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Written by rosalind renshaw

First, he starred in a fly-on-the-wall documentary about his estate agency  – who could forget the team-building weekend in Wales?

Then David Pollock’s Greene & Co in north London won recognition as one of the Sunday Times best places to work.

It is big on group hugs. It gives its staff life-coaching lessons and massages, not to mention giving them the day off on their birthday, and offering a villa in Marbella to non-fee earning employees who need a break in the sun.

In between, Pollock introduced a bond, the Goodwill Charter, by which buyers and sellers pre-agree not to do the dirty on each other.

Plus he remains one of the few estate agents who puts his own direct line on all company stationery, just in case anyone needs to shout at the boss and no one else.

Now Pollock has just written a book, ‘101 Things Your Estate Agent Should Tell You When Buying or Selling a Property’. He has published it too, which is an interesting diversification for an estate agent.

Aimed at helping buyers and sellers get the best out of estate agents, its opening chapter is called: No one likes us … so why are we here?

Anyway, Pollock’s book seems largely uncontroversial until you get to the bit about ‘spreading the love – go multi-agency’.

Pollock doesn’t believe in sole agency. He believes competition spurs each agent on to do their best and clinch the sale.

Less controversially, he recommends changing agents after two months if a property has not sold, and sacking solicitors whose service is proving tardy.

Of course, Pollock wouldn’t be Pollock without a bit of blue-sky thinking. Based on a negotiating course Pollock attended at Harvard University, he advises buyers and sellers not to get involved in the negotiating process.

“Step back from the negotiating process as if you were an outside observer, imagine yourself looking down on the scene from a balcony for a clearer view of reality,” he suggests.

‘101 Things …’ (£9.99) is published by Greene & Co and is available on Amazon.

When we looked yesterday, it was number 953 on Amazon’s bestseller list – which is a very high rating.
 
www.greene.co.uk

Comments

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    Unhappy Chappy - I am becoming increasingly suspicious that you have more than a hidden agenda here. Perhaps it is about time that you come clean...

    • 07 July 2011 16:48 PM
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    Mulit agency is the best way to go for the vendor, as the author suggests it makes the Agent work harder to get the sale thats why you charge more. Only the poor agents will shy away from multi agency contracts as there is too much risk. The same agents also argue that % on sale price fees are the ONLY and best way!

    • 07 July 2011 16:11 PM
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    we always push sole agencies 1st, better service for loyal clients, we advertise sole agencies more, some agents dont offer check multis just bung it in hand!

    • 06 July 2011 16:18 PM
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    Multi agancy - The more agents instructed the less you find that the agent looks out for the owners interest and instead just wants to get a deal done quickly.
    Poor advise!

    • 06 July 2011 14:55 PM
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    @ James...having worked in North London for 23+ years many of which covering the same area as Greene & Co. rest assurred Mr Greene has done very well for himself and wont need the proceeds of his book to retire on. His Agency has set a very high benchmark in standards and is a tough act to follow....I know as I have tried! Good Luck to Good Agents.

    • 06 July 2011 10:33 AM
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    Multi agency best no way! The public soon sense a multi instruction and it smacks of desperation which it usually is and gets ignored. I will also expect that with the controversial statements in his book it will be purchased by many and probably make him more money than his agency.

    • 06 July 2011 09:53 AM
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    Wonder if it will get as much mainstream publicity as Pav Sheen did for his 'expose the underside of the industry' book in 2007?

    Go on, google him.

    • 06 July 2011 09:26 AM
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