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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Agents back claims that pay is too low, but how does it compare globally?
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While most professionals in any sector would probably say they are not paid enough, research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent, reveals that UK estate agents only just make the top 10 when it comes to the best paid in the world.

When comparing agent salaries to the overall average earnings in their respective nations, they slide even further down the table. 

GetAgent used data from Salary Expert, which lets users find what they should be paid for a particular job.

It discovered that the UK’s agents are only the 9th best paid with an average annual salary of £39,257. 

In comparison, the best paid agents in the world are found in the US, earning £51,365, Australia at £51,809 and Canada at £48,262.

When comparing agent base salaries to the average overall income in their respective countries, UK estate agents slide down the table to 13th, with their average salary being just 5.3% or £1,992 above the national average income of £37,265. 

In the top spot is Argentina where agents earn 43.8% more than the average national income, followed by Brazil at 18.8%.

At the other end of the scale, agents in South Korea earn 19.9% less than the average national income, followed by China at 4.1 less and France at 2.5% less.

Colby Short, chief executive of GetAgent, said: “The UK public tends to give estate agents a hard time, particularly when it comes to the fees charged to sell a home. 

“However, it’s fair to say that the rise of the low cost online agent has opened the public's eyes to just how bad an estate agency can be and they’ve grown to appreciate that the expertise and guidance of a great estate agent are well worth the slightly higher cost. 

“Despite this, the base salary of the nation’s estate agents barely ranks within the top 10 globally and sits even lower in the rankings when compared to the average national wage. 

“Of course, there are additional income opportunities on offer in the form of commission, but given the monumental shift the industry has put in during the pandemic, isn’t about time we start to value them a bit more?”

  • adrian black

    it would be much more interesting to compare the earnings of the highest earning agents in the UK (probably £200k to £500k+ a year, depending on location) with the lowest earning agents (probably £20kish) and then ask the question why ? If people are interested in a proven approach which supports and delivers much higher earning opportunities it is worth taking a look at YOUhome.

  • Vilesh Rew

    .....

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    Adrian, i would suggest you recently left Tony Blair's marxist training centre, AKA university. In the animal kingdom, it is survival of the fittest. We are an intelligent animal and help those unable to help themselves. But those with ability and motivation will always find ways to improve their lot. I have to agree that there is an issue with fees in the UK. From what i have seen over the years, those agents who resort to cheap fees to obtain business always fold.

  • Ammar Bakhaya

    The amount and cost of compliance the government have shoved on us is unreal compared to our counterparts in countries like the US, Canada, France and Germany, with fee rates are less than half what they were 30-40 years ago. Needless to mention that we don't have any protection from the NAEA or ARLA with regards to fee rates like the governing bodies of the sector in the States and other European countries.

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    Maybe this could be something that us agents should get together to look in to and possibly query on what we can do as a whole to change this?

     
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    Haha, pathetic. With attitudes like this, no wonder fee rates are lower. Try growing a pair.

     
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    '.. .. the rise of the low cost online agent has opened the public's eyes to just how bad an estate agency can be .. .. '
    I think that comment says it all in relation to salaries. Estate agents pay has more or less stayed the same for decades despite huge house price escalation. I remember working with Prudential Property Services back in the late 80's and a town branch manager basic salary was £30k a year, plus commission and a company Cavalier!. Sole Agency fees were 2.25% and multi fees were 3%. Haven't times changed. Is a low cost service good for the public? If you're collecting a McDonalds then maybe so but if you're engaging a professional to sell your biggest asset hunting around for the cheapest deal will cost you in the end, no question. Peanuts spring to mind.

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    The problem is it is a free market.
    Estate agents are not professionals it is a simple job that anyone can do - it is not rocket science

     
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    When I started as an estate agent in 1981 it was a real sales job.
    On 1984 when I ran a big officer in Reading I had young people aged 20-25working with me who were earning 30k a year and had a company car with all petrol paid for.
    They would get in early work late go door knocking other agents instructions.
    There have been major changes since those days which is why I got out myself.
    Increased competition – there are far more estate agents around now than back then.
    The job has now become a low skilled admin job.
    Other industries such as IT offer more money so attract the higher quality people.

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