I reckon there has been more sales in December

domcastro

The EA told me the other day that he'd been really busy so far in December. I didn't really take notice. Today though, when I applied for my online mortgage, about 6 hours later someone from a branch of C&G rang to say that the system was jam-packed and that they had so many online applications they were having to dish them out to the branches.
Maybe a mini-peak in December?

chucky

doubt it very much

mr.broderick

domcastro wrote: »

The EA told me the other day that he'd been really busy so far in December. I didn't really take notice. Today though, when I applied for my online mortgage, about 6 hours later someone from a branch of C&G rang to say that the system was jam-packed and that they had so many online applications they were having to dish them out to the branches.
Maybe a mini-peak in December?

Would be very surprised just over a week before christmas in any climate.

ad9898_3

domcastro wrote: »

The EA told me the other day that he'd been really busy so far in December. I didn't really take notice. Today though, when I applied for my online mortgage, about 6 hours later someone from a branch of C&G rang to say that the system was jam-packed and that they had so many online applications they were having to dish them out to the branches.
Maybe a mini-peak in December?

Sadly, one of an EA's best attributes is lying, as for mortgage applications, people will be fighting to get hold of trackers, as it has become apparent that there will be [STRIKE]further devaluing of the pound[/STRIKE], further rate cuts in the new year and soon as they do, the banks will withdraw all their trackers and gap them.

clobber_2

Smells like EA BS. Christmas is a quiet time for estate agents.

fatpig_2

domcastro wrote: »

The EA told me the other day that he'd been really busy so far in December.

How do you know an Estate Agent is lying? His/Her lips are moving

Darth_Marty

I come from a property background before you say "oh listen to the estate agent there" but I honestly cannot understand the bitterness you guys give to estate agents. You do realise that its always the vendor that has the final say right? The estate agent is pretty powerless in all honesty. They are employed by the vendor to sell their house and get the best possible price, you all know that, there are surveys that can get the property checked out and only buyers know how much they can afford realistically.

So then what is it that so irritates people about estate agents?

Please explain as I really dont know.

From personal experiences I have had good experiences whilst both buying and selling. Is it only stupid people that dislike Estate Agents? Use them as an excuse because they havent done their homework? I would say thats a big part of it.

Airwolf1

Generally this time of year is a bit quieter for moving, but this year even more so.

neverdespairgirl

Darth_Marty wrote: »

So then what is it that so irritates people about estate agents?

Please explain as I really dont know.

One thing that really irritates me about EAs is quite how bad many are at their jobs.

Look at descriptions on RM, for example. Far too many are just illiterate. If you see a minimal-information listing, with rubbish photos, that doesn't give a good impression of the EA's professionalism.

When I write professionally, as I do a lot, I take care with it. I make sure it's as clear, simple, and thorough as possible, without lots of mistakes. It seems to me that taking pride in your work is just basic.

Look at this one, for example:


http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-19322194.html

The EA is trying to flog a house for nearly £3 million. Which is a fair bit of money. And yet the short description includes:

The large kitchen / breakfast room are filed with natural light from the large original sash windows which also look down onto private terrace.

A room are filed? look down onto private terrace?

These aren't complicated errors, just someone who can't be bothered. Unimpressive.

Or this one. EA trying to flog a flat for £650k, and the entire description reads:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-19758242.html

Tenure: Leasehold

A stunning refurbished duplex featuring a glass atrium and private garden and wet room. Convenient location off Tavistock Square.

How is that going to sell anything? No details about the flat at all, in terms of layout, size, rooms, anything at all.

Then there are all the awful phrases and words, such as "executive apartment" when the EA means, "flat", and "desirable road", "sought-after area" and all the other cliches.

Darth_Marty

Thats fair enough and all valid points.
Still as in all walks of life you get poorly trained staff or even incompetent staff, I would say the level of hate is still too high for just that, there must be something else?
I hate bad customer service myself, if someone turned up late or was rude or really scruffy id walk away. Manners are all important as well, as has been mentioned arrogance is a failing of lots of estate agents and in many cases its completely senseless, they are merely salespeople at the end of the day.

So yes, ill give you all of those but I still feel that in a lot of cases people vent against estate agents simply because it is such an expensive and stressful time.

LydiaJ

I agree NDG. Some EAs list loads of details, floorplans, room dimensions, pictures, etc - all the stuff you want to know to decide that you're interested in finding out more, or alternatively that it doesn't tick some of your basic boxes and you're not interested. Others don't give you any info worth having at all.

Then there are the EAs where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, and one member of staff seems to be undoing things another member of staff has done. If you've got PropertyBee, have a look at how many times the price has been altered on this one:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-17002859.html

Having said that, I don't hate them. They're just human beings doing a job. And, like any other job, there are some people who do it better than others.