Estate agents- any sympathy?

LillyJ

Every one has to make a living. I am not exactly enamoured with EAs but for anyone to lose their jobs is a shame. It is also their children and family that will suffer.
To say they are untrained is a ridiculous reason to want them to lose their jobs. A friend of mine was a labourer at Rover (ie untrained) and lost his job. Just because he was untrained doesn't mean that he deserved to not be able to put food on his kid's table.

Strapped

simonjstone wrote: »

<snip>6 we sell houses better than joe public. we know what to say how to present and how to deal with issues that joe public cannot

What Simon might mean is "we can get away with mis-representing properties, whereas the seller can not"...?

(I worked weekends at an EA for a while, and was actually told this by the owner! :eek: He told me to use vague statements like "I believe that...such and such...although obviously we'd have to check that with the vendors" - hoping that buyers would not follow up.

Needless to say, I had a bit more integrity :A )

Davesnave

tbs624 wrote: »

And haven't you just put those whose viewpoints you don't agree with into a box labelled "daft"? :rotfl:

Yes, absolutely, just as much as if I'd labelled them 'male' and 'female.':rolleyes: :rolleyes:

selfsale

Just read the article. An interesting strategy by Connells!!!!!! Increasing their prices during a property recession??????????

Like most traditional high street estate agents, rather than innovate and gain a competitive advantage, they put there prices up!

The hard working, innovative agencies with a customer focused proposition will survive. Good luck to them.

dubsey

The biggest EA (local type to Kent I believe) around here are still advertising for staff, even though two other EA offices have closed recently. That particular EA I hate with a vengeance. We did sell a house once with them because we were (pulled out before completion) buying a new build that paid your EA fees if you used the EA they told you to. They were dreadful. Our eventual vendor came and knocked on our door to arrange a viewing because the EA kept telling her they couldn't get hold of us when I had been home all day. Then when she made an offer (full asking price) they didn't tell us about it, again she knocked on the door and asked because she hadn't heard anything for TWO days and we'd still had viewings in that time. The same agents also refused to let my sister view a house until she'd seen their financial advisor.

Others we've sold and viewed with have been great and we're still friends with one we viewed lots of properties through. I wouldn't tar anyone with same brush, regardless of proffession and I really don't want to wish hardship on anyone else by losing their job, but I do think houses are way overpriced and need to fall. That has nothing to do with a desire to buy as we are already mortgaged.

TJ27

geoffky wrote: »

never ever. most but not all are lying scumbags who would sell crack if they could..

Funny you should say that. I know of a large estate agency and letting agency, with several branches, where the chap in charge does in fact have current convictions for drug dealing. He has convictions for other very serious crimes too, so drug dealing is only a small part of it. He's been to prison for his crimes.

You'd never know it if you met him of course. He wears a lovely suit, smiles and offers you the world.

I would bet my house on the fact that there are many more agents just like him. I'm not sure I would let him sell it though.

Yes, I have some sympathy for employees. But then again they must know what chances they take when they accept the position in the first place I suppose. It shouldn't really come as a surprise that they are made redundant when the market turns.

tbs624

LillyJ wrote: »

To say they are untrained is a ridiculous reason to want them to lose their jobs. A friend of mine was a labourer at Rover (ie untrained) and lost his job. Just because he was untrained doesn't mean that he deserved to not be able to put food on his kid's table.

No-one has said that they should lose their jobs because they are untrained.

scorpio_princess

In my opinion, the majority of them are now reaping what they've sown. I know a lot of what EAs are about because I used to be in a relationship with one (yes I know, what was I thinking ) Some of the things he told me (and what I witnessed with my own eyes) were truly shocking! From the 'client' cards which are created when you register with an agent so they can match properties to you that were full of acronyms and code talk, most of them taking the p**s out of potential buyers, right up to large scale corruption (builders and developers bribing EAs with cash and other things to ensure they get first dibs on properties that could have gone to FTBers). Most of his colleagues horribly arrogant, flash, dishonest and delusional (actually, so was he!)

Without even mentioning my own, and my family's experiences with EAs, I can safely say I don't have a lot of sympathy for the majority of them. So they've got to work hard for a living and worry about their job security? Er hello, that's the reality for many people these days - the only difference is, EAs are one of the few industries where the chances of employees having come accross or been actively involved in morally reprehensible activities are far higher, simply because of the way they work (commission based) and the kinds of figures involved.

Like someone else said, the party's over. They either work harder and survive or carry on as before and sink (and there's plenty I wouldn't give a life belt too!)

LillyJ

No-one has said that they should lose their jobs because they are untrained.

nelly wrote: »

uneducated untrained unproductive retards

Oh really?

silvercar

Originally Posted by nelly
uneducated untrained unproductive retards

If true, then they were maximising their earnings; something we encourage everyone to do?