http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk Estate Agents related Industry News. en-us Sat, 4 Feb 2012 12:10:28 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/EAT-60-second-bite-size-interview-Cars4Agents     As Cars4Agents continues to expand its operation we speak to Managing Director Gary Rose about the business and an exciting year ahead. Interview by Lee Dahill, Angels Media lee.dahill@angelsmedia.co.uk   Q: Who are Cars4Agents? A: Cars4Agents is a highly successful independent vehicle brokerage with a proven track record in supplying the property industry. Cars4agents offers a... Sat, 01 Dec 2012 11:17:51 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/EAT-60-second-bite-size-interview-Cars4Agents http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/LED-Light-Pockets-glow-in-the-new-office-of-Dunderdale-Asquith-Lancashire Dunderdale Asquith in Lancashire has just opened a new larger office in a highly prominent position in Lytham.  Stephen Asquith states, “we are now the most modern office in our area.  Our office really stands out, the new display equipment from Fairfield is clean and modern and totally different from... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:09:34 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/LED-Light-Pockets-glow-in-the-new-office-of-Dunderdale-Asquith-Lancashire http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Taxpayer-backed-mortgage-indemnity-scheme-to-be-extended-to-all-new-home-buyers The government-backed 95% mortgage indemnity scheme originally intended for first-time buyers and those buying cheaper new homes is to be extended to all  buyers of new homes costing up to £500,000. Housing minister Grant Shapps has renamed the scheme NewBuy Guarantee, to be launched officially in March. Mortgage providers are still working... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:29:37 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Taxpayer-backed-mortgage-indemnity-scheme-to-be-extended-to-all-new-home-buyers http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Penitent-Property-Place-announces-details-of-new-deals-for-agents Property Place, the new Facebook property platform, has released details of its deals for agents. It is charging £50 per month per agency (not branch), and will fix its fees for two years. It is promising to cap any increase for the following three years for all agents who sign up before... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:28:23 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Penitent-Property-Place-announces-details-of-new-deals-for-agents http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-review-site-launches-consumer-awareness-campaign New estate agent review site Meet My Agent has launched a consumer campaign aimed at generating consumer reviews and increasing public awareness of the site.   The site, which currently covers London, is advertising online and plans to place adverts in Metro and the Evening Standard. It is incentivising the public to place... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:27:38 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-review-site-launches-consumer-awareness-campaign http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/PropertyLive-doubles-traffic-in-a-year PropertyLive, the NFoPP website, more than doubled traffic last year. Members have also been told that the number of property listings significantly increased. The site is to be redesigned this spring, with a completely new look, based on feedback from members. There are now over 5,500 agents using the site. ... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:26:39 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/PropertyLive-doubles-traffic-in-a-year http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-have-a-go-bravery-commended-in-court It is not often that an estate agent gets commended in court, so congratulations to ‘have a go’ hero Sam Woodward. The Birmingham agent was praised after he tackled a mugger who had just knocked an 82-year-old woman to the ground and grabbed her handbag. Woodward saw the incident as he sat... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:25:55 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-have-a-go-bravery-commended-in-court http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Countrywides-Sothebys-brand-opens-second-London-office Countrywide’s Sotheby’s International Realty brand has opened its second London office, in Chelsea. The new office will work alongside its Mayfair office, which opened in 1998, to increase its coverage of the capital and respond to the international market’s demand for prime luxury property in fashionable Chelsea, Kensington, Fulham and Knightsbridge. The... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:24:23 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Countrywides-Sothebys-brand-opens-second-London-office http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/5-Reasons-Why-Light-Panels-Could-Help-Generate-Sales In this economical climate you might think that investing in new window displays is a financial risk, however now is the time to ensure that your business stands out from your competitors. After all, ‘He who shouts loudest gets heard!’ Here are 5 reasons why Light Panels are the PERFECT display... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:51:21 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/5-Reasons-Why-Light-Panels-Could-Help-Generate-Sales http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Property-Place-founder-says-sorry-after-no-one-likes-estate-agents-headline The founder of the first Facebook app to market property has issued an abject apology to agents after finding itself at the centre of a row over a press release which said in its headline that ‘No one likes Estate Agents’. Estate agency software company Vebra has also defended itself after... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:42 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Property-Place-founder-says-sorry-after-no-one-likes-estate-agents-headline http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Hunters-boss-warns-that-ending-Stamp-Duty-break-would-make-FTBs-extinct The boss of Hunters estate agents – which, since its acquisition of the Bairstow Eves franchised businesses from Countrywide, has become the largest independent estate agency franchise operator in the UK – is calling on the Government to delay reintroducing Stamp Duty for properties under £250,000. Kevin Hollinrake said that first-time... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:57:42 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Hunters-boss-warns-that-ending-Stamp-Duty-break-would-make-FTBs-extinct http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-warnings-on-homes-in-flood-areas New warnings have been issued about properties at risk of flooding which could be both uninsurable and un-mortgageable within months. It follows a damning report from a group of MPs into the state of Britain’s flood defences. The Public Accounts Committee accused DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) of... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:56:51 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-warnings-on-homes-in-flood-areas http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-sales-nudge-down-says-Land-Registry The average house price slipped just 0.2% in January, to stand at £162,228, Nationwide reports this morning. Robert Gardiner, Nationwide's chief economist, said he expected house prices to stay where they are or move down slightly in the coming months, with supply on the market having dried to a trickle.... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:55:41 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-sales-nudge-down-says-Land-Registry http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Strange-advice-for-first-time-buyers It’s the website of the year (which makes EAT very jealous) and its guide for first-time buyers was (apparently) updated only yesterday afternoon. So, should first-time buyers really be aware, courtesy of Thisismoney, that all homes for sale have to have Home Information Packs? http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-1583953/Guide-Buying-home--First-time-buyers-advice.html ... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:54:57 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Strange-advice-for-first-time-buyers http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Cars4Agents-Why-Should-You-Contract-Hire-Your-Next-Sign-Written-Vehicle John Paul Getty, known as one of the Richest men of all time once said: “If it appreciates buy it, if it depreciates, lease it” At Cars4Agents we fully believe in John’s quote and can prove to you that leasing is certainly the way forward. In other words, the multi billionaire... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:56:14 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Cars4Agents-Why-Should-You-Contract-Hire-Your-Next-Sign-Written-Vehicle http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Albion-Display-fits-the-bill-at-Home-House-Estates Home House Estates are central London Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors specialising in residential property for sale, letting and investment in the capital’s best addresses and postcodes. Operating across the complete spectrum of prime central London property including established and historic homes, newly-built housing, super-prime and investment properties, Home House Estates... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:29:55 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Albion-Display-fits-the-bill-at-Home-House-Estates http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/The-Modern-Method-of-Auction-Continues-to-Give-Agents-the-Competitive-Edge  iam-sold understands the auction market like you understand your local market, and with the housing market currently taking a negative turn agents are exploring new income streams to help maintain a healthy business. Working in partnership with iam-sold enables estate agents to increase their sales commission with a minimum sales fee... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:17:33 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/The-Modern-Method-of-Auction-Continues-to-Give-Agents-the-Competitive-Edge http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Ray-Bohringer-Blog- The Year of the Dragon has now begun, so what can agents expect from the mortgage market and mortgage lenders? While the Dragon in Chinese culture stands for prosperity for the year, and indeed for anybody born in that year, I do not see any likelihood of a Chinese influence in... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:38:37 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Ray-Bohringer-Blog- http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Radar-Homes-management-company-in-liquidation Radar Homes, the regional portals set up by agents for agents, are continuing to operate despite having been dealt a heavy blow with the collapse of the company that created and managed the concept. Rightmove’s raising of its charges and its effect on estate agents’ budgets were specifically picked out as... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:49:47 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Radar-Homes-management-company-in-liquidation http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Sellers-and-buyers-stay-away-from-uncertain-property-market Sellers and buyers are staying away from the market, the Hometrack report revealed this morning, as sales fall away. The number of new applicants has fallen 10.5% in the last month, after a 6.3% fall in December and a 2.2% drop in November. The speed at which property listings are dropping has... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:48:42 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Sellers-and-buyers-stay-away-from-uncertain-property-market http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Fine--and--Country-sets-out-its-stall-for-more-growth Fine & Country has announced a new strategy for growth, after opening 27 new branches last year. There are currently offices in 300 locations in the UK and 12 other countries, including the US. The network says it plans to open additional offices in major towns and cities, with four new... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:47:51 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Fine--and--Country-sets-out-its-stall-for-more-growth http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Greene-men-pop-up-in-City-of-London Greene & Co has launched a new office in Clerkenwell to service the City. It will focus on the high-end sales market and new investment and rental market opportunities for landlord clients.   Managing director David Pollock said: “Greene & Co has weathered the turbulent property market with great resilience, and the opening... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:46:58 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Greene-men-pop-up-in-City-of-London http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-are-most-to-blame-for-69-hike-in-moving-costs Estate agents are blamed today for the soaring cost of moving home, which new research says has risen faster than house prices over the past decade, and now stands at nearly £9,000. Estate agency fees are the main cause of the 69% rise, the research from Lloyds TSB claims. In 2001 it... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:15:13 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-are-most-to-blame-for-69-hike-in-moving-costs http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Chesterton-Humbert-claims-a-first-with-Facebook-property-search Chesterton Humbert is claiming to be the first – and only – national estate agent to offer a property search function on Facebook. The firm has relaunched its Facebook profile with a new property search function that allows users to remain on the Facebook site while browsing properties. The firm says that... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:13:56 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Chesterton-Humbert-claims-a-first-with-Facebook-property-search http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Expansion-for-both-Winkworth-and-Sothebys-International-Realty Winkworth has signed its first new office of the year, in Canterbury. Coutts Byers has now become part of the Winkworth franchise network, trading as Winkworth Canterbury.   Meanwhile, Sotheby’s International Realty, part of Countrywide, has launched its second office in the UK, and it is outside London. The new Stratford-upon-Avon office is headed... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:13:02 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Expansion-for-both-Winkworth-and-Sothebys-International-Realty http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Pawnbroking-returns-to-the-high-street-as-banks-say-no In a telling sign of the times, a high street pawnbroker has announced plans to open 50 new shops this year, creating 300 new jobs. The Money Shop said it has been having its busiest January ever, with rising demand for its services. Trade body the National Pawnbrokers’ Association says the industry... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:11:56 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Pawnbroking-returns-to-the-high-street-as-banks-say-no http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/AcTV-star-behind-business-aiming-to-be-UKs-biggest-agent A new business which sets out to be the future of estate agency in the UK, with ambitions to be the biggest inside three years, is backed by the actress Lynda Bellingham. It is tempting would-be franchisees with the prospect of earning £50-£60,000 in their first year. It is advertising widely... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:28:29 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/AcTV-star-behind-business-aiming-to-be-UKs-biggest-agent http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Agent-up-in-arms-over-Allagents-rating A successful agent has complained that 17 apparently malicious reviews on Allagents have resulted in his firm coming 8,367 out of 8,385 estate agents. Luke Wooster, managing director of Wooster & Stock in south-east London, said that two reviews recommended his firm, whilst the rest gave disapproval ratings. He said that neither... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:26:41 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Agent-up-in-arms-over-Allagents-rating http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Green-Deal-must-not-repeat-earlier-fiasco-ministers-warned Serious concerns have been raised about the Green Deal, amid fears of a repeat of the scandal whereby thousands of DEAs handed over huge sums for training, only to find that neither the work nor the lucrative earnings ever materialised. It is one of a series of warnings that the Green... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:25:26 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Green-Deal-must-not-repeat-earlier-fiasco-ministers-warned http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Insolvencies-rise-among-property-businesses Insolvencies in property businesses rose by just over 17% last year, Experian reported today. Its figures come as new HMRC figures show that house sales fell by just over 1% last year, with only 890,000 completitions. According to HMRC, this was the lowest since 2009, when they fell to a... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:24:43 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Insolvencies-rise-among-property-businesses http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Rebrand-for-Kents-Ward--and--Partners Footfall – or its lack – into agents’ shops continues to be a fraught talking point, but the issue is not stopping some businesses from investing heavily in the look of their offices. Ward & Partners – part of the Arun Estates Group and Kent’s largest independent agents – have just completed a... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:24:09 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Rebrand-for-Kents-Ward--and--Partners http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/One-in-five-agents-wont-reveal-their-fees-claim Estate agents are often secretive about what they charge sellers, it has been alleged, whilst there is great variation in the levels of fees that they charge. A new survey found that only one agent in London – Winkworth – disclosed its fees on its website. About 20% of London agents... Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:02:55 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/One-in-five-agents-wont-reveal-their-fees-claim http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/More-record-traffic-this-time-at-Zoopla Another of the ‘big four’ portals has reported record traffic levels this month. Zoopla says it had three million visitors in the second week of January, with over 450,000 in a single day, marking a new daily record for the property website by some margin. A week ago, Rightmove also saw record... Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:02:20 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/More-record-traffic-this-time-at-Zoopla http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/FindProperty-new-marketing-product-a-hit-with-agents-says-Digital Digital Property Group says that an innovation introduced last week which allows agents to brand themselves within a postcode search area is proving a hit. The new advertising ‘Enhanced Marketing’ product is available on both FindaProperty and Primelocation. There are three advertising slots available at the top of every search in a... Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:01:09 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/FindProperty-new-marketing-product-a-hit-with-agents-says-Digital http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Country-house-market-suhit-as-sellers-get-cold-feet-at-last-minute The country house market is waning, according to Knight Frank, as wealthy buyers get cold feet at the last minute and walk away from deals. Prices of all but the most expensive rural properties fell 3% last year – down 1% in the home counties, and down 10% in the North-West. Only... Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:58:57 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Country-house-market-suhit-as-sellers-get-cold-feet-at-last-minute http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Movewithus-signs-up-mobile-site-provider throughMobile, a specialist mobile marketing provider, has been signed up to Move with Us. The new partnership agreement means throughMobile will develop and supply all mobile websites, mobile apps and integrated Facebook searches to the movewithus estate agency network. Clive Edwards, online marketing manager at Move with Us, said: “As more people... Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:57:53 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Movewithus-signs-up-mobile-site-provider http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Agent-comes-up-with-a-n-ice-idea Many agents hand out freebies but we feel that due respect should be shown to Essex agents The Home Partnership for their pre-dawn pre-emptive strike. The whole team spent all of last week getting out of bed extra early in order to put branded ice-scrapers on all cars parked in their... Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:57:21 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Agent-comes-up-with-a-n-ice-idea http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/How-to-raise-your-Lettings-fees In December 2011 ARPM, a market leading outsourced property management company teamed up with Adam Walker the UK's leading agency trainer to hold the first of its Lettings seminars on ‘How to raise your lettings fees’. This seminar forms part of ARPMs’ commitment to help partners grow and develop their... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:03:25 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/How-to-raise-your-Lettings-fees http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Ombudsman-Blog Christopher Hamer looks back on five years as the Property Ombudsman   How did you come to take up the role of Property Ombudsman? My career prior to taking up the role included many years in ombudsman schemes. After being the Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Commissioner, I held roles as the director... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:49:49 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Ombudsman-Blog http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-Facebook-app-launches-to-sell-houses The first property transactions app on Facebook was due to go live first thing this morning, with over 400,000 properties. Property Place can be used by both private sellers and landlords as well as by agents, and claims to be the first use of Facebook in the world for the selling... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:14:37 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-Facebook-app-launches-to-sell-houses http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Harry-Hill-property-firm-gets-set-to-wind-down JKM, the property company set up by the former owners of Burchell Edwards estate agents and chaired by former Countrywide boss Harry Hill, is set to close after clearing its existing business. Callers to JKM Property Solutions are being told that the company is winding down, while its website says it... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:11:25 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Harry-Hill-property-firm-gets-set-to-wind-down http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Rightmove-announces-new-record-in-site-traffic Rightmove has announced an all-time record of visitors to its site, with over 34 million pages of traffic on Monday. The site, which claims market share of 84% among the top four property portals, says this was  the second time in a fortnight that the record has been broken, after a... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:10:21 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Rightmove-announces-new-record-in-site-traffic http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-prices-going-down-say-consumers-for-19th-consecutive-month House prices are perceived to have fallen again this month, for the 19th consecutive month. The Knight Frank/Markit report this morning said that in its latest survey of 1,500 households, property values were perceived to have fallen throughout the UK, including London. Only 5% of people thought the value of their home... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:09:36 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-prices-going-down-say-consumers-for-19th-consecutive-month http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-window-of-opportunity-for-Property-Ombudsman The Property Ombudsman is in talks with the glazing industry’s trade body, FENSA, about proving an independent dispute resolution service to consumers. Christopher Hamer said that FENSA had thought about setting up its own ombudsman service before deciding to investigate utilising the experience of an existing service. Hamer, who also plans to... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:08:38 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-window-of-opportunity-for-Property-Ombudsman http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/HIPs-finally-bite-the-dust Hurrah! HIPs have finally been abolished. A couple of years ago, this news would have sent us into a tailspin and EAT would have put out a special extraordinarily well-read news alert just when you weren’t expecting it. The news today is, however, slightly muted. HIPs were, in effect, abolished within days of... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:08:08 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/HIPs-finally-bite-the-dust http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Meet-My-Agent-Blog Estate agency comparison site Meet My Agent answers our questions in today’s blog. Liya Fateh, 24, and former agent Ashley Alexander, 26, are both directors of the business.   Q: What does your site do and how will it benefit estate agents? Liya: MeetMyAgent.co.uk is an independent review website which allows home owners to... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:50:46 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Meet-My-Agent-Blog http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Harry-Hill-launches-fire-your-agent-game-%E2%80%93-as-he-slates-poor-service Frustrated buyers are being invited to take part in a new online game where they can vent their anger by 'firing' estate agents out of a cannon. The Angry Buyers game may, however, raise eyebrows as it comes from Harry Hill, himself a former estate agent. The game has been unveiled on... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:13:19 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Harry-Hill-launches-fire-your-agent-game-%E2%80%93-as-he-slates-poor-service http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Fine-network-gets-set-to-double-in-three-years Spicerhaart’s Fine brand is planning a major recruitment drive, aiming to double its network over the next three years. It is also recruiting high-calibre individuals at local level to work for both its existing and new branches.   Fine, launched in 2010 by Spicerhaart, currently has a network of over 20 branches around... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:12:52 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Fine-network-gets-set-to-double-in-three-years http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Furious-backlash-over-banks-new-conveyancing-panel A lender’s launch of a new conveyancing panel, to be run by Countrywide, has provoked a furious backlash from high street solicitors who say that consumers are being bludgeoned into using the new service – but will ultimately lose out through conveyancing delays causing both them and estate agents headaches. According... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:11:42 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Furious-backlash-over-banks-new-conveyancing-panel http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-rating-site-answers-our-questions Agents’ ratings sites are one of today’s biggest talking points in the industry. Allagents has set the pace, but is not without its critics. And it now has competitors. One of them, Meet My Agent, has risen to our challenge by answering questions on today’s blog. (For dawn readers of this site, the... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:10:20 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Estate-agents-rating-site-answers-our-questions http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Boss-who-updated-his-Linked-in-profile-IS-on-gardening-leave-says-firm The boss of a property firm who revealed on a social networking site that he has gone on gardening leave has left, his former company has confirmed. James Sherwood-Rogers, former managing director of Daily Mail-owned Landmark Information Group which includes Quest, let slip his new status on his Linked-In profile. Now Stephen... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:09:20 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Boss-who-updated-his-Linked-in-profile-IS-on-gardening-leave-says-firm http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Smoking-In-and-around-business-premises-what-is-allowed-and-what-is-not Although the Smoke-free Premises Regulations have been in force since July 2007, we continue to receive questions about the requirements and whether provision can or should be made for employees who smoke. The Regulations simply state that it is against the law to smoke in virtually all 'enclosed' and 'substantially enclosed'... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:22:20 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Smoking-In-and-around-business-premises-what-is-allowed-and-what-is-not http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-listings-dry-up-to-lowest-level-ever-seen Estate agents’ branches are selling less than one new property a week each – the lowest level of new listings ever seen. Just 36,433 properties are currently coming on to Rightmove per week, the lowest recorded in the ten years that the site has been measuring the market. Rightmove’s monthly survey, out... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:54:21 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-listings-dry-up-to-lowest-level-ever-seen http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-app-from-Rightmove-turns-TVs-into-search-machines Agents have been told to gear up for a new supersized marketing era, with home hunters now able to do a search on Rightmove via their TV screens. They will also be able to ‘save’ properties to their TVs that they have already found on Rightmove via, for example, their mobile... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:52:03 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-app-from-Rightmove-turns-TVs-into-search-machines http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Mortgage-payments-take-lowest-slice-of-income-for-14-years Mortgage payments for a new borrower in the second half of 2011 were at their lowest as a proportion of earnings for 14 years.   Typical mortgage payments for a new borrower – both first-time buyers and home movers – stood at 27% of disposable earnings in the fourth quarter of... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:50:38 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Mortgage-payments-take-lowest-slice-of-income-for-14-years http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Most-home-owners-still-expect-prices-to-rise-%28especially-theirs%29 Fewer home owners expect house prices to rise over the next six months than at any point in the last year. Even so, more than half (55%) expect house prices to go up this year. The average prediction is by 2.2% although home owners are convinced that their own property is... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:49:51 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Most-home-owners-still-expect-prices-to-rise-%28especially-theirs%29 http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/FindaPropertys-rap-ads-win-industry-plaudits Okay, Mrs EAT liked it. Mr EAT hated the look of it so much he couldn’t bear to watch. And when the story appeared here, opinions were similarly divided over the latest FindaProperty ‘rap’ ads – ‘divided’ being a polite word for what most of you were thinking. However, the advertising... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:48:04 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/FindaPropertys-rap-ads-win-industry-plaudits http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Success-rate-at-auctions-picks-up A total of 2,744 lots were offered at residential property auction sales in December. Of these, 1,996 sold – a success rate of 72.7%. The total amount raised was £234m. The figures compare favourably with December 2010 when slightly fewer lots were offered (2,614), achieving a success rate of 68.4%. ... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:47:35 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Success-rate-at-auctions-picks-up http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Boost-New-Year-Sales-with-New-Window-Displays Start the New Year as you mean to go on by installing our latest window displays. If you are looking for a display that will blow the socks off your competitors and attract savvy house hunters then Rotating Light Panels are the product for you! Manning Stainton was one of the... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:04:50 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Boost-New-Year-Sales-with-New-Window-Displays http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Brian-Murphy-Blog-7 My belief is that we should now see the market continue to build. 2011 is now behind us and although for the wider economy the news has in general been somewhat downbeat, it was a year for the mortgage market where further stability returned and a significantly greater degree of confidence... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:56:37 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Brian-Murphy-Blog-7 http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Zoopla-and-Digital-merger-held-up-as-OFT-decides-to-act The proposed merger between Zoopla and Digital – in a bid to do battle with the supremacy of Rightmove – is being held up while it is studied by the Office of Fair Trading. While clearance of the deal could be through by the end of February, if the OFT were to decide... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:53:41 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Zoopla-and-Digital-merger-held-up-as-OFT-decides-to-act http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Homes-lingering-a-record-five-months-on-market Houses are taking longer to sell than at any time for at least six years, spending an average of five months on the market. Before the credit crunch, average time on the market was two months. According to Home, which uses data from virtually every property portal and website in the UK,... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:52:47 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Homes-lingering-a-record-five-months-on-market http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Crooked-estate-agent-is-sent-to-jail A crooked former estate agent who spearheaded a £1m property fraud has been sent to prison for three years. A mortgage adviser has also been jailed. Former agent Raymond Abramson was an undischarged bankrupt andshould not have been in business, but used the name Trevor Smith in order to mastermind the... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:50:46 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Crooked-estate-agent-is-sent-to-jail http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Appeal-to-agents-to-support-industrys-mega-cycle-ride-in-aid-of-charity Agents throughout England, Wales and Scotland are being asked to support a huge national bicycle ride this summer - an industry initiative in aid of charity. The event is being headed by two well-known estate agents, Jon Cooke of LSL and industry legend Sean Newman. The two will be cycling from Exeter,... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:44:14 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Appeal-to-agents-to-support-industrys-mega-cycle-ride-in-aid-of-charity http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-chief-operating-officer-takes-helm-at-TPO Gerry Fitzjohn has become chief operating officer for the company running The Property Ombudsman Scheme. Bill McClintock, from whom he takes over, stays on as chairman. Fitzjohn became vice-chairman in 2010, having been appointed to the board in 2000 when Countrywide, of which he was a director, joined what was then... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:43:09 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-chief-operating-officer-takes-helm-at-TPO http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Refresh-For-Sale-Boards--and--Office-Fascia-Signs Leading signage supplier, Kremer Signs are offering a FREE design service throughout January & February to help estate agent across the UK update their image for the start of 2012. “The impact of changing the estate agents boards or office fasciashows all potential & existing customers that you are constantly trying... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:57:54 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Refresh-For-Sale-Boards--and--Office-Fascia-Signs http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Peter-Hendry-Blog- Why have prices remained almost static whilst sales have dropped to a trickle? The answer has to be price, price, price. Quoting the correct price when marketing a house is the key. This cannot be happening – but why? Possibly the worst position estate agents could ever find themselves in, is having to do... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:50:47 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Peter-Hendry-Blog- http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/HS2-go-ahead-to-blight-properties-for-years The high-speed rail link which got the go-ahead from the Government yesterday will blight thousands of properties and create years of nightmare trading for estate agents. One agent said yesterday’s announcement had created a crisis. Others warned that home owners with unsaleable properties will be battling for compensation for years. Many home... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:23:45 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/HS2-go-ahead-to-blight-properties-for-years http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Regional-housing-markets-paint-a-picture-of-contrasts The number of properties achieving ‘Sold’ status in 2011 dropped by 2.8% compared to 2010, and the number of new ‘For Sale’ listings recorded throughout 2011 also fell, down by 5.2% on the previous year. The data is from estate agency signs firm Agency Express. But the picture was extremely localised,... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:17:57 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Regional-housing-markets-paint-a-picture-of-contrasts http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/First-time-buyers-plan-to-beat-stamp-duty-deadline Mortgage valuation activity in the final quarter of 2011 outstripped business a year ago, according to Connells Survey and Valuation.   The firm says that the increase was driven by first-time buyers hoping to beat the end of the stamp duty holiday in March. Although the total number of valuations the firm conducted... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:15:45 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/First-time-buyers-plan-to-beat-stamp-duty-deadline http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Unrealistic-pricing-hampering-transaction-levels-says-RICS Unrealistic price expectations on the part of sellers is hampering transaction levels, the RICS has reported. Its latest survey, covering last month, says that the average number of completed sales per surveyor in the three months to December was 15.2, slightly down on November’s figure. RICS members have become less hopeful of... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:14:49 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Unrealistic-pricing-hampering-transaction-levels-says-RICS http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/1m-plus-houses-the-most-likely-to-gain-in-price More expensive houses are the ones most likely to go up in value, with owners and agents unafraid to up their asking prices. Research commissioned by Investec Specialist Private Bank using Primelocation data  reveals there were 21,877 residential properties on the market at between £1m and £15m during the third quarter... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:12:14 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/1m-plus-houses-the-most-likely-to-gain-in-price http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Agency-chain-gets-ready-to-float-on-stock-exchange Belvoir, the lettings chain, announced its intention to float on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange at 7am this morning. The business hopes to be listed on AIM by early February after raising between £6m and £8m from a variety of investors. Its own franchisees will be among those... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:02:31 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Agency-chain-gets-ready-to-float-on-stock-exchange http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-prices-end-year-just-1.3-down Average house prices fell by 1.3% last year, according to the latest monthly survey from the Halifax, to finish at £160,063. The figure is very close to the latest information from the Land Registry but is in sharp contrast to London’s fortunes. This morning, Knight Frank reported that London house prices... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:01:44 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-prices-end-year-just-1.3-down http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Bailed-out-banks-could-need-more-money-as-new-losses-loom Both Lloyds and RBS face running up more losses over the next three years, whilst Northern Rock has been downgraded by a ratings agency following its purchase by Virgin. Standard & Poor’s downgrading has come partly because of Northern Rock’s ‘moderate’ likelihood of needing further taxpayer support. Meanwhile, analysis by Barclays Capital... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:00:15 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Bailed-out-banks-could-need-more-money-as-new-losses-loom http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Sequence-adds-new-business-to-Wiliam-H-Brown-network William H Brown, part of the Sequence Group owned by Connells, has acquired a two-branch business in Norfolk. The purchase of Ian Sinclair Estate Agents, a property sales and lettings business with branches in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, was for an undisclosed sum. Ian Sinclair, its founder, will join William H Brown... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:59:06 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Sequence-adds-new-business-to-Wiliam-H-Brown-network http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Chinese-delegation-visit-TPO-on-fact-finding-mission A party of 20 officials from the Chinese Government has called on Property Ombudsman Christopher Hamer as part of a fact-finding tour of the UK. The visit, by senior staff from the Department of Letters and Calls, was organised by the Chinese foreign affairs department and formed part of a programme... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:58:04 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Chinese-delegation-visit-TPO-on-fact-finding-mission http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Money-Laundering-Blog-Paul-Harmsworth The Money Laundering Regulations have been in place for four years now. But research indicates that only a very small minority of estate agents and surveyors have taken the issue seriously enough to have properly investigated what is necessary to avoid a financial penalty – or worse the loss of... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:54:50 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Money-Laundering-Blog-Paul-Harmsworth http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Henry-Pryor-Blog-5 With the results for November released by HM Land Registry, we can now begin to assess just how 2011 was for the housing market.  Asking prices took a dramatic fall in the last two months of the year, falling 5% in the last two months – a good thing, since vendors... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:52:38 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Henry-Pryor-Blog-5 http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/OFT-to-drop-softly-softly-approach-on-money-laundering The Office of Fair Trading is expected to clamp down hard this year on estate agents who have not registered for anti-money laundering. It follows the revelation that last year, the OFT contacted 212 estate agents and warned all of them to register immediately. One firm that initially ignored the warning... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:12:44 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/OFT-to-drop-softly-softly-approach-on-money-laundering http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Nestoria-drops-GoogleMaps-after-bankrupting-charges Property search engine Nestoria has announced that it is dropping GoogleMaps in favour of OpenStreetMap. The move follows Google’s decision to start charging commercial websites for using their maps if they exceed certain bandwidth allowances. Ed Freyfogle, founder of Nestoria, writes in a blog that the Google sales rep quoted a price... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:10:10 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Nestoria-drops-GoogleMaps-after-bankrupting-charges http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Digital-and-Zoopla-merger-still-expected-to-go-through With both Digital and Zoopla embarking on their own expensive new marketing campaigns, aimed at stamping their respective brands into the British psyche, we wondered what had happened to their merger, announced last October 14 and designed to be a credible assault on Rightmove. A lengthier courtship than planned? Someone got... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:07:22 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Digital-and-Zoopla-merger-still-expected-to-go-through http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/North-South-gap-in-house-values-continues-to-widen Average house values in Britain finished last year unchanged at £221,331, down just £854 (0.23%) from the start of the year. But the North-South divide continued to widen, according to property portal Zoopla, which carries valuations of homes including those not on the market.   Scotland, where average property values now stand... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:05:41 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/North-South-gap-in-house-values-continues-to-widen http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/A-million-people-take-out-4-000-payday-loans-to-pay-their-mortgages Almost one million people have had to take out a payday loan within the last year to pay their mortgage or rent. In total, seven million borrowers and tenants are relying on some form of credit to pay their housing costs. As well as payday loans, struggling borrowers and tenants are taking... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:02:16 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/A-million-people-take-out-4-000-payday-loans-to-pay-their-mortgages http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Well-just-look-who-used-to-be-an-estate-agent On the basis that this is the time of year when a little trivia goes down well (not to mention taking our minds off the unfolding eurozone crisis), we would like to mention that Corrie babe stunner Natalie Gumede used to work for an estate agent. Natalie, who plays Kirsty Soames,... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:59:15 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Well-just-look-who-used-to-be-an-estate-agent http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-Facebook-app-set-to-launch-to-sell-houses The first use of social media as a specific platform for the proactive selling and letting of residential property is set for launch this month. Entrepreneur Sohail Rashid has created a property application on Facebook that enables home owners, agents and landlords to advertise property for sale, rent and room-share via... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:43:44 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/New-Facebook-app-set-to-launch-to-sell-houses http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Knight-Frank-forecasts-perfect-storm-for-house-prices November house prices went up 0.3% compared with October, to stand at £160,780, an annual price decrease of 1.9%. The only region in England and Wales to experience an increase in its average property value over the last 12 months is London with a movement of 1.4%.  Annually, North-East house prices... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:42:21 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Knight-Frank-forecasts-perfect-storm-for-house-prices http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/The-Negotiator-magazine-is-acquired-by-Property-Drum The Negotiator magazine has been acquired by its former rival, Property Drum, for an undisclosed price. The two publications will now be sister titles, both distributed to estate and letting agents nationally. The Negotiator is the oldest surviving magazine for estate agents and had passed through several ownerships, most latterly as... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:40:32 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/The-Negotiator-magazine-is-acquired-by-Property-Drum http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/One-third-more-FTBs-will-have-to-pay-Stamp-Duty-warns-Halifax One-third more first-time buyers will have to pay Stamp Duty this year than last, it has emerged, after the number of first-time buyers fell to its lowest level last year since 1974. According to the Halifax, around 187,000 people were first-time buyers in 2011, a 7% drop on 2010 and fewer... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:39:38 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/One-third-more-FTBs-will-have-to-pay-Stamp-Duty-warns-Halifax http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Flats-out-of-favour-with-British-home-buying-public The cheapest house to sell in England and Wales last year was a terrace home in Middlesbrough which went for £16,000. By contrast, the average price paid for a property in England and Wales was £161,727 – compared with £164,916 in 2010. More worryingly for agents was the low number of... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:38:06 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Flats-out-of-favour-with-British-home-buying-public http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/PBK-turns-the-tables-on-EATs-editor As we move into a New Year, NFoPP chief executive Peter Bolton King turns the tables on EAT's Rosalind Renshaw and asks the questions   PBK: Ros – perhaps I could start out by congratulating you on your recent Outstanding Contributor Award. This is thoroughly deserved and leads me to my first... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:25:13 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/PBK-turns-the-tables-on-EATs-editor http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/What-Being-A-Savvy-Agent-Can-Do-For-You How SavvyAgent can help win new business for you... In a fiercely competitive market, you need to be on top of your game and Savvy Agent is the perfect solution for you! We provide lettings and sales estate agents real-time market knowledge to allow you to win new business, assess your... Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:24:15 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/What-Being-A-Savvy-Agent-Can-Do-For-You http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/60-Second-Interview-Chris-Raniere   Q: Who are Imfuna? Imfuna is a technology company focused on helping the real estate industry become more efficient by using mobile devices and cloud computing. Our founders are professional inspectors and technology experts. The ultimate vision is to develop a technology platform that provides multiple solutions for various real estate... Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:10:56 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/60-Second-Interview-Chris-Raniere http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Anger-as-self-service-site-tells-landlords-to-get-rid-of-agents An email flyer sent out to private landlords entitled ‘How to lose your agent in 73 seconds’ has sparked anger. The email was sent on behalf of uPad, an ARLA member which advertises on Rightmove and other portals. One critic, who was sent the email by mistake, said: “How can Rightmove allow... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:25:15 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Anger-as-self-service-site-tells-landlords-to-get-rid-of-agents http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-sales-monthly-rise-but-in-annual-slide The number of house sales in November was the highest of the year – but failed to boost transactions for the first 11 months of this year to 2010 levels. There were 85,000 sales in November, according to HMRC – a rise from 79,000 in October and up from 76,000 in November... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:24:18 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/House-sales-monthly-rise-but-in-annual-slide http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Firm-told-off-over-claim-to-sell-one-property-every-two-hours A property firm which claimed to be selling one property every two hours has been scolded by the advertising watchdog. FreshStart Living Ltd, described by the Advertising Standards Authority as a property management company, claimed on its website: “We are currently selling an average of 1 property every two hours, 24... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:23:06 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Firm-told-off-over-claim-to-sell-one-property-every-two-hours http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/A-to-Z-of-the-year-weve-just-had Here is EAT’s traditional A to Z of the year, with grateful thanks to all the rogues and bureaucrats who have made our job such a joy during 2011. We will be back on January 3 but will report any breaking news meanwhile on the EAT site. A very happy Christmas... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:21:42 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/A-to-Z-of-the-year-weve-just-had http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Hark-The-herald-angel-Zimmer-sings It is that time of year when peace and bonhomie extend to everyone – including EAT’s competitors. We have, we admit, been transfixed for the last week by the unusual festive scene on the Negotiator website (link below) which shows some carol singers merrily caroling away to what looks like an... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:20:19 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Hark-The-herald-angel-Zimmer-sings http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Three-in-a-row-sles-success-for-estate-agent Well done to Leeds estate agent Simon Ketteringham for his three-in-a-row success. Ketteringham, director of Castlehill, sold three neighbouring houses with a combined price of £645,000. He said it was the first time in the 40-year history of his firm that three properties standing next to each other have come up for... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:18:14 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Three-in-a-row-sles-success-for-estate-agent http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Save-up-to-60-with-UK-Mails-print-and-mail-solution ‘Using imail will dramatically reduce your postal costs associated with canvassing mail, sale agreements, sale instruction letters or any other postal output. A few words from one of our many estate agent customers: “The impact imail has had at Gibbins Richards via modernising our manual mailing system, enhancing the effectiveness of... Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:18:02 GMT http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Save-up-to-60-with-UK-Mails-print-and-mail-solution