Challenging the status quo within the property sector through the medium of cutting-edge technology. That was the overarching theme of the inaugural Future Prop Tech Conference, held amid the glamorous surroundings of the Altitude 360 suite on the 29th floor of London’s Millbank Tower.
Attracting several hundred eager young proptech aficionados, venture capitalists keen to spot the next Rightmove, and even a sprinkling of estate agents, the event was designed not only as a celebration of this fast-growing sector, but also as a showcase for many of the most innovative new technology-enabled developments in both the residential and commercial spheres.
Writing in the conference guide, organiser Gary Chimua set the uncompromisingly upbeat tone for the day. “We have seen literally hundreds of startups launching in order to change the status quo and provide real alternatives to the incumbents. We strongly believe that disruption should never be feared, but…seen as an opportunity.
“The only constant is change. Ignore it at your peril.”
Talking specifically about the lettings sector, hosts Vanessa Warwick and Nick Tadd of Property Tribes kicked off proceedings by emphasising the key role technology plays in helping landlords, agents and other service providers to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Following a Q and A session on regulation and legislation with John Bagulay from Ombudsman Services and Sean Hooker of the Property Redress Scheme, the opening session was then rounded off with a bullish keynote address from Google’s Scott Sinclair (see separate story).
The second session featured a succession of technology-based service providers, ranging from brand new startups such as Estate Apps, who provide a range of digital products for estate agents, and online auction site Bamboo Auctions, which offers immediate exchange at the end of the auction period, to more established players like flatshare specialists Easy Roommate and Fixflo.
In between these, Mal McCallion of raterAgent talked about the importance of online reviews in building trust and authenticity, while Robert Ellice, CEO of easyProperty – clearly still unrepentant over the firm’s recent controversial mock-funeral PR stunt – quoted a raft of figures designed to suggest that the “death” of traditional high street agency is only a matter of time.
Given the nature of the event, it perhaps wasn’t surprising that Russell Quirk, fresh from his crowd-funding success, spent the lunch break at the centre of an admiring throng of young proptech-ers, all presumably hoping that some of the Quirk magic might rub off.
However, the ensuing Trad vs Online debate – carefully moderated by Paula Higgins of the Home Owners Alliance, and tellingly subtitled “What’s really best for the consumer” – failed to deliver any moments of high drama.
Russell and the three other protagonists – Michael Bruce of Purplebricks, Alex Bailes of Countrywide and Chris Wood of PDQ Estates in Cornwall – each set out their respective positions on issues such as “Is high street agency dead?” and “How can the industry clean up its act?,” but otherwise seemed more intent on finding areas of agreement, rather than difference.
The future, it seems, is all about choice – most of it, apparently, in the so-called hybrid space between the high street and online-only models.
Nevertheless, comments that did stick in the mind for one reason or another included Russell saying that he is in favour of licensing – not just for firms, but for each individual member of staff; Chris repeating his view that the reputation of the industry would be greatly enhanced by the departure of the 30% of agents whom he believes to be seriously sub-standard; and Alex Bailes insisting that Countrywide would “never ever” prioritise an offer from a client using any of the group’s other services. Otherwise, peace and (relative) harmony reigned.
The debaters were followed onto the stage by Simon Donovan of iGeolise, whose revolutionary TravelTime product for consumer-facing websites and apps enables users to search by travel time and the transport mode of choice, rather than simply by mileage – thereby, for example, making property searches far more efficient by eliminating all those homes which, although they may fall within a chosen geographic radius, are actually unsuitable on the basis of journey times.
Next up was Jonny Britton of another new startup, Land Insight, which brings together all ownership, environmental and other land-related information in one place, in order to help property developers identify off-market land.
There followed a Q and A session on “democratising” property investment, featuring specialist short-term lender Lendinvest and Property Partner, which harnesses crowd-funding techniques to enable the public to invest as little as £50 in properties of their choice.
Finally, after a pitch from technology venture capitalists Episode1, it was time for the headline speaker, housing minister Brandon Lewis.
He stressed the importance of increasing the supply of new homes, both by reforming the planning system, and also by encouraging the use of innovative modular construction techniques. “One of the biggest problems we have in this country is that we still build houses the same way we did 100 years ago,” he said.
In answer to one subsequent question, he repeated the official line that the licensing of estate agents might stifle entry into the industry – although interestingly, he suggested that at least some of those agents calling for it might actually be motivated by a desire to do just that!
The minister then departed hurriedly to take part in an urgent vote in the House, bringing the formal proceedings to an end.
There is an interesting interview here: http://www.propertytribes.com/an-inspirational-chat-with-google-about-property-tech-t-127622225.html
Comments (43)
Disappointing – but somehow not surprising – that I have yet to receive a response to my posts above.
Then again – it could simply be that the person concerned is getting the necessary information together I have requested to present it to me… anytime soon.
I can’t wait.
Quite surprised that no-one has made the glaringly obvious point that the spotty gamers who get most excited about “tech” are practically all still living at home with mummy, and won’t be able to afford to buy their first property for years – if ever. This, I would suggest, places a fairly big question mark over their value or relevance to our industry as so-called “consumers….”
How about this, my intern (Swansea University computer science) has decided that rather than going down the tech route he wants to be an estate agent.
“It is a brilliant job, I am finding the development of cutting edge of tech OK but it is estate agency that is really grabbing my attention”
Tell him not to do it as its all going online 😉
I have given him every encouragement and been on the phone to the agents who will teach him well and properly. A ground up introduction to a profession that has as much chance as being disrupted by tech as undertaking
There is one Ewemove story on EAT where there is a disjoint on the comment stream (possible deletions). Peebee asks a spammer if they know where Rochdale was, but that thread wasn’t when you first posted that goes back previous to that. Over 12 months prior (Jan 13) you predicted that Property Places on Facebook was going to be a “massive success”
Ahhh… I remember that one, Robert – it was at the time when EAT was in ‘recovery’ mode from losing its Editor and had changed the site if you remember – and was taking on 1000 new ‘Members’ every day… most of them wanting to increase the sexual health of the readership – that spammer was one of those that I was having to report on a daily basis who tried to post hyperlinks to various dodgy websites which then didn’t work on the EAT. The posts made no sense whatsoever and were in any case of no interest to the Estate Agency community.
Pretty much like most of the “genuine” posts on there these days… ;o)
In respect of calling Ms Warwick a ‘troll’ – Not Guilty, M’lud.
I think most people would confirm that it’s not my style…
If that isn’t the thread, there are no Peebee/Warwick/Ewemove stories.
There are no instances I can find of the two names appearing in any thread on EAT or LAT.
Do you know what, Robert… I’m not surprised. You won’t.
The alleged exchange never happened.
There was actually one thread I found where you had an imposter poster, someone posting as you. There are references to the imposter but the posts have been deleted.
Hi PeeBee,
Forgive me, the comment you made against me was on Estate Agent Today, not LA Today.
It seem to recall it was on a thread about Ewemove and your comment was deleted by the moderators at the time and I asked for my comment to be deleted as well for my own personal reasons. Therefore, no record remains.
However, I remember it clearly – it was something along the lines of: “Who is this Vanessa Warwick. She’s never posted here before and it’s obvious she’s a troll”. Since then, I’ve always read your many posts with interest.
Which parts of my post do you not relate to?
You said that estate agents had no interest in the views of a landlord and I was not their customer demographic. You even used capitals to emphasis the point.
I pointed out that landlords sell properties and require the services of estate agents.
Indeed, due to the recent tax changes, many landlords are selling up – some selling whole portfolios! One landlord on PT recently instructed an agent to sell 100 of her properties.
I predict that a large tranche of new instructions for estate agents will be coming from landlords who wish to exit because BTL is no longer profitable for them. I myself am selling 3 of our properties because of this and I will be using local estate agents who I have researched via the web.
Estate agents will play an increasingly important role in helping landlords exit from their property and/or portfolio and they can offer useful guidance in which properties would be best to sell such as those highly geared or those under-performing.
My comment was made because – and it’s only my opinion – you are not adding any value to this debate by trying to discredit my input and shut me down. You’ve made some sweeping claims about landlords not being clients of estate agents – which they clearly are – and so on but you’ve not given any credible argument against property tech in the context of which I am talking about it, which I explained in some detail earlier.
You seem to want to shoot the messenger rather than the message.
When that happens, it discourages other people from joining in, which I regard as a shame.
“It seem to recall it was on a thread about Ewemove and your comment was deleted by the moderators at the time and I asked for my comment to be deleted as well for my own personal reasons. Therefore, no record remains.”
How convenient.
“However, I remember it clearly – it was something along the lines of: “Who is this Vanessa Warwick. She’s never posted here before and it’s obvious she’s a troll”. Since then, I’ve always read your many posts with interest.”
Interesting. Firstly, ‘troll’ is not a word I use in posts – unless it is fired at me first at which point I simply respond.
You either have the wrong person – or… well… there must be another answer for why you claim I said what I didn’t. I wish you luck in finding it – but I am going to lose no sleep over it as I know for absolute fact that it was not a post submitted by me.
Your woeful attempt at change of direction with regard to your position in what has become handbags at ten paces instead of technology debate is hilarious. At NO POINT in your posts to Robert May, smile please or woodentop did you make any reference whatsoever – nor in your original post for that matter – to Residential estate Agency. Instead, every reference is to Lettings:
“The sole remit of PropertyTribes is to help create a better experience for everyone in the private rented sector… One of my criteria of choosing a letting agent is that they use digital technology… I believe that we are all in the PRS together – tenants, lettings agents, landlords…”
yada yada yada – but to then try to turn it back and claim you are a potential customer because you might sell the occasional property is weak to say the least. You then state “I myself am selling 3 of our properties… and I will be using local estate agents who I have researched via the web.”
Really? Good luck with that. I would suggest that when selling the most valuable assets you have you put more into it than a bit of web research – or you could be taken in by all the flim-flam; the #portaljuggling and the downright lies that are being used by Agents to solicit instructions.
But I suppose the question must be asked why you would not trust the sales of those assets to the Agents who currently Let and presumably manage the properties for you already… seems more than a tad strange you don’t have enough faith in them…
Back to you…
Ms Warwick – I must request once again you respond. You have made an accusation as to what I am meant to have said online – and have offered no substantiation.
Above, you state “Anything you post on the web, is there in perpetuity, and so in fact lasts more than a lifetime.”
WHY, then, are you unable to produce what I am alleged to have said?
Where’s all this ‘tech’ when you need it to back you up?
One has to suspect Ms Warwick is going to find it difficult to contribute to PIE until this matter is resolved, I have never known you to let go a bone till it is well gnawed.
What does she contribute anyway? A plug for her own site!
I am certainly NOT going to let this lie, Robert!
I will leave the people reading this to determine who is digging a hole for themselves.
As a landlord, I may wish to exit and sell a property, therefore, if the two people writing these kind of comments are only estate agents, not lettings agents, then I am still their potential customer demographic.
Furthermore, does it matter at the source of information and opinion? Are you saying you can only learn something from other estate agents?
I believe that I can learn something from anyone and everything and I love the open-ness and random-ness of how that learning comes to me.
I am not trying to sell anything, other than engaging in a debate about property tech and sharing a few thoughts.
As for you PeeBee, when I first posted on Letting Agent Today, you called me a troll and said you had never heard of me, despite the fact I am prepared to be transparent about who I am and use my real name! You certainly didn’t do me the kind honour you think I should bestow on other people and the irony is you don’t even use your real name so that people can do DD on you! A perfect example of what I mean about transparency. So you didn’t bother to establish facts yourself before wading in!
I have made no assumptions about the audience here, just responded based on comments.
Neither have I been insulting or patronising but I am more than happy to offer sincere apologies if anyone considers that I have been.
I would also like to point out to PB that this debate is for everyone, not just the two people who didn’t appreciate my input, and it is wrong of you to assume that others may not learn something from my contributions. Allow them to be the judge of that.
For those that are interesting in learning about tech and the future of business, I recommend the visionary writings of Kevin Kelly. He wrote “New Rules for the New Economy” in 1998 and these writings are completely mind-blowing:
http://kk.org/newrules/
I hope that link gives some people the many “light bulb” moments it has given me and many thousands of others.
Ms Warwick
You state
“As for you PeeBee, when I first posted on Letting Agent Today, you called me a troll and said you had never heard of me, despite the fact I am prepared to be transparent about who I am and use my real name!”
I would be extremely grateful if you would remind me of the date and thread that you state I made this remark, as I would like to see for myself what you say I posted, in order to respond accordingly. I’m using the best tech out there for the job, but I still cannot find what I’m looking for.
With regard to the rest of your response – or at least the chunks that I managed to relate to my post, I would like to refer only to one sentence:
“I would also like to point out to PB that this debate is for everyone, not just the two people who didn’t appreciate my input, and it is wrong of you to assume that others may not learn something from my contributions.”
Again, I need your assistance here. Please point me to one single sentence in my post that intimated or suggested that to be the case. In fact I will make it easier – one single WORD.
I was referring ONLY to what, in my opinion, was your mishandling of several posters. I am fairly certain that I have not said that no-one will learn from your contributions – but please feel free to prove me wrong and I will again revisit what I have said and make any amends I feel appropriate.
Over to you…
Ms Warwick – I must request once again you respond. You have made an accusation as to what I am meant to have said online – and have offered no substantiation.
Above, you state “Anything you post on the web, is there in perpetuity, and so in fact lasts more than a lifetime.”
WHY, then, are you unable to produce what I am alleged to have said?
Where’s all this ‘tech’ when you need it to back you up?
I should stop digging the hole Vanessa. When you posted “You clearly have no understanding of how consumers are using digital and web!” your very superior position was made very clear, I am not surprised this story got an early bath into the archive.
Your follow up post has simply exacerbated my irritation at what you typing. In the most condescending way possible you have laid out a picnic blanket on the moral high ground and seem to be claiming it as your own.
The audience here is not the run of the mill, can be told anything and get away with it audience, there are more than a few people here with long, clean records of achievement in this field and to be blunt both your posts are insulting and patronising.
Hi Robert and SmilePlease,
Irony: using tech to slam tech.
I think we are speaking at cross purposes.
When I am talking about tech raising standards, I am referring to such tech as digital inventory and workflow apps and property management systems that create transparency and provide an audit trail.
This is good for the consumer, and good for ethical agents. It means rogues have nowhere to hide when these technologies are used.
It is irrelevant whether I am an agent or not or whether you are interested in my views or not. I am entitled to share my opinion and I do so in the spirit of education.
The sole remit of PropertyTribes is to help create a better experience for everyone in the private rented sector by sharing best practice and cutting edge ideas to help people evolve and grow a property business.
Interesting that you think my views as a landlord are not relevant?
Am I not the very type of demographic/consumer that you wish to attract?
That you think my opinion is not relevant as a landlord, when I am your customer demographic, is another mystery and forgive me, it also smacks of arrogance that you dictate who’s opinion should be allowed and that you are not interested to hear the views of your potential customer base.
Are you not interested to hear the views of someone in your customer demographic? One of my criteria of choosing a letting agent is that they use digital technology such as digital inventories, workflow systems like FixFlo, CRM, and PMS – all property tech.
I am not suggested that people embrace all technology. I am advocating that people educate themselves about technology and how it benefits them, and then they can make an informed choice about which tech products will best help them serve their customers.
The most successful property tech is actually Rightmove and Zoopla, so I guess you are saying that you can do without them?
Your views are also most welcome on Property Tribes. We encourage robust debate as it is healthy and allows people to learn and form their own judgments because issues are teased out through the discussion.
I believe that we are all in the PRS together – tenants, lettings agents, landlords and I will never subscribe to “them and us”. (We should all be united against the recent tax changes to landlords as we will all be affected by them imho).
Dictating to people what they can say is unhealthy and stifles learning and debate so I will continue to post here, and share my views as a landlord – the exact type of demographic I assume as an agent you would like to attract?
The fact is that tech is having an enormous impact on business, and if you watched the interview with the guy from google, he made the point that agents are not competing with other agents, they are competing with every other business out there who is using tech to create a better experience to consumers. That is the benchmark all businesses will be judged against in future.
This quote may be helpful:
“We need to shift away from the notion of technology managing information and toward the idea of technology as a medium of relationships,” writes Michael Schrage in Shared Minds.
No business in any industry can survive without keeping an eye on the future and embracing new technologies. Bigger businesses have gone down for this failing. “Rolling Stone” magazine could have become MTV, MTV could have become YouTube, but because they didn’t embrace the future, they failed.
Before you reply to me, may I politely suggest that you look down at your iphone, your tablet, your computer and convince yourself that tech isn’t worth it and think about the irony of your response.
“Irony: using tech to slam tech.”
If, by “using tech” you mean ‘typing a response and pressing ‘Post Comment’, Ms Warwick – then yes, you are correct in that respect. It’s from there onwards that your slide from getting something correct became both bumpy and steep.
“Interesting that you think my views as a landlord are not relevant?
Am I not the very type of demographic/consumer that you wish to attract?”
and
“Are you not interested to hear the views of someone in your customer demographic? One of my criteria of choosing a letting agent…”
Then you are NOT “someone in EITHER of their customer demographic”, as NEITHER of them are Letting Agents.
You stuffed up the entire thrust of your wordy post by not knowing or bothering to even attempt to establish the facts before you went off trying to ‘sell’ them on what you were saying – something that a good Agent would never do… and something that all the ‘tech’ in the world has clearly not been able to program into you.
Nobody is looking to stifle opinion, Ms Warwick – but every opinion has a counter and yours simply doesn’t stand up to mild chit-chat, never mind hated debate.
In my opinion, that is.
Seems like this story has been hidden deep in the archive….
Yes Vanessa, you are entitled to your opinion but think before you speak.
Its not ironic i am “Using tech to slam tech” as i have said i am for good tech not bad tech.
Some of the tech you speak about above certainly has a place and can be of benefit but your original comment made was a sweeping statement that agents should embrace pretty much all tech, which in my opinion is wrong.
I have no problem you conveying your opinion, and yes if you sold a property i would like to sell it so in that respect you are my target market. Where i do get upset is when you try and come across an authority on what agents should be doing / using when you have no experience being one and have no idea how we operate. I would not dream of telling you “How to be a successful landlord”
As agents we must get two or three calls and emails everyday asking use to embrace / advertise / promote this that and the other and the truth is most are awful and will not help our business. Most have been dreamt up for people outside the industry thinking it will be great and doing very little research. Just because Tripadviser works for restaurants does not mean it works for agents.
And please stop adding second hand quotes to threads can you not make your own mind up and have your own thoughts?
@Smileplease
LOL!
Brilliant response!
You seem to be yet another person who thinks just because somebody has a new idea it should be embraced.
Remind me, are you not by default a landlord and editor,and previously a TV presenter?
Have you worked in agency?
You have your thoughts as a landlord and thats fine, but please do not come on here and try and tell agents such as myself and Woodentop we are wrong. You do not understand agency, you are on the other side of the fence.
Do not try and tell us we are wrong. This is the problem which really gets my back up individuals from outside telling us what we are doing wrong when they have no idea!
Do you see us coming onto your forum and telling you that you are all bad landlords because of XYZ?
Stick to being a landlord, Stick to your “reports” unless you are willing to put your money where your mouth is and open an agency and you can “Embrace” as much tech as you like.
As soon as someone mentions ‘consumers’ run a mile Smile. It will be a very long time before folk who use that one word have any idea or inkling about agency.
When you hear someone banging on about standards being raised by technology without understanding that Tech is the root cause of fee erosion and enabling incompetents, liars and charlatans into the business you ought to understand you are on a hiding to nothing.
Ha ha you may have a point Robert but i would rather engage in dialogue and try to educate them / others.
My personal crusade to promote full service agency and weed out the liars and cheats.
The problem you face there is educating people who are clueless, very often I will cut short posts simply because telling folk why they are wrong hands them advice they don’t deserve.
You’ll notice how the very shouty ones have now started to tone down their rhetoric simply because it works against them.
Keep the secrets of successful agency close to your chest and allow the mouthy ones to pander to the demands of mass consumers.
@Woodentop
How you can use that analogy to try and discredit the role of tech in property is quite beyond me.
You clearly have no understanding of how consumers are using digital and web!
There is a very pertinent saying which you may like to reflect on:
“When change comes along, some people embrace it. Others get busy spending a long time trying to prove why change is not necessary”.
At Property Tribes we have over 500 hours of video watched per month. Anything you post on the web, is there in perpetuity, and so in fact lasts more than a lifetime.
All tech does is enhance the consumer’s experience and raises standards through transparency and audit trails.
Why anyone would shun that in our industry, which desperately needs improved standards, is a complete mystery.
I cant speak for Woodentop but i embrace good tech not bad tech.
By the looks most of the guests talkers were basically looking to add more cost to the agent and create a need or want. Or looking to put agents out of business altogether, Why would an agent want to embrace that?!
I think what a lot of “Providers and Disrupters” forget is service and their target market. Review sites are a prime example there really is no need for them. Google plus exists adds to SEO (All good tech) and its free.
Too many third parties are looking to leach off agents and their stock. And too many new entrants (online agents) are coming into the market looking at price and not service.
I can see as a news channel why video can be good but i prefer to read, easy and not disruptive to others within the office.
I also think some of your videos Vanessa are amateurish (sorry) filmed on a camcorder or phone wiggling around with sometimes pretty poor quality sound. Now as an independent news channel you can get away with it. If an agent was to use that to advertise a property it would make them look mickey mouse. Now you could employ a production crew same as an agent but its just not cost effective.
Just because some agents think ahead and do not embrace all new tech please do not run them down, maybe they are more clued up than you give them credit for.
The idea that estate agents decide what happens within the property market is a dangerous one to cling to. Estate agents aren’t the final arbitrators about what progress happens and what doesn’t. Consumers are the ones that will decide not an archaic middleman. Consumers are the most powerful force in any market now.
At some point estate agents will have to face the fact that they have to do what consumers want and that will be very different to what they have been doing for the last 20 years.
I agree 100%
But agents should not feel they need to promote or back every piece of “New Tech” that comes out.
There is good and bad tech, its down to individual agents if they want to back it.
Having people criticize us because we do not believe in it or want it is wrong.
I do not think you find there are many “Archaic” agents these days, most embrace good tech.
In the last two weeks agents have been asked to:
Support a website that charges you 0.25% of their fee,
Sign up to review websites and pay to have your say,
Embrace online only agents which lie about their offering compared to a traditional agent.
Endorse a property site that would show vendors are over priced.
Support portals that are driving business away from there own site/premises.
I could go on but you get the idea,
Agents do however use the internet, use digital pictures, floor plans, email, text, video email, have their own apps, use voip phones, use seo and ppc and again you get the picture.
Just because something is new does not make it right. Its strange how a lot of the promoters and innovators of these ideas have not worked in the industry but look to come in and make money as opposed to look at something that could be of benefit.
Valid point – there are a lot of new techs that as you say don’t provide any added value. Internet, digital pictures etc are the essentials. If agents weren’t using them it would be a concern. For the consumer though, we want 24/7 instant service. That is not something that high street agents provide. After 5/30/6pm it’s pub time – certainly is in our town anyway.
To be fair Observer i dont know where you are based.
But most areas you can get hold of agents until 7pm and have viewings until 8pm.
There are emails which are followed up first thing in the morning.
Not sure the last time you used an agent but it sounds like you are in a very sleep town or not used an agent for the best part of 10 years.
Out of interest what “Tech” do you think agents should use that they do not?
That told him didn’t it?
“All tech does is enhance the consumer’s experience and raises standards through transparency and audit trails.”
I couldn’t possibly respond to a lady with something as impolite as “b0II0cks” – so instead I will simply say ‘If that’s what you think, Ms Warwick – then that’s fine.’
Just don’t expect us all to swallow that b0IIocks.
Daughter to Dad TEXTING –
Daddy, I am coming home to get married soon, so get out your cheque book. LOL .
As you know, I am in Australia, and he lives in Scotland. We met on a dating website, became friends on Facebook, had long chats on Whatsapp, he proposed to me on Skype, and now we’ve had two months of relationship through Viber.
My beloved and favourite Dad, I need your blessing, good wishes, and a really big wedding.”
Lilly
Dad’s reply
My Dear Lilly,
Like Wow! Really? Cool!
Whatever….., I suggest you two get married on Twitter, have fun on Tango, buy your kids on Amazon, and pay for it all through Paypal.
And when you get fed up with this new husband, sell him on eBay.
Or one could do it the old fashioned way, which can last a lifetime.
So many things that made me laugh reading this. A lot of deluded individuals in one room!
The best however must be “Alex Bailes insisting that Countrywide would “never ever” prioritise an offer from a client using any of the group’s other services.” What a complete Lie! Anybody that has worked for a corporate knows this.
SP How on earth did that get a dislike. Its the truth.
Good question!
1. People just dont like me and dislike whatever i write.
Or
2. A disrupting new tech bod is in denial
Or
3. Some misguided fool at Countrywide thought adding a dislike would discredit my comment. But as you point out its the truth ……. Maybe they cant handle it 😉
Having had the misfortune of working for Countrywide I can state the this comment is completely correct, the number of time the staff were dragged ‘kicking and screaming’ over the coals was unbelievable.
Let’s not forget about their super conveyance service which took instructions then passed them out to local solicitors (obviously on their panel) with out their clients even being aware.
I think I would have more job satisfaction working for TPO!
Did you ever get the line from above:
“There is only one of those properties, you hold the keys to it so you can make the purchaser use our mortgage and solicitors! – Tell them their offer will be looked at more favorably!”
And if your staff did not do it on a regular basis they were put on “Performance Management”
Ahh the old days what joy it was ……
Good to see the debate finally moving from the binary and polarising “online or offline” debate and coalescing around the natural outcome which is collaboration and competition between incumbents and new entrants somewhere in the middle.
TB