestige more than any practical purpose.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

reasonable points

 

[terrymendez]

thats bollocks. if estate agents didnt save money during the boom years to see themselves through leaner time, i have little sympathy. the internet provides exposure to far more people than is remotly possible with shop fronts on the high street. the only real reason why they still exist is for most people its easier to leave the keys with them and filter out a few timewasters.

in these times, the clever estate agent should move their operation off the expensive high street into offices. the tradition of high street shops is for prestige more than any practical purpose.

I agree, look at Wyatts for example, three or four offices in town with at least two staff members in each. All they really need is one small office anywhere which arranges viewings.

There is absolutely no need for branches imo.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

What with the recent credit crunch that is about nowadays, I'm just wondering how many people would actually consider selling their houses on here ?

Also, with the extortionate amount that estate agents charge these days, with a 1% deal reaching prices of £2500+VAT for a house that is £250,000, how many would consider selling their house privately ONLINE if there was a website that dedicated its needs to the seller.

Lastly, how much would you consider to pay a website company to list your house on their website ? Or would you rather pay the extra to estate agents to get the job done ?

Our estate agents are charging 1.5%, 'cos we put the house on the market b4 the crisis hit. But as has been said above, if we do manage to sell it (we've just accepted a derisory, but sadly probably ok, offer) we're gonna rent for a bit and invest the profit while house prices continue to go down.

But the EA fees, plus early-redemption penalties are really gonna hit us hard. About £5K in total

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