OMG! BBC Whistleblower - Estate Agents

stanmoresaver

stanmoresaver wrote:

I maybe going out alone on a limb here but this type of programme make my blood boil.

Well it would appear that i did


But i am still not watching tonight!

jockettuk

if nothing else these kind of programmes tell the comsumers ie us all the lingo and what it means so that when the lingo starts flowing in the hope it confuses us and normally does we can watch these programmes and know oh thats what they mean and take it on board when buying and selling in the future..

[Deleted User]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2095640,00.html

meanmachine_2

Programme makers don't need to get prior permission if there is perceived "public interest". It's actually very simple to use this defence, unlike what another poster argued.

EAs are snake oil salesmen. They probably see it as their job to lie. Buyers and sellers should just remember that, after the last housing crash, EAs were on the same public standing as serial killers.

For some reason, thanks to rising house prices, people seem to have forgotten that they're there to make money for themselves, not to help the buyer or the seller (unless it's by accident).

I shan't be watching, as there's a Battlestar double bill (geek alert!). Thing is, these "shock investigations" come around every 5 years or so. Until there is full and formal regulation, nothing will ever change.

hazy1

eurows wrote:

Rubbish. They are making a programme that happens to be truthful. The only way they can get in touble is if they misrepresent it.

I don't know why you've said what I said is rubbish? I've basically said that you can't show someone's face on telly if they don't give their permission unless it's in the public interest. I work in telly so I do actually know this is true.

ReportInvestor

Here's the BBC version:

"The Secret Agent"

"Lying to customers, faked signatures, false passports and dodgy deals with developers. An undercover investigation reveals the secret world of estate agents' dirty tricks.

My boss congratulates me on getting an offer on a flat that has been overvalued by £60,000. The newly-wed young couple viewing the property are stretched to their financial limit. But my manager is happy....."

silvercar

My boss congratulates me on getting an offer on a flat that has been overvalued by £60,000. The newly-wed young couple viewing the property are stretched to their financial limit. But my manager is happy....."

£60,000 overvalued!!!! Clearly not users of this site then!

nmiah786

Popped into a couple of EA offices yesterday and I thought I might share with you what I heard while there. The EA was obviously talking to the vendor over the phone.

The EA was saying to the vendor that their buyer has had the survey done and the survey has revealed the "!!!!!! STAINED WELL", so they would like to revise their offer. But not to worry, another offer has come up and the EA was going to play one with the other and see how much "EXTRA PROFIT" they can make from that. Obviously there is a shortage of properties in this particular area hence this situation. But I thought that this was not good practise, I would have thought that the property would be off the market once the first buyer got their survey sorted out. The stuff I put speech marks are qoutes from the EAs month.

In another EA office, I was talking with one of the EA but midpoint he has to take a phone call. The person on the phone is asking for another member of the EA, whose in the office. So the EA I am speaking to tells his colleuageu (sp?) that Mrs A N Other is on the phone and wants to speak to him. That EA gives out a big groan and says "tell her I'm on the phone and I'll be a while"! What happened to proffessionalism!!!

Now to the third EA office, I was asking the EA about a property I viewed about a month ago. He says that there has been a offer accepted but nothing has progressed yet hence its still available, he also disclosed the offer to me and said if I wanted to put in a sneaky offer in now, I could! This might be down to me having a good rapport with him, maybe not! Anyway, the property was on for £175k, I initially would not pay no more then £155k, the current accepted offer is £157k. I think I'll pass, karma plays a lot on my mind nowadyas!!!

So yes, any programs like this is good, but then again its confirming what we all know and expect anyway.

JUST MY 2p worth!!!

sm9ai

Looks like it should be a very good program and about time someone did something like this.

THis has to be a must watch for anyone thinking of buying a property.

sm9ai

nmiah786 wrote:

The EA was saying to the vendor that their buyer has had the survey done and the survey has revealed the "!!!!!! STAINED WELL", so they would like to revise their offer. But not to worry, another offer has come up and the EA was going to play one with the other and see how much "EXTRA PROFIT" they can make from that. Obviously there is a shortage of properties in this particular area hence this situation. But I thought that this was not good practise, I would have thought that the property would be off the market once the first buyer got their survey sorted out. The stuff I put speech marks are qoutes from the EAs month.

No wonder EA's don't want HIP's. It would ruin their strategies.