OMG! BBC Whistleblower - Estate Agents

dwsjarcmcd

This programme just confirmed what I thought about EA and I've dealt with too many. All over promise and underdeliver, some are downright crooks and anyone following their advice will be seriously out of pocket. Who would ever deal with Foxton's again.

Time for a petition to call for proper regulation and standards of this shower and particularly a proper indepenedent ombudsman.

Cristy

Doozergirl wrote:

Cristy, he's just an agent that I've had dealings with. Some recent. I don't know if he'll be at work tomorrow, but I can't see how encouraging vendors (in however a duplicitous manner) to drop their asking prices in a tough market is going to get him suspended.

The end does not justify the means. Putting forward false offers to lower the expectations of a vendor is not only illegal, but a fallacy - why not value realistically in the first place. But then again, they wouldn't get the instruction that way, would they!

Fortunately as a result of this show, more people will be questioning what their agents say to them, and their motives for saying it.

Bun

I thought the underselling was appalling, particularly when the agent had used the tactics he did to build up a rapport with the man to secure the contract. And saying he didn't need the money at 75! Care home costs anyone?

Doozergirl

Cristy wrote:

The end does not justify the means. Putting forward false offers to lower the expectations of a vendor is not only illegal, but a fallacy - why not value realistically in the first place. But then again, they wouldn't get the instruction that way, would they!

I'm not sure that it is illegal if the trade is unregulated. I don't condone it, but the property market over the last few years has produced some really greedy vendors, so how do agents achieve sales without upsetting the vendor enough to move agents if they have unrealistic expectations? It seems like an easy way of letting them down in some respects. It is true that if someone's chasing a certain amount of money, the agent is not going to get the contract if they give a truthful valuation. I can't see the way around it when the property market is such a fluid thing

Cristy wrote:

Fortunately as a result of this show, more people will be questioning what their agents say to them, and their motives for saying it.

Great news for the MoneySaving empire! :T

Angela_D_3

The problem Barry has now is that nobody will ever believe another word he says

F_T_Buyer

CharleneUK wrote:

As usual I miss all the good stuff! Anyone know when it's going to be shown again?

It should be posted up on the Net tomorrrow. I'll bump this thread and post a link when it is done!

F_T_Buyer

Doozergirl wrote:

Did everyone like my friend Barry? :rotfl:

Somehow, I still think he'll be at work tomorrow morning. I'm interested to hear what other people think as there were no surprises there for me.

So what does your friend "Barry" think about this?

tomstickland

Well, I watched this tonight and was mildly entertained. However, I also had to shout at the tv several times. I don't condone what they did, but noone makes you pay over the odds for a house, or forces you to accept no 6 month opt out on a rental, or to sell for under the market value. It was another case of a programme trying too hard to make everything dramatic. Every time I've been to look at 2nd hand cars then the seller always has "someone else looking at it too". It's just the White lies of sales.

Doozergirl

F_T_Buyer wrote:

So what does your friend "Barry" think about this?

Like I've said, he's not actually a friend. We sold a flat through him 5 years ago and as a result of that (I should think so too at 2% ) he helped us out with some very good advice a few weeks ago (totally above board and entirely in our interest as a buyer). We've had a couple of viewings with him since. I last saw him on Saturday, where he was still the Manager of that branch.

I'd love to know what he has to say so I may have to think of a reason for my husband to phone him tomorrow (I'm too chicken)!

ManAtHome

tomstickland wrote:

I don't condone what they did, but noone makes you pay over the odds for a house, or forces you to accept no 6 month opt out on a rental, or to sell for under the market value.

On the same day that 3 scabs in the north east were jailed for charging thousands for unnecessary building work.. Yes, nobody is forced but ripping off the old and the dead.??