Who feels sorry for Estate Agents ?

blisk

So, who feels sorry for Estate Agents as housing market continues to collapse & house prices crash ?

vigesimal

I do. These are people who also have mortgages and families to keep.

boyse7en

Generally not really, but a mate of mine is an estate agent and I feel sorry for him. He's got his own business, one shop, just him and his business partner as agents. They've had to make two people redundant (secretarial staff) so far. He's a nice family guy, not a pushy, shiny-suit wearing !!!!!! with a Beemer and an attitude.

tomstickland

Working on the principle that, say, 1 in 10 of them are reasonable people I do feel a bit sorry for them. Of the other 9, only 3 are probably truly nasty and they were only deluded as to their abilities by the ease of the process. So maybe I feel sorry for all of them!

Actually, when I bought my flat, the young woman was full of sales rubbish, but the older chap was a thoroughly nice bloke who drove me round to a few places, put no pressure on me and was decently honest in reply to some of my concerns.

Thinking back now, other 2 who showed me properties were also fine.

The mortgage advisor at the local branch did loads of work for no sale. One, maybe two were quite arrogant in dismissing my request for properties under £100K.

Heyman_2

Their reputation precedes them and there is also a stereotype attached to them, but you can't tar all of them with the same brush.

I don't feel particularly good about anyone finding themselves in a precarious position because of the current crisis, whether it be Estate Agents, people who bought houses last year, or financial industry staff who are looking at redundancy.

wolfman

I'd say it's the system I hate more than the people. A lot of them are just regular people, but put into a commision based system. Hence they can become very pushy, try to push prices higher to take a bigger cut etc... Any such system is a pain to those that have to use it.

Still they're not as bad as a lot of job agents in my opinion, who I find incredibly pushy and fair weathered.

One thing that does make me feel better is remember back when I was looking to rent at a reasonable price, and many would just laugh at the amount I was willing to rent for. Oh how the tables have turned. As mentioned above I think i was the way they dismissed and treated me that left a sour taste in the mouth.

the_worried_one

I do, lack of security in any job is certainly not pleasant.

However, my dark side comes out to play occasionally and i have to chuckle- wandering around town in the week one of the estate agents had a huge poster up in the window:

NOW REALLY IS THE TIME TO BUY!

BUY NOW BEFORE PRICES GO UP AGAIN!


(Is this HIHMs branch i wonder?)
Seriously, those exact words. I laughed out loud, then felt a little bad as 3 agents desperately jumped up as the phone rang....

Talking of desperation, I have been hounded this week by an EA after requesting a few details about a property through Right Move. I made it clear I was actually only keeping an eye on that particular property, as it was still 10% over my maximum budget, on an 'offers over' (and has already been dropped 20%), but he said he'd keep me updated on the sellers position anyhow.

He also offerred weekly phone updates of 'bargain properties'- the hard sell it seems! -I politely declined but have accepted a weekly e mail update. I wonder just how desperate they will become, or rather, how obvious they will make it?

email from: EA; subject: your own personal tip of the week! offer 60% of AP for this property, hurry, this week only!
LOL

howler_2

blisk wrote: »

So, who feels sorry for Estate Agents as housing market continues to collapse & house prices crash ?

How can you feel sorry for a profession who are encouraging people to enter the property market during a massive price crash just so they can make a bit of commission?

Cat695

I feel sorry for the people that they tricked,lied to etc etc into buying a over priced house, who is now probably about to lose, or are now in so much debt they are looking at having their life ruined for many years to come

so no I don't feel a damn thing for them.

Kez100

Apart from those who are now now sat ready to pick on the weak with their mates cash, I do.

Some will have done very well out of the past few years and they should have salted it away knowing house prices can fall. Jees, I remember the last time they fell 30% and I'm not that old!

howler_2

Heyman wrote: »

Their reputation precedes them and there is also a stereotype attached to them...

It certainly does :rotfl: