A national newspaper property journalist has accused agents of poor practice.
Ruth Bloomfield, who writes for the Evening Standard and Independent, tweeted: “My househunt horror stories: 1 agent refused to show a house until I listed my flat with him; another wants to help me gazump someone’s sale.”
She did not name the agents.
She had earlier tweeted: “London property market not dead – official. My N. London flat just took 10 days to sell @ asking price, to a FTB (20 viewings, no investors).”
Meanwhile Jessie Hewitson, a property journalist for The Times, shared her regrets about not using an estate agent on a Savills blog.
She said: “This worked beautifully for the first three months.
“Then even more months clocked up and everything became more fraught – problems with the mortgage, the lease, the rear fence, the lawyers arguing and blaming each other. Eventually we wished to God there had been a third person involved to relieve me and my husband of having to make awkward phone calls at 8pm after a hard day’s work.
“The whole experience was a painful lesson in the true value of estate agents.
“Not only do they act as a buffer between buyer and seller, they soak up our stresses, strains and the temper of all parties.
“By absorbing the anger and listening to the frustrations of the buyers and sellers – or more likely holding the phone away from their ear as they mentally count their commission – they keep sales on track.”
Comments (4)
From one media professional to another not all Estate Agents are the same. It’s important to meet with accredited agents opposed to the large chains that look like coffee shops who make their own rules
I work with a number of property agents on the marketing side of things and have learnt to appreciate the good from the bad. One EA in particular Victor Michael Estate Agents received an outstanding review for one of their agents Kyra on Trustpilot only this morning
Can be seen here: https://uk.trustpilot.com/reviews/57f9eaa519774d0804fe01ec
After reading this, i am sure you will all agree there is plenty of hope and trust left with agents
Marc
Apart from an extremely poorly executed attempt at a free plug for your services (thanks – but no thanks…) this was expected to achieve what, precisely…?
As usual… all the problems happen to be post – sale !
“My househunt horror stories: 1 agent refused to show a house until I listed my flat with him; …”
H’mm was this agent correct, possibly. Q: “Have you got your property on the market?” R: “er No”. Vendors instructs agent no time wasters! Q; “Would you put your property on the market with us, seeing as you are looking to move?”. Or are you a time waster! Ruth Bloomfield forgot agents are instructed by the vendor.
The only real story here is the one who suddenly realises at a later date the value of using an estate agent isn’t saving on fee’s alone but value for service.