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Marcus Parkinson

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my expertise in the industry

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tbh The rot started 20 years ago when they forgot that first and foremost they were an estate agency with numerous add ons. When Countrywide took over Nationwide Estate Agent we were the third largest agent in a town of 20 +. They immediately set about telling estate agent staff we were the lowest of the low and we were there to provide financial leads to there magnificently profitable advisers. Funnily enough if you put the fixed costs (which were all put onto the estate agency ) onto financial services then guess what we were more profitable than financial services. This beat down on the estate agency staff reached a crescendo when at the three monthly review of estate agency mortgage conversion for our area (Which had to be over 50% to prevent a dress down humiliation and training) a girl (Who was pretty useless) was held up as a beacon of light for a 66% conversion rate (Three Sales & TwoMortgages in three Months!!!) Whilst a friend (amongst many others) was chastised for falling below 50% conversion even though she was vastly experienced (41 Sales and 19 mortgages for the quarter) Not suprisingly this lead to a mass exodus - a subsequent fall in house transactions and surprise surprise much less mortgages. The clowns at the top - area management level (A few who had never sold a mortgage or house in there life) Then presided over the slow demise of countrywide. We had a Spencers, Bairstow Eves and a taylors in our town alone they have all gone and I know myself and many others never shed a tear - they treated estate agents with contempt and couldn't run a £$%& up in a brewery.

From: Marcus Parkinson 23 November 2020 10:40 AM

Pathetic, "lions led by Donkeys" was what the Germans said in the war. this could not be truer about the say No to Rightmove campaign. Rightmove will be laughing there socks off at the limp wristed action taking place by the campaign leaders - they will only drop their prices in one instance and that's enough people leaving. So called industry leaders have taken the negotiation (appeasement) approach and as sure as eggs are eggs everyone will now be paying the pre covid Ransom again. The approach they should have took is really simple Say No To Rightmove advises all members to leave i.e serve notice - this will probably spread to agents who aren't members as well. With a loss of 25% of their agents looming probably paying a considerably higher % of their fees (because corporates pay less) Rightmove will panic because of the potential of a snowball effect causing a collapse . They will immediately engage "say no to Rightmove" and/or individual agents with vastly reduced fees to try and maintain the status quo. Then a decision based on whether Rightmove will reduce there fees enough (50+%) will decide if people rescind there notice or hopefully if people move to all support another major portal, that will then become the de-facto place for people to look by market share and the stragglers still with Rightmove will come across. I'd recommend moving to On the Market or Zoopla because they already have enough Market Share to suddenly become the place to look and should they try and do a Rightmove on Estate Agents further down the line the agents could simply do the same again. Having finally got a captive audience thousands of disgruntled agents it feels like they are gonna squander it through a complete lack of balls - sad to watch. Ps were approaching the end of our second year without Rightmove and savings in the region of £40,000 - Come on Murray Lee, Rob "Acorn" etc stop the waffle and lead from the front before all the agents all drift away from the cause.

From: Marcus Parkinson 08 October 2020 13:45 PM

So has the Acorn Group left Rightmove? If they have fair play for leading from the front - hopefully this will embolden other agents. If he hasn't it's pointless news because Rightmove won't care if he signs up to another 100 different portals, as long as they are getting their pound of flesh.

From: Marcus Parkinson 02 October 2020 11:01 AM

The say No to Rightmoves biggest mistake is it's all bark and no bite. If the people leading it left along with everybody else then rightmove would be forced to slash there prices to woo people back or slowly disappear. While people dither and stay Rightmove will quite simply do nothing of any significance. As to the public they go to Rightmove because the stocks there - if people remove there stock the public will look else where it's so simple but people haven't got the balls to do it.... incidently we did and we have saved over 40k so far!!!

From: Marcus Parkinson 10 August 2020 15:39 PM

Couldn't agree more hopefully the powerbase is shifting and agents can get all the benefits they have previously enjoyed at a fraction of the cost and a stake in the new company. What's not to like?

From: Marcus Parkinson 02 July 2020 10:04 AM

I hope they succeed - all agents need an option away from Rightmoves "extortion" racket. I know a lot of people knock them but they are usually the same people moaning they are being bled dry via other portals. Hopefully more people will take a leap of faith and save tens of thousands a year.

From: Marcus Parkinson 12 June 2020 11:43 AM

Only if the agents stay with them - their future is in their own hands. Zoopla are offering 9 months free Otm fees are probably less than the 25% reduced rate that Rightmove are currently charging. So if agents choose to "have leave of their senses" and trust Rightmove to do the right thing (Blind Faith) then I would suggest the only thing to put on the deathnote would be suicide!!

From: Marcus Parkinson 07 May 2020 10:18 AM

I see what you are saying Rightmove could be useful at the right price but as to overpriced 75p in the £1.00 profit says that's over priced (biggest profit margin of a major european company I believe) so surely no argument about the price being fair? it is to all intents and purpose it's a monopoly (although that power and hold over agents is slipping) The reason people stayed is because of the belief they installed, that agents need them and won't survive without them. But know a few thousand agents have proved there is life beyond Rightmove hopefully many others will see the light (especially at this difficult time) and break there abusive relationship with Rightmove.

From: Marcus Parkinson 06 May 2020 12:21 PM

In fairness I think your right you can't run a say no to Rightmove and sit on the fence. Truth is Rightmove won't change to any where the near the levels people would pay so forget all the chit chat and leave if enough people do it while the markets in turmoil where ever we put our properties will be where the public goes. Come on Rob & Paul lead from the front and leave today people will follow if you don't this movement will fizzle out to nothing.

From: Marcus Parkinson 06 May 2020 11:34 AM

"Rightmove is my best lead provider in terms of cost per lead and return on marketing spend. " We believe you mate did you copy and paste that out of the staff manual? and as for, "Will be very happy if some of my competitors come off Rightmove. " lets give you benefit of doubt and pretend your a real agent - if your competitors leave in substantial number given Rightmove relentless track record of looking after their loyal customers...ahem I mean city investors you will be looking down the barrel of the biggest price rise ever. It will be so ridiculously high that you'll look back at last years 15% increase as if was a discount.....silly of me to indulge as your really a "fantasy" agent!

From: Marcus Parkinson 06 May 2020 09:17 AM

Hi Mark, Fair comments but, Do You always eat in one restaurant Go to one Pub One car dealership for a new car and just one insurance quote and trust it's the best? Goto a shopping centre and visit one shop Holiday in the same place every year via the same package holiday provider? Truth is we all shop around all the time - I even do it for better deals on dog food let alone anything else. So why wouldn't the general public when looking for houses or agents to sell/let them. To a man there cannot be one "genuine" agent that thinks Rightmove has had their back - it is a one way street and agents have been lemmings to the slaughter. no matter where agents go so will the public they are not stupid a property portal without properties is of no use to anyone. I just think Rightmove is the most immoral company that I have dealt with and if agents leave in their droves and save tens of thousand a year at these critical times it may just save there business whilst still offering the same service's via a portal at less than a third of the costs. Trust me those that don't will be on here 12 months from know bleating on about there latest increase and how it's not fair. It's amusing as an ex-rightmove customer watching this same scenario played out annually and literally nothing changes just hot air - well now with the market effectively shut down this is the big chance to switch and save and when the market re-emerges it will become an accepted normal to go to Zoopla / OTM or wherever else they choose to go. But when I read an article saying "Don't kill Rightmove it could be the agents friend" I do start questioning whether the authors insane or it's April the 1st.

From: Marcus Parkinson 22 April 2020 18:00 PM

Is it comedy day - "Rightmove could be the agents friend" do me a favour. - I worked in the pre Rightmove days and since they have come along they have been anything but our friend they taken as much money as they think they get away with. - When this is over they will revert to business as normal as soon as they can get away with it. - And lastly who are these Rightmove "stooges" who think there will be some sort of vacuum if Rightmove goes and the general public will not know what to do or where to look for properties and we'll all be sitting in empty offices with the phones silent. - Are the public going to stay at home forever because Thomas Cook has shut. - Has Nobody got a mobile phone since Nokia Has anybody got a bank account since Nothern Rock Does Everybody walk since Rovers demise. You guys posting we need Rightmove after the years of abuse are quite frankly clowns. Rightmove is Russian roulette they gave pistols with 4 bullets in with there prices rises they have dropped it to one because of the current crisis (after much lobbying) and after this crisis and they start there inevitable price increases you'll be getting pistols with 5 bullets to slowly kill yourselves off. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE GUYS YOU WILL NEVER GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS TO LEAVE & SLAY THE BEAST THAT IS LITERALLY DEVOURING YOUR BUSINESS PIECE BY PIECE!

From: Marcus Parkinson 22 April 2020 10:26 AM

Hi Chloe, It's easy to give a "temporary" discount when you are literally taking the *$£" with your standard fees. We left a long time ago but even on our old fees with a 75% discount it would still be more than what we pay Agents Mutual or Zoopla - so to pretend Rightmove are somehow looking after you negates the fact that they have milked your business for as much as they get away with for as long as you have been in agency. Any property portal is only as good and strong as the number of agents that advertise on them and I think you will find in 3 /4 months time when agents return to the shell of a business with depleted pipelines and a very shaky market and economy many people will a) Already have left Rightmove for the interim savings (Still substantial with the discount. b) Look at their business model and leave anyway because they need substantial savings and as much as you say you "like" Rightmove I personally thing to a person most people in the industry would certainly concur they don't like us and their "treatment" of us as cash cows will be restarted at the earliest opportunity. It doesn't affect us (Thank God) anymore but I would say to any Agents out there you will never get an opportunity like now to make the switch (the customers will follow the properties) and save an enormous amount money - & potential save your business's. Seize the moment, trust me it feels like the biggest weight being lifted off your shoulders.

From: Marcus Parkinson 17 April 2020 11:52 AM

Hopefully the penny might drop with a few more of you guys a) Help rightmove to make 75p profit in the pound. or b) Grow a pair and leave! The looming disaster caused by Corona Virus will leave many agents (and business's in general) looking to save money and Rightmove is a huge saving especially when you can still advertise on Zoopla OTM etc for a fraction. If people move enmass by the time this crisis is over people will start looking wherever the properties are and agents will have saved a tidy sum. PS we've saved £25,000 so far … food for thought!!

From: Marcus Parkinson 18 March 2020 10:22 AM

6% Loss of Estate Agents - Using there figure of £1083 per branch per month. The remaining agents will have to pay nearly £70 per month next year just for Rightmove to stand still. If you factor in the chances are that - The figure of £1083 is much lower than what most independents are paying. - Rightmove always wants growth in their turnover. - More Branches are leaving every month I wouldn't be surprised if your increases this year are way over £100 per month this year. We left a year ago and its the best decision we ever made, it amuses me that agents know they are about to be hit again and do nothing. Another year of exodus and price rises and the trickle will soon become a torrent me thinks.

From: Marcus Parkinson 03 March 2020 14:04 PM

Hi Andrew, I admire your sentiments and I have looked at the site - the only problem is theres not one advertiser on it in our area except for Purple Bricks. The only viable alternative at the right price is Agents Mutual / On The Market - which you termed Rightmove v2? Which is probably unfair considering their fees are a fifth of Rightmoves. Whilst I understand the philosophy that prices may increase in the future, For me that's a bit like saying "I'm not going to shop at Aldi because whilst it's significantly cheaper, at some distant point in the future they may become as expensive as Waitrose!!! Should that day ever come people would simply buy there food elsewhere. We have made the switch and we have saved significantly (Could buy a car with the savings since last December). Should they ever try and become Rightmove 2 we would simply switch again. To sum up I see this excuse all time that maybe somewhere in the distant future on a planet far from here the prices MAY rise to Rightmoves levels, personally that's just crossing bridges that don't exist yet. The really problem is here and now and people will either be slowly bled or switch today to a viable alternative and On The Market seems the most credible at present.

From: Marcus Parkinson 19 November 2019 11:05 AM

Hi Hit man in fairness to you we are 75% rentals to 25% sales so I do understand that an agent with a higher sales focus may view it differently. Having said that this argument has been unfolding for many years and the fact is that Rightmoves stated aim is too raise fees to more than double where it is now and short of a mass exodus that is exactly what they are going to do - the fact that they lost between 3 & 5 %of agents on there latest figures says to me that process has started. If you can afford and are prepared to pay £2500 per branch per month just go with it - if you can't or are not prepared to then your ONLY choice is to move out into the big wide world and make it work minus the huge burden. Don't forget the more people that take the leap and I think Rightmoves next figures will illustrate that this is an on going process, it will simply mean those who stay will get sharper and harder rises in the future. We tell people where we advertise and that we find they work better for us and its more of a non issue than you thing. Guess to sum it up people will find houses no matter where they are advertised and unless your just going to suck it up get out asap and start saving.

From: Marcus Parkinson 14 November 2019 11:34 AM

Heres a new advert for Rightmove "Every year our fees go up at least 10 times the rate of inflation" Nobody could argue that's stretching the truth!

From: Marcus Parkinson 13 November 2019 09:54 AM

Maybe Rightmove isn't the problem - maybe it's the gullible that feed the "monster" increasing amounts … begrudgingly, but never doing anything about it! This is our anniversary of leaving and trust me it's nice to think that the savings are well into five figures and business is just the same. Be bold agents if you carry on waiting for others to make the leap first with double digit rises twice a year the competition will soon become which agent reaches for the Windolene first!

From: Marcus Parkinson 12 November 2019 10:26 AM

Somebody told me last week that Rightmove is the most profitable (reasonable sized company in Europe) I cant clarify this maybe somebody can? I would imagine this will not be satisfactory to the Rightmove hierarchy - and heads will roll that they are not the most profitable in the world!!! They lost circa 5% of there agents in the last 12 months I would imagine this will be double digits over the next 12 months (bit like their increases).

From: Marcus Parkinson 03 September 2019 12:10 PM

Think you may be wrong there Jeremy Corbyn is being lambasted in the Polls and I seriously can't imagine a more limp wristed anti patriotic anti demorcratic leader and as for the SNP with their anti English sentiments who think were mad to leave the EU because of loss of jobs etc etc but their sole purpose for existing is to leave their biggest trading partner (the rest of the UK) breathtaking hypocrisy springs to mind. As for the Lib Dems nothing against them but a bit too wishy washy for my palete there so weak I doubt they could negotiate a good deal at the January sales! I think you will find that the average detached british voter has been waiting decades for a strong leader who does what he says he is going to do and for once implements the will of the people instead of somehow pretending they are these inferior beings who don't know what they are doing and we shall vote again and again until they give us the answers were want - I for one am sick of being patronised by people who have no knowledge of business and real life. ( I mean seriously who enters a negotiation and takes away the right to walk away without a deal - they would be like turkeys at Christmas and the EU would be salivating across the table as they sharpen there knives). Still hopefully when there constituients kick them out after the general election for not helping impose the will of the people send them to my office with there payoffs because with there ...ahem ...acumen for negotiating I should be able to retire 10 years early. Cometh the hour cometh the man.

From: Marcus Parkinson 29 August 2019 12:21 PM

Your on Michael there was a 2% drop in agent numbers last year - we and others locally have left since Christmas - others are considering - I think you will see a much bigger number next year. The above happened before the latest round of "shafting your customers" aka annual price rises - since then more agents are heading for the exit ...once others see competition survive and flourish without the expense the trickle will become a torrent. Believe it or not - one agent who complained about the rise was actually engaged by Rightmove (who normally treat you with the same disdain as wiping dog poop off their shoes) to put his rise on hold till September …. which a) means he is planning to leave in September and b) behind the closed doors its dawning on Rightmove that there is a real big issue building and looking down your nose at the "scum" / customers you have treated with such disdain might not be as sustainable as its proved in the past ….watch this space ;)

From: Marcus Parkinson 01 March 2019 15:04 PM

To Michael Riley £1000 + per month could be good value (When you consider many offices are rental only a lot of agents will be paying vastly more) - if that was the only portal but when you can advertise for less than a quarter of what they charge then your actually being ripped off. Apple phones are good but if they relentlessly put the price up (As there recent sales drop proves) eventually people will seek out an alternative. The only reason Rightmove are there is because of Estate Agents if they advertise there stock somewhere else the public will follow. I think you'll find with there persistent rises and a take it or leave it attitude towards agents - especially at a time of a slowing down market, 1% Fees and a rental fee ban on the horizon we are approaching the "straw that broke the camels back moment" when the exodus comes it will be quicker than anybody anticipated.

From: Marcus Parkinson 01 March 2019 11:06 AM

We left Rightmove late last year and happy to say not affecting us in the slightest a fellow agent down the street gave notice Monday after the price hike and I know two more considering. We've all moaned for years about Rightmove exploiting estate agents - with the fee ban on the horizon and a property sales slowdown surely now instead of moaning we should all take action now and switch - it doesn't matter whether anybody thinks Rightmove site is better than Zoopla or On The Market the buyers, Vendors, landlords and tenants will go to wherever the properties are advertised … though we haven't believed it the power is in our hands.

From: Marcus Parkinson 06 February 2019 09:57 AM

Remember Yellow Pages - the guru of information and a must have for any company? Final Edition this year - Remember when a vacuum cleaner was called a hoover and look at how that brand has slid. kodak the kings of photography have gone. ICI the staple of the Footsie 100 at one time is no more. Try and buy a new Saab? - M&S the darling of retail is shutting shops everywhere. Toys R Us anybody? Everything has a shelf life and some accelerate that period of existence through their sheer arrogance of believing they are untouchable and forgetting who pays their astounding profit margins and hits those "loyal" customers with double digit increases every year -like many we have stopped listing with the "God" of internet marketing and the sun still comes up houses still rent and sell and the world keeps turning - Oh and the air seems a little fresher now we don't feel like slaves to Rightmoves shareholders … personally I think once people realise Rightmoves good but not the only way their fall may be quicker than anyone ever envisaged.

From: Marcus Parkinson 26 January 2019 12:16 PM

Without OTM or another similar proposition how will you tackle Rightmove's prices? Or are you happy to keep paying annual rises 5 times the rate of inflation? "If you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always got" Seems quite the adage for the general apathetic approach of some agents we want change we want fair prices we sick of the price rises so we propose to do ….. absolutely nothing!! seems a bit like lemmings following each other off the cliff....

From: Marcus Parkinson 04 August 2018 12:15 PM

Hi mr wizard look I would never say otm is a rival to Rightmove at present it’s clearly not and I’m not even saying it’s the answer to all our woes but at present what else is out there that is little agents can pin our flag too ? These relentless increases are never going anywhere while agents just follow the rest of the herd like Disgruntled brain dead sheep. Until everyone commits to something different then we’re all royally screwed. Believe me if enough people move to company a - b - c the public will follow because frankly they couldn’t care what site it is as long as there’s plenty of upto date houses to view. When otm came along too many of us have said we’ll move to it if it gets bigger and of course it hasn’t grown to it’s full potential because we all end up sitting on the fence. If enough agents take a leap of faith away from Rightmove at the very least it will probably force them to be honest with there pricing. But the apathy we all show whilst muttering our discontent will just lead to more of the same.

From: Marcus Parkinson 23 February 2018 17:05 PM

Haha sorry you guys above are funny - you will have received your annual price hammering from rightmove, your sitting in your offices moaning and cursing about how they have got you over a barrel speaking to other agents in the town saying this can't go on blah blah blah we need an alternative blah blah blah. Then a company comes along trying hard to break the status quo trying to give an alternative trying to build numbers through cheap listings even offering free shares so that if agents embraced the change they keep asking for then they would get a cheap portal with a soaring share price majority owned by agents, cheap fees and the satisfaction of watching Rightmove wither on a vine. which would be so satisfying after the years of punishing price rises. And all you can do is belittle and snigger at there attempts and in 12 months time the next increase will land from Rightmove and the whole "we need an alternative" convo' will start again ...... if you never change guys -never take a chance this cycle will never end - Open your eyes. PS if somebody offers you Free Listings and Free share (Which are rising daily) why would you say No? What could you possibly lose? Call me cynical but are you agents ... or maybe secret agents from rightmove / zoopla?

From: Marcus Parkinson 23 February 2018 10:25 AM

Couldn't agree more with the above two comments. Don't get me wrong if there's good and bad stories print both but EAT's focus on childish OTM bashing is getting pretty tedious to say the least. PS there shares are up 8p today although I won't hold my breath waiting for the news flash on that. More real news please and less of your obsession with bashing OTM (Unless there is a real story for a change). PPS Is EAT affiliated with Zoopla or Rightmove in some way?

From: Marcus Parkinson 15 February 2018 09:34 AM

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