A good estate agent

By Karen Overbury on Mar 3, 09 01:21 PM

SEEMS I opened a hornets' nest with my blog on estate agents. Several comments on the blog, quite a few e-mails, phone calls and then a tap on the shoulder in Sainsburys!

Over the years working on homemaker, I've tried to inform, advise, warn and even educate. I've written on just about every property topic you could imagine and bored more people than I care to remember. But give an opinion on estate agents and you get a hundred back! Everyone has their view.

Contrary to what several people have said, I did not say I thought estate agents were worse than rottweilers - I happened to say that "some people" did.

I know a lot of agents. If I'm honest, there are a few I wouldn't recommend or trust (no names, no matter how much wine you try to pour down my throat!). But mostly, estate agents are a much-maligned group of really pleasant individuals who happen to make a living selling property.

Ask one to sell your home and you'll expect them to work miracles - but there's a limit to what they can do. And the ability to sell your property relies on a third party wanting to buy it. And that third party being able to finance the deal in the current economic climate (that phrase again!).

As Fraser says in his comment , the process should be seen as a partnership and it's important that vendors offer "honesty and co-operation". But how often do we hear subjective criticism and unjustified comment? You know the sort of thing - "They do nothing to earn their money"; "They never phone when they say they're going to phone"; "It's money for old rope".

Some might be like this - but they won't last long with the downturn in business every agent has experienced.

One telephone caller had been upset by an agent. "He came in and criticised my home. He was quite rude," she said. But when we talked more, she acknowledged that she'd probably been over-protective and the agent had actually been offering advice on preparing her property for sale - clearing the clutter, removing some of the furniture, painting the front door and so on.

Each one of us thinks our property is wonderful, well decorated, tastefully furnished and ready to move into. But estate agents hear this all the time and, let's face it, not everyone's home can be the best in the street.

I think I persuaded my caller to give her estate agent a second chance. Surely it's better that an agent gives you constructive advice to make your home more attractive to potential buyers than tell you your property is positively perfect - but no one showing any interest.

A good estate agent will tell you what you need to know, not what you want to hear.

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2 Comments

Paul Barker said:

Paul Barker said:
Well said, Karen!
Allow me to throw my (considerable) weight into the discussion Ã¢ÂÂ this one could be a hottie!
I made my foray into residential estate agency from housebuilding at the beginning of the last recession (always quick to spot an opportunity, me...). It was real hard work pulling deals off, with the main problem being clientsÃ¢ÂÂ expectations of value against buyersÃ¢ÂÂ. Agents really had to work for what were quite small commissions. But, I enjoyed every minute of it Ã¢ÂÂ because first and foremost I was doing a worthwhile job, and something I have a genuine passion for. I will never be a millionaire Ã¢ÂÂ but job satisfaction is worth a fortune.
And I think that the market of the early 90Ã¢ÂÂs was easy compared to the here and now! Prices are now, in most cases, three times higher than those days. At least, then, first time buyers could afford to buy something!
So, in these hard times, the old cherry of Ã¢ÂÂblame the agentÃ¢ÂÂ is resurrected. Bless them Ã¢ÂÂ they take the blame for most doom, gloom and disaster that nature and man stirs up.
The archetypal Ã¢ÂÂyuppieÃ¢ÂÂ estate agent never really existed (or never succeeded) in the northeast Ã¢ÂÂ although I know one or two who wear similar suitsÃ¢ÂÅ Most are canny folks who are committed to offering good service to the people who really pay their wages Ã¢ÂÂ the vendors.
Even now Ã¢ÂÂ back working for a homebuilder once more and a prime example of poacher-cum-gamekeeper Ã¢ÂÂ I appreciate that agents have a pretty tough job keeping all the plates spinning.
People should question their own actions. Many choose an agent simply because they are the cheapest/give the highest valuation, and then wonder why the results are not immediate and outstanding. Young Mr Ranson pretty much summed up how to choose an agent in your last blog. My own comment would be to enter the offices of agents and judge them by the response they give you. Remember Ã¢ÂÂ if they treat you poorly, you could have been the buyer for your house! Bright, friendly staff sell houses, because first and foremost, people buy from people Ã¢ÂÂ so are keen to buy from the nice people first.
Over to you, FraserÃ¢ÂÅ

March 11, 2009 3:57 PM

CamWithCarmen said:

This is a very nice article - thanks for sharing.. definitely going to bookmark!

May 6, 2010 11:28 PM

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