Agents struggling with reduced staffing levels need to concentrate on responding quickly to inquiries that come in by email, Propertyfinder has warned.
Its latest research reveals that 86.4% of people expect to be contacted by their agent within 48 hours, with one in three expecting to be contacted within 24 hours.
But, says Propertyfinder, with many offices having consolidated staff members during the tough market conditions, responding within a caller’s expected timeframe is challenging.
Chief executive Gillian Kent said: “The internet is the key means for movers to contact agents. Half of respondents said they would get in touch with their estate agents online, either via email (29.8%) or an online form (18.5%) and 35.2% said they would get in touch via phone call. Only 16.5% said they would make contact via visiting an agent’s office in person.
“Our research reveals how important it is to have a dedicated team dealing with online inquiries and phone calls.”
Agents advised: answer your emails quickly
Latest Features
-
How a Facebook group spearheaded a fight for change
Liz Morrell meets Women in Estate Agency’s co-founder Liana Loporto-Browne Liana Loporto-Browne,...
-
Labour - The Housing Policies Coming Our Way Soon
You don’t have to be a mind-reader to believe there will...
-
EPC targets come back, all is forgiven
April 22nd marked ‘Earth Day’, yet it seemed to pass relatively...
Sponsored Content
-
♻️ Introducing - ECO Boards by Kremer Signs ♻️...
As a signage company we know we have a serious responsibility...
-
Looking for a client account? Five steps to better...
You don’t have to simply accept things as they are when...
-
How investing in a CRM is the best way...
I think we can all agree that the National Trading Standards...
-
Upcoming Stamp Duty Change may spur sales in short term
An expert says a change in Stamp Duty Land Tax, coming...
-
Industry Views - Airbnb Crackdown - this time it's not just Michael Gove...
It’s tempting to think that Michael Gove’s proposed clampdown on Airbnb-style...
-
AML warning as hundreds of agents hit with HMRC fines
An anti-money laundering (AML) expert has queried why there is a...
-
AML warning as hundreds of agents hit with HMRC fines
An anti-money laundering (AML) expert has queried why there is a...
-
Stamp Duty Revolution - call for sellers to pay instead of buyers
A prominent estate agent has started an online petition to reverse...
-
Average estate agent fees hit £4,500 to £10,300 - claim
A new analysis of the cost-of-moving suggests that the typical seller...
60 second interview
Jake Gann, Sales Director at Bamboo Auction
Who are you and what does it say on...
Ashley Day - Director of Bristol Property Centre
Who are you, and what does it say on...
Graham Paterson ‘Co-founder and CEO of Jitty’
Who are you and what does it say on your...
Comments
As buyers get older, more and more will use the web and not phone calls - and not all services like this cost £1000's and don't allow you to specify the exact radius you are interested in. Try FindsYou.com and exclude Mrs b.
anywhere in a 60 mile radius.....great answer!!!
Even 24hrs is ludicrous, if any of my staff were so lazy there'd be words. That said I do suspect its often just seen as a pain in the neck to rekey the email, the software we use Reapit imports them directly so 90% of ours get dealt with within 10 minutes.
Honestly what's the point of being on them spending 1000's of pounds if you cant be bothered servicing the leads from it?
people who email off national websites are normally as hot as an eskimo sitting naked on top of an igloo.
Why would we contact mrs b, not on the market 100 miles away who is just looking for when she retires in a few years...GET LOST time wasters lol.
What a load of obvious tosh! What's the next survey to appear on here? 99% of applicants/clients would like agents to answer their phone when called?!?!?