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S S

DIrector

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About Me

Love Property

my expertise in the industry

20 years

S's Recent Activity

The incentive to sell by decreasing the CGT by 4% isn't going to help the rental market. Gaining one more house in the sales market means at least one person/family will lose their home. And with no incentive to invest in property as a business, private rentals will continue to decrease whilst demand for private rentals increase. Anyone who has moved to short term let, will not necessarily be encouraged back. As if their property is in a desired area with plenty of short term demand even with the increased tax liabilities, the house has been set up for rentals and short term rentals produce much higher turnover than long term rentals so more likely to still be in profit.

From: S S 07 March 2024 16:17 PM

Seems an incredibly convoluted mess of relationships - and having Keller Williams UK in liquidation whatever the reasons is hardly an great advertisement for the brand!

From: S S 07 March 2024 16:10 PM

So whilst the franchise model works better for LSL - they charge a set amount every month + level of commission on sales to their franchisee's so they are not affected by up and downswings in the market to the same extent. They have passed on all the costs of running an agency to the franchisee - (energy supply/ staffing), I dont suppose it works as well for the franchisee who used to be an employee!

From: S S 07 March 2024 16:04 PM

Despite losing customers - they made higher profits! That means the ones staying with RM are paying more! Hopefully with the rise of OTM/CoStar, if RM want to stay in the game, they will have to accept lower profit levels. You can't keep increasing the cost and expect agents to stay especially with better competition on the horizon. Keep going OTM and I look forward to RM reduced dominance in the portal market.

From: S S 01 March 2024 10:34 AM

Just hope that this works - RM do provide good resources but they are extremely expensive - it would be great to see better competition and appreciation that without agents neither portal has a business. Both portals need to respect the customer and not overcharge but work together for success - at the moment OTM has that attitude and I hope that great success comes to them as that will benefit the agents who support them.

From: S S 01 March 2024 10:30 AM

Once again "awards" are only if you subscribe to their service! All advertising of the awards should detail that companies are only eligible if they subscribe to a service provided by the organisation giving out the awards!

From: S S 07 February 2024 09:54 AM

Andy Parsons - we are the same - Sole Agency with zero weeks tie in. We believe in our service and our capabilities to do the job. But we come up against so many agents who pressure the client to sign the deal (client doesn't realise that they can actually cancel within the first 14 days) overvalue the property and then eventually when the property finally reaches the "correct" price 12 weeks later - it's the price we recommended on day 1 and we could have sold within the first 2 weeks. We have a 4.9* star rating on Google with fabulous reviews - I just dont get how someone would choose an agent with a much lower review rating, with higher tie-ins and usually comparable fees! Not that he is competition but the PB agent for the area runs a pub! Why on earth would anyone go to a publican to sell their house paying the fee upfront! But someone does!

From: S S 25 January 2024 13:43 PM

Money for nothing as you can bet that the private landlord who uses a letting agent will have to sign up. No simplicity in that if you use a letting agent to manage your property then you are covered! Yes there should be a redress for private landlord to private tenant but if a private landlord uses an agent to fully manage their portfolio why do they need to sign up to another ombudsman?

From: S S 08 December 2023 15:55 PM

I'm not sure that the average fee is £6,000, ours certainly isn't and I suspect that the majority of agents outside of expensive areas do not have an average fee of £6k.

From: S S 06 November 2023 11:49 AM

Lower offer can be accepted for a number of reasons but professional estate agents are unlikely to "lose" offers. Dodgy estate agents perhaps may - This yet another reason why professional agents want RoPA.

From: S S 25 September 2023 13:04 PM

Janet - the point he makes is correct - any index used should be reflective of the true situation. We recently valued a property realistically but 2 other agents valued it at £70K more ( the realistic valuation was £230K, other agents were at £270 & £300k). Surprise we didn't get the instruction and surprise the property is now being marketed at £240k. But the Asking Price Index would only include the unrealistic £300k in it's calculations. Asking price needs to include price reductions as reductions means that the initial price was unrealistic and not a figure to be relied on

From: S S 28 June 2023 11:24 AM

True, really frustrating when you see properties that don't comply, many of which are larger agents and corporates! So often Leasehold info/ Service charge info/ etc is "please contact agent" - its not rocket science and is rather annoying as you can't make a decision on whether to see a property if you dont know if the lease is 80 years or 180 years! Then I get a call to say that we haven't got the most up to date Trading Standards logo on the correct side of the TPO logo and unless we change it we will be uncompliant! We had a logo (which was correct at the time the website was redesigned 2 yrs ago) on the left side of TPO logo. We did make the change but when other agents are not even doing the basics correctly it's pretty irritating to be called out for a logo!

From: S S 28 June 2023 11:19 AM

I'm not really sure why they think that being a "disruptor" is so fans and whistles. Their "disruption" of the market has not been successful in the past and reality is with prices of portals/websites/regulations and their glitzy expensive marketing selling a house for "free as in strike" or for £1,000 is just not a financially viable business model. Wasn't yesterday - and prices of services has gone up so not going to be a profitable in the future. The only people who made millions from selling a falsehood were the Bruce Brothers! Purplebricks is not a professional estate agent, it is just a marketing company listing properties who have no incentive to get the property sold once they have the money in the bank - Sales progression is non-existent and chains only complete because all the other agents have to work harder to compensate. What is sad is the damage it does to the public perception of agents - Many thousands of independent agents work hard for their customers providing a good professional service but are damaged not disrupted by the constant downward pressure on price due to expectations that a professional job can be done on the cheap!

From: S S 06 June 2023 09:12 AM

The need for housing has not slowed down, we still need 300,000 house built per year. But the market has cooled. So the developers reduced their supply to the market and that helps who? Certainly not the people actually needing the houses

From: S S 12 January 2023 09:39 AM

Purplebricks is a marketing company not an estate agent. Business model is fixed on how to get funds out of clients BEFORE doing a job. Pay upfront whether we sell your house or not, (once we have money no real incentive for PB to see the sale through - only incentive to see sale through is the other agents in the chain as they dont get paid unless the chain completes) if you don't use our conveyancers, pay upfront. House sells because its a strong market - all the other agents in the chain make it happen. If a vendor has a choice of offers, I personally would avoid choosing any purchaser selling through Purplebricks. I work hard enough for my client, I should not have to do the work for a non-customer who doesn't see value in the services of a proper estate agent. Only seriously motivated individuals who are prepared to do alot of work themselves (which if they calculated how much that work actually costs would realise using a traditional estate agent would have cost less). I would always be wary of a purchaser selling through PB.

From: S S 25 November 2022 09:15 AM

small landlords getting out of PRS?

From: S S 09 November 2022 08:46 AM

Must be a big payday otherwise why esle?

From: S S 09 November 2022 08:45 AM

An agent is required to establish information for the vendor which requires resources and time. A good EA will do this but may charge more, a poor EA won't bother - after all look at sale details - some are terrible yet people still instruct these agents. And there is no doubt that the vendor does not see the EA as a "professional" so will always squeeze on price. After all PB has told the public that all other agents are a rip off and instigated a race to the bottom. I'm not sure the answer but it's not difficult for a potential purchaser to google broadband speed for a postcode to get an indication of what is available. And to look up mobile signals - But signals vary on provider and on phone! If you are looking to buy a house then surely there is some responsibility on yourself to investigate the area that you are buying in! Or is everything someone else fault?

From: S S 11 July 2022 10:37 AM

30,000 to 40,000 self build houses per year - Where do they get these figures from!

From: S S 24 June 2022 09:45 AM

The problem is that rents are high, living costs are now high so saving £50 or £100 means it may take decades to save a deposit and with house prices soaring every year, it must feel for many young people an impossible task. So therefore, why not at least enjoy yourself and wait until parents die to inherit a house or at least some money for a deposit. I owned a flat in London for 10 years between 1988 and 1998 - It went up in price, then crashed so at the end of 10 years was sold for about £1,000 more than what I had paid for it. Had I held it for another 6 months, I would have doubled my money! 20 years later, it's now worth about 8 times what I paid for it! Should have kept it.

From: S S 13 June 2022 10:15 AM

The only answer to the housing problems is to build more houses for social rent and keep them in the social housing sector - selling off more social houses (funded by the taxpayer - as the discounts have to be paid by someone - so that's everyone who contributes to HMRC) thereby reducing the stock is not going to help the housing crisis. History shows clearly that a comprehensive social house building works. Since we stopped councils building houses, the PRS grew due to the NEED. Squeezing out PRS LL's is currently reducing the market, selling off council houses without replacing like for like reduced the social housing sector, and now forcing private housing associations to sell their assets cheaply is not going to resolve the issues. For every property sold cheaply , the taxpayer firstly has to fund the "discount" the tenant has earned by living in an affordable property - then the taxpayer will need to fund the difference as it's unlikely that the housing association will be able to replace the property like-for-like. How is this a good use of finite taxpayers money! Don't forget it is not the Governments money - it is money that every working person has put into the system. Social housing is under huge pressure with increased demand every month. Help to buy as far as I'm aware hasn't actually helped in the way it was intended. But then this government is actually more interested in lining the pockets of their associates as shown by the PPE scandals. Its just a shame that homes are used as a political football with no real knowledge at the top just a conveyor belt of ministers pandering to whomever they think will support them.

From: S S 10 June 2022 11:14 AM

Lettings is a different business to Sales - if you're good at one, you don't necessarily and knowledge have the skills for the other. Our Lettings/Property Management staff have completely different personalities to our Sales Team. Property Management is a business where you deal with problems every day 24hrs a day. Sales can switch off at the weekend but if a pipe bursts at 5.30pm on a friday, a letting agent can't walk out of the door or if an elderly tenant is found deceased on a sunday morning, a letting agent should deal with it. In an industry where anyone can set up as a letting agent - I have first hand knowledge of agent not being available when actually needed, unfortunately they often tend to be charmers (hence great at sales) so the LL nevers knows just how bad the service they get is. And once they trap a LL, most one-off and inexperienced LL just feel stuck and never move. Lettings is a business that needs to be regulated to stop people who think they know what they are doing set up shop with no formal training or qualifications.

From: S S 10 June 2022 10:18 AM

Selling social housing does not solve the problem - Wales and Scotland have STOPPED selling council/social housing off. The problem compounds - people buy house at discount - can't manage homeownership - sell house and go back on waiting list - the property may or may not end up in private hands or a Landlord but whichever, a needy family has taken a house from social housing, its not replaced and they end up back on the list for social housing!

From: S S 09 June 2022 15:15 PM

Needs some publicity as all the advertising that purplebricks do on TV is what the public see. Potential vendors and Landlords only see the company advertising as the bad publicity is hidden. My son had the misfortunate of renting through Chancellors in Oxford - unfortunately for them when they tried to charge £1,500 at the end of the tenancy - I actually took them to task and they failed but I am the exception most people just pay - and most LL do not realise just how much theses corporates rip the LL off.

From: S S 31 May 2022 12:40 PM

Huge difference between Homes listed and properties actually exchanged! 18% and 7%. That shows people are willing to pay "upfront" - But when they don't actually receive the service promised- they revert to traditional agents to get the job done. As the market gets tougher - the personal service that is offered by the traditional agent - all of whom I would say are hybrid as i don't know any agent who does not use some form of proptech - will become more important. Most people buy houses from people and most people want a person to sell their own house. Technology helps but it will never be everything

From: S S 09 May 2022 09:50 AM

Well having had a son who rented through Chancellors, I wouldnt use them to sell a property and I'd try and avoid buying one through them.

From: S S 08 April 2022 10:18 AM

Perhaps if you have a spare room because your kids have left, the last thing you want is a stranger/lodger living in your house! Having the flexibility for your friends/family /kids to come a stay whenever they want is also has a value.

From: S S 20 January 2022 09:59 AM

So when referral fees are banned - how does the business model work then? What is the perceived value of the service if it is valued at nothing? And if the service works by referral fee then how does the vendor know that the referral service that they "have" to buy is the most efficient/best/value for money when the reality is that the services referred are only to the businesses paying highly for the referral. The chances are that the services that the consumers end up paying for could cost more than if they had free choice. Furthermore, what impression does it give if you think that your time/service is not worth paying for.

From: S S 29 December 2021 14:59 PM

55% of all adults , adults in UK approx 57.4 M, so 31.5M recognise the brand! Who are you kidding.....

From: S S 21 December 2021 09:33 AM

Referral fees are not the problem - PB charge the client if the client does NOT use their conveyancer! That is what stops free choice. A GOOD agent may receive a referral fee but they offer the referral because they TRUST the service/company and would pass on the details. Low % rates, expectations and legislation compliance high - referral fees are only an issue if the referral is FORCED.

From: S S 06 December 2021 08:28 AM

And of course PB will compensate clients by the sharing of their commission! NOT. Vendors using PB want the cheapest service...and unfortunately pay peanuts expect monkeys. Pay for a professional service with qualified staff and trusted partners - that costs more but gives better results and provides a good house selling experience. The "commissary" advertising by PB undervalued professional service and experienced estate agents - it didn't disrupt the market, it hurt the people who probably needed a good agent the most. If we, as agents don't value our service and compete in the "Race to the bottom", why should any vendor value what we do?

From: S S 19 November 2021 23:31 PM

Any house that has moved up EPC means it must have had work done on it - so it's likely that the house has been refurbished and therefore would attract a premium

From: S S 25 October 2021 08:54 AM

We have an amazing sales progressor who works tirelessly to ensure the job is done. Unfortunately marketing such as PB "commissary" made the agents job look like they do nothing! proudly "disrupting" the industry and making the transaction about how cheap can it be done! Good agents with amazing staff and sales progressors need to be paid a salary to do the job properly - selling a house is not just about listing and many vendors don't understand how important it is to choose the right agent at the beginning, as getting over the finish line is what it is about and ONLY the agent has the incentive as they are the only ones in the chain not getting paid except for the fixed fee upfront agent who has got their money. The integrity of the chain is important and a good agent should investigate that on acceptance of the offer. But while marketing is bout chasing the fee down, progress is actually going to be hampered.

From: S S 18 August 2021 09:12 AM

Using a digital tool to get a valuation is not new - this tool appears to work if an agent engages alongside the software within 15 mins of the request - that's not an entirely "digital transaction" as to successfully build relationship with a potential vendor a human has to be involved within 15 mins. Balance between digital tools and real human interface needs to be made. Amazon ship products at 11.30pm because the shipping of that produce does not involve human interface at the point of sale. A bank account can be opened at 11.30pm on a friday night because it does not involve human interface at the point of application. Digital valuations are significantly improved by Human intervention and by encouraging a consumer to believe that they will get the "best" agent contacting them within 15 mins of an application 24/7 is frankly undervaluing the importance of the agent.

From: S S 11 August 2021 20:43 PM

Yet another "No Experience", been working in clothing trade so the switch across to Estate Agency - Easy. Why is this Industry content to allow non-qualified, no experience people just set up shop. It demeans the professionalism that we strive so hard for, the investment we make in our employees to gain qualifications and knowledge. If any Tom, Dick or Harry can set up shop, the general public must ask "why do they charge so much to do the job, if anyone can do it!". This lack of barrier to entry does not do our profession any favours

From: S S 09 July 2021 09:50 AM

So a proceedable offer within 10% of the asking price means that if you dont accept that offer you dont get your money back.....Probably fairly easy for the LPE to organise an offer at 10% under the asking price, perhaps knowing full well the vendor would not accept an offer at that value. Not really a "money back guarantee".... Wait 10 months! Sadly simply another meaningless marketing ploy.

From: S S 07 July 2021 13:41 PM

Nothing is for free - there has to be a revenue stream somewhere and perhaps if the vendor/purchaser don't take the options that create the revenue stream, then they will have to pay. Better to pay an agent to do the job so that they are accountable otherwise expect a sub standard service that is chasing revenue from somewhere.

From: S S 02 July 2021 11:03 AM

Chancellors are a typical corporate group who certainly don't provide "exceptional customer service" - when my son left his student accommodation their aim was to screw as much out of the tenants as possible - He left his bathroom in a better condition that he found it - he cleaned all the limescale away (photos to prove), the oven and hob were again in better condition than at the start (photos to prove) - took a month and threat to go to TDS before they backed down. Being a qualified letting agent myself, i do actually know what I am taking about!

From: S S 22 June 2021 09:21 AM

As a RICS regulated firm, I wouldn't reply on the RICS to provide any help/useful input/assistance for residential agents - they haven't really supported residential agents for the 30 years we've been qualified.

From: S S 25 March 2020 09:58 AM

Our problem atm is that Councils have shut down thereby halting the progression of any sales in the pipeline. With solicitors, agents, mortgage brokers, bankers all working from home, it is possible to keep a chain together but with no searches nothing will progress and then when we all return to hopefully pick up the pieces the backlog will slow us all down. Meaning that our 3 month pipeline becomes 6 months + . A long time to support ourselves with no income until completion. :(

From: S S 21 March 2020 13:13 PM

I believe that regulation of Property Agents is a good thing but I don't think it is the "most important". The biggest problem is the lack of social housing, Councils selling off their properties and not replacing them over the last 40 years. Councils need to be allowed to build their own housing without being beholden to developers who always reduce the numbers of affordable/social housing in any scheme once planning is given. The Developers wont build any housing unless the numbers are reduced - not financially viable is always the claim - the Councils don't have any power as 10% of something is better than 30% of nothing! Regulating Property Agents and removing Section 21 isn't going to be a miraculous cure.

From: S S 14 February 2020 10:13 AM

So they are telling the truth - BUT with the likely referral fee ban - how does their business model work then? Likely ban - YES - because people didn't bother with compliance and as Agents are portrayed as greed money grabbers (commisery) - no doubt those in charge will remove any additional income streams. Don't suppose HouseSimple will be offering to sell your house for free then!

From: S S 05 February 2020 23:07 PM

John Thompson - very good point - to ensure safe, fair and compliant practice - anyone buying, selling, or renting property should require the qualification - no exemptions. If the industry is to be regulated it needs to be transparent and qualifications MUST APPLY TO ALL.

From: S S 28 January 2020 18:53 PM

I query the number - over 69,000 reviews - REALLY - and 66,000 are 5*. For those in the Industry, we know how bad PB are in reality - I just don't believe that it is possible that that many people engage with the review service. Has any other company got that many reviews? Funny that on Google search, PB doesn't have a single review. Unfortunately the public will look to review sights and the number of reviews rated that highly will just be believed by the unsuspecting consumers who trust review sights. That level of reviews and at an average rating of 4.8 is simply unbelievable - I wouldn't expect any company in the world to have that many reviews... Google have just over 2,000 reviews, JD sports has around 36,000...….need I go on.

From: S S 26 September 2019 23:04 PM

I think that all Real Estate professionals offer many 100% free services...….not exactly a game changer! I am at a loss as to why this is reported as being "different" - surely EAT you understand the market and know that! So why the article making this one agent appear to be offering something that most other agents have been doing with fanfare for years? It's hardly new

From: S S 03 September 2019 09:29 AM

Yes I agree with regulation BUT to say that there is no "grandfathering" is unfair to the businesses and business owners that have themselves undertaken qualifications and encouraged and often paid for employees to do so as well. Business that have invested in staff training before regulation should be rewarded as they have spent money and time investing in their staff. Forcing them to do it all over again at their cost is not beneficial and punitive and given all the other costs and regulations being forced upon the industry, Businesses don't need duplicate costs....After all - study for 3 years for a Degree, get through the RICS qualification, work in the Industry for 30 years - complete CPD every year for RICS, ARLA, ANEA then effectively say SORRY - you're not qualified to do the job !!!! Ridiculous and lessens the professionalism of the Industry and it makes RICS, ARLA, NAEA all WORTHLESS....Lets hope that Propertymark and RICS actually stand up for agents and business in this process.

From: S S 11 July 2019 11:43 AM

Call me stupid but how on earth does someone get to a valuation of £18M !

From: S S 25 January 2019 10:20 AM

Michael Riley - I agree. Just find some news about Good, Independent Agents who are working hard, providing a good service, not ripping tenants off. We need more Media outlets to actively promote the trustworthy smaller agents who work hard and provide the customer with a great service. (And that's not necessarily those who enter awards)

From: S S 21 December 2018 08:52 AM

He'll do what he can - which is make a public statement to make pb look as though it may help but in reality - who is going to take on a customer who has already paid someone and wont want to pay again. PB dont work foro free, so they certainly wont. However, makes it look to the client as if PB do care and actually want to help. Again clever PR from a company that's all about PR and advertising.

From: S S 05 December 2018 13:58 PM

The problem is that traditional agents have to pick up the pieces because they want the sale to complete. All the online fee-first agents do not have the incentive or perhaps even care (as they are simply incentivised to list properties - not actually sell them) to make sure the sale happens but know that a traditional will have to do the work. Then they have the cheek to advertise "traditional high street agents" as expensive, waste of money, rogues......The only hope is a tough market sees them all go under. I remember agents like these, £500 upfront costs in the 80's - they all disappeared when the market got tough.

From: S S 19 November 2018 11:06 AM

I wish the consumer would understand that selling a house isn't just about the listing -its about the whole process and when they realise that it's too late - they've paid and stick with it. Then the rest of the chain pick up the pieces - Purplebricks low price is subsidised by the traditional agents doing the work they should be doing.

From: S S 13 November 2018 17:49 PM

B Mills - in total agreement - Looking forward to there being an alternative to Rightmove.

From: S S 07 June 2018 11:01 AM

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