Estate agency trainer Richard Rawlings has taken off to Australia to present a series of training seminars to agents.
Rawlings, who has been busy with a ‘Raising Fees Instantly’ UK-wide series of seminars, is working with the Real Estate Institutes of Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
He will spend two weeks this month sharing his insights into how best to identify the opportunities presented during leaner times in agency and how his British clients have harnessed these to their advantage.
Rawlings said: “Whilst Australia has not suffered the effects of the global downturn to the same extent as Europe, the property market there has slowed and there is a feeling among estate agents that they may need to adapt proactively if they are not only to weather the storm, but actually to thrive.
“This is particularly acute in Queensland, which suffered flooding on a biblical scale last year, just as the weakening economy started to affect the property market.
“Just as in the UK, acquiring saleable stock from optimistic sellers and profitable instructions in the face of stiff competition are also concerns among Australian agents, as is buyer reluctance.”
He added: “I was flattered to be asked to speak in Australia. Not having been there before, I am enjoying researching the market and discovering that, as I speak to agents there, the issues they have are remarkably similar to those faced by British agents.
“I also look forward to learning more about how Australian agents operate, in the hope that my clients here will benefit from hearing about alternative approaches to developing their business.”
From what we can see from the various videos and press coverage Rawlings has already garnered, he's going down a storm.
Comments
The franchisors are to blame for the likes of martin and co hunters parkers etc offering unsustainable fees. All they'd need to do is make it a condition of the franchise agreement that certain minimum fee levels £'s and %'s must be maintained and then it wouldn't happen. All these idiots are doing is damaging the whole brand for both the franchisor and those franchisees who are trying to charge a sensible fee and deliver a decent service.
Rawlings should come to sunny Bristol. Our local Martin & Co are offering a tenant introduction service for £99. Another local agent is selling homes for 0.8% If these amateurs keep dropping their rates like this they will kill it for the rest of us. (No offence to other Martin & Co branches intended, but this guy is a real winner!)
There are other and better ways to increase your market share without giving your services away....
Anyway, I'm a firm beleiver in the saying YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
Peebee - What is there to shout down "If an Agent is worth the money; then you should pay it"...I totally agree and said as much below.
The lowest fee is not always the best value applies equally as much as it does to the highest fee.
Thanks though, I'll take your idea into consideration ;0)
Happy Chappy: Before you get shouted down again, I will repeat my mantra to you.
If an Agent is worth the money; then you should pay it.
An Agent can ASK what they want. Whether they get it depends upon their ability to do the job. A 17.4% fee would be great (WAS great, actually...;o) ) - but useless if the property is unsold. Money lost; reputation tarnished; competitor reaps the benefits.
You often point out that the current Agency fees model is flawed. I would respectfully suggest that your business model is equally flawed. You should charge a flat fee for the work you do in selecting the Agent, with a success fee on top. The success fee should be based, not upon your ability to chop the Agent's fee (basically proving that YOU are a better negotiator than the Agent - and totally cr@pping on your decision in the process), but instead upon the success of the Agent you chose in achieving your clients expectations.
How's about it? ;o)
Rawlings must have been a consultant to Rightmove.
Raise fees EA's, especially If you can prove you are worth it. BUT if you cant, do so at your peril as Its highly competitive out there!
Mr Rawlings: If you are reading - then you will agree that you and I have not seen eye-to-eye on certain matters in the past.
Regarding this news item - I have one thing to say...
GOOD ON YER, COBBER! ;o)
@FBA:
"...saunter around in a pair of shorts."
Christ, I hope not.
He will return to throw another shrimp on the barbie, split a tinny and saunter around in a pair of shorts.
He will no doubt be impressed by the 'doorstep' auctions.
Been there, done that myself.....
Aussies have great ways of selling, unlike UK. Private treaty is a smaller part of their market than in the UK. Fees are different too. Looking forward to his insight and wisdom.