We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Am I starting to get really cynical about the role of Estate Agents?
pastmybest
Posts: 577 Forumite
1) They pitch for the business.
2) They take pictures often very poor, do details often very uninspiring and with typos, put a sale board up, put the house on the web site/s, place an advert in the paper.
3) They sit back and wait for enquiries.
4) They post, or increasingly email, out the details.
5) They have a request to view and many don’t vet viewers.
6) They may accompany viewings but will it can often be a pensioner or housewife earning a bit of pin money.
7) They get an offer agreed
8) They issue paperwork
9) They wait until it exchanges
10) They send the bill
Is this really as exciting as their Sales & Marketing skills (or lack of skills) gets. I have spent all my life in Sales & Marketing and for most of them self employed. If something was not selling you kept trying new ideas and approaches to make a sale happen. So why are EAs unique in that they seem to show absolutely zero flair and just rely on throwing enough against the wall and some will stick approach? Reading this forum has made me realise that they are the most unimaginative bunch unless this is something unique to my area.
Are there any agents anywhere who have a more imaginative approach?
2) They take pictures often very poor, do details often very uninspiring and with typos, put a sale board up, put the house on the web site/s, place an advert in the paper.
3) They sit back and wait for enquiries.
4) They post, or increasingly email, out the details.
5) They have a request to view and many don’t vet viewers.
6) They may accompany viewings but will it can often be a pensioner or housewife earning a bit of pin money.
7) They get an offer agreed
8) They issue paperwork
9) They wait until it exchanges
10) They send the bill
Is this really as exciting as their Sales & Marketing skills (or lack of skills) gets. I have spent all my life in Sales & Marketing and for most of them self employed. If something was not selling you kept trying new ideas and approaches to make a sale happen. So why are EAs unique in that they seem to show absolutely zero flair and just rely on throwing enough against the wall and some will stick approach? Reading this forum has made me realise that they are the most unimaginative bunch unless this is something unique to my area.
Are there any agents anywhere who have a more imaginative approach?
0
Comments
-
pastmybest wrote: »1) They pitch for the business.
2) They take pictures often very poor, do details often very uninspiring and with typos, put a sale board up, put the house on the web site/s, place an advert in the paper.
3) They sit back and wait for enquiries.
4) They post, or increasingly email, out the details.
5) They have a request to view and many don’t vet viewers.
6) They may accompany viewings but will it can often be a pensioner or housewife earning a bit of pin money.
7) They get an offer agreed
8) They issue paperwork
9) They wait until it exchanges
10) They send the bill
Is this really as exciting as their Sales & Marketing skills (or lack of skills) gets. I have spent all my life in Sales & Marketing and for most of them self employed. If something was not selling you kept trying new ideas and approaches to make a sale happen. So why are EAs unique in that they seem to show absolutely zero flair and just rely on throwing enough against the wall and some will stick approach? Reading this forum has made me realise that they are the most unimaginative bunch unless this is something unique to my area.
Are there any agents anywhere who have a more imaginative approach?
I agree that some agents operate their business like this, however there are lot's of agents that are different.
Believe me, a LOT more goes on behind the scenes than you realiseMy home is usually the House Buying, Renting and Selling Forum where I can be found trying to (sometimes unsucessfully) prove that not all Estate Agents are crooks. With 20 years experience of Sales/Lettings and having bought and sold many of my own properties I've usually got something to say
Ignore......check!0 -
MissMotivation wrote: »I agree that some agents operate their business like this, however there are lot's of agents that are different.
Believe me, a LOT more goes on behind the scenes than you realise
Full respect to you as you have been a very valuable poster on this forum.
Yes I guess there is a little more that goes on but not wishing to insult you I am still not convinced there is that much. Sorry.
My real point is the lack of imagination with the sales and marketing and if there are EAs who go that extra mile I would like to know who and understand what they do.0 -
pastmybest wrote: »Are there any agents anywhere who have a more imaginative approach?
This one?
http://www.ralphbending.com/
His descriptions are usually pretty amusing.0 -
When we come to sell we intend to attempt to list and advertise the property ourselves for the first couple of months.
Cant you simply pay to have it listed in rightmove yourself and simply ask interested viewers to call your lawyer with their offers?0 -
I live in Somerset and have seen his stuff in his window. Amusing but not sure I would want him to act for me?0 -
When we come to sell we intend to attempt to list and advertise the property ourselves for the first couple of months.
Cant you simply pay to have it listed in rightmove yourself and simply ask interested viewers to call your lawyer with their offers?
Why not just get them to call you?0 -
When we come to sell we intend to attempt to list and advertise the property ourselves for the first couple of months.
Cant you simply pay to have it listed in rightmove yourself and simply ask interested viewers to call your lawyer with their offers?
Rightmove will not take private sellers listings.
If you ask your lawyer to deal with offers you will find they are not used to doing that and may mess it up. Also they will charge a heck of a lot more on an as and when basis?0 -
pastmybest wrote: »I live in Somerset and have seen his stuff in his window. Amusing but not sure I would want him to act for me?
I'm from Midsomer Norton originally.;)
You did say you wanted something more imaginative.:D0 -
pastmybest wrote: »Full respect to you as you have been a very valuable poster on this forum.
Yes I guess there is a little more that goes on but not wishing to insult you I am still not convinced there is that much. Sorry.
My real point is the lack of imagination with the sales and marketing and if there are EAs who go that extra mile I would like to know who and understand what they do.
Obviously I can only speak my myself and you will have to take my word for it when I say that my company is extremely forward thinking. I, myself, am extremely focused on the marketing aspect of what we do.
We spent thousands on our website and technology that other agents don't use, things like 3D floorplans, 3D walkthroughs, digital media etc are things that other agents in my area are just not interested in at all.
Our business model is very different from other agents and there is no-one quite like us, so I do see your point. Everyday I see really bad examples of other agents shoddy marketing and it irritates me beyond belief that these agents still get intructions.
Just one example......I went to see a house the other day that has been on the market for 3 years, when I looked at there details online their pictures were abysmal! When I spoke to the Vendor they told me that their current agent had taken the internal pictures on a camera phone :eek: and they wonder why they haven't sold :rotfl:My home is usually the House Buying, Renting and Selling Forum where I can be found trying to (sometimes unsucessfully) prove that not all Estate Agents are crooks. With 20 years experience of Sales/Lettings and having bought and sold many of my own properties I've usually got something to say
Ignore......check!0 -
We have bought and sold 3 houses now and have found that the solicitor does 10 times the work of the estate agent for less money - which seems very silly:
person with legal degree etc v sales peopleGroceries challenge
May - £70 so far:beer::beer:0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 350.6K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.3K Spending & Discounts
- 243.5K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.7K Life & Family
- 256.7K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards