Top Hampshire agent to quit house sales...

22 October 2008

3992 Reads
11 Comments

Written by rosalind renshaw

As the flurry of estate agency changes and closures continues, one of the best known names has announced that he is closing the sales side of his business at the end of this month.

Nicholas Zorab, of Romsey, Hampshire, has told customers that his business will concentrate on lettings instead.

Zorab told clients and contacts that the sales market will be very difficult for some considerable time and added: “Estate agency is in the process of major structural change, largely due to the rise of house hunting on the internet.

“This will lead to opportunities in the years ahead for a different style of agency that will, I hope, improve on the current model in terms of lowering the cost to clients whilst improving service levels.”

Comments

- Old Dog, no new tricks
When did Nicholas Zorab become a 'Top Hampshire Agent'?
And as an old Lettings hand i agree that there is a lot more to it than fancy software. A lot of people will get their fingers burnt, i hope they check their P.I. cover!
- 23 October 2008 02:28 AM
- Stuart Hayes
Have any of you thought about promoting overseas sales? We are an award winning agent and can offer around 4-5% for any sales that you refer, worth a thought in today's market!
- 23 October 2008 10:49 AM
- Mark M
well said ray evans, these agents quitting, jumping on the bandwagon think it is so easy, once they have undercut the real agents and realise there are serious pitfalls it is left to the landlords or agents to pick up the pieces and at teh same time giving the real letting & managing agents a bad name. I think the phrase is "fly by nights".
- 23 October 2008 12:45 PM
- Seb
yay, more agents going in to lettings. Just what we need. How about some more prospective tenants?
- 22 October 2008 04:06 AM
- Sally
Why give up on selling if you have the instructions stick with them its an added bonus if you sell - we also are concentrating on lettings and have been for the last few years but hey if we get a sale everyones happy including our Bank Manager!
- 22 October 2008 02:34 AM
- Ben
Ray, Everybody knows that lettings is simple compared to sales. Landlords are just chilled out vendors and applicants are normally younger and more attractive! What the hell have i been doing all this time.
- 22 October 2008 01:08 AM
- ray evans
So.... all the 'sales' agents are moving into lettings (and management?). Think it's simple do they. It is entireley differenct to sales and requires considerable knowledge, experience and qualifications. God help the unfortunate Landlord who employs one of these.
- 22 October 2008 12:27 PM
- Vossy
We have also moved the majority of time spent in the office over to lettings from sales however we are still keeping sales going as you just never know..one good sales comm could make the difference between an average month to a good month.
- 22 October 2008 12:12 PM
- Mike Shitside
A good opportunity for an agent with balls to clean up in Romsey. This tough market seems to be sorting the men from the boys!
- 22 October 2008 11:46 AM
- DavidC
no staying power!
- 22 October 2008 11:23 AM
- brightmove.co.uk
No doubt Nicholas will return to sales when the market returns. Housing hunting on the web is not new. Those valuable instructionsa re gained through a High Street presence.
- 22 October 2008 11:22 AM