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Smile Please
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Algarve, Lots of affordable housing around. Problem is the public do little research. They think an affordable house should be 50k that just is not realisitic. Schemes such as shared ownership means anybody with an ounce of get up and go can become a home owner for very little upfront investment. As their circumstances improve they can buy the entire property or sell it and benefit from the capital they have made and put into a new property.
From:
Smile Please
07 February 2022 10:38 AM
I am not Kirsty's biggest fan. BUT she does talk sense here. Everybody has choices in life. If you want a new car on finance, go on exotic holidays, socialize for pics to put 'On the Gram' ahead of buying your first property, you only have yourself to blame. Also some people need to realize they cannot buy in their number one area. I love Belgravia but i still cannot afford the property i want there ( never will) so i live elsewhere. Sadly too many people have an entitled attitude these days.
From:
Smile Please
07 February 2022 09:35 AM
Daniel, surprised you have not had your account disabled for spamming! Problem is there are no 'Good' conveyancers, the best you can find is the best of a bad bunch the industry needs shaking up full stop.
From:
Smile Please
16 November 2020 11:12 AM
Spot on Murray. It goes down the the attitude of conveyancers and their disregard for customer service.
From:
Smile Please
16 November 2020 09:10 AM
As standard we send sales memos with agreed moving dates, a full set of details which even have planning number son them if relevant, EPC and our verified I.D. We still 7/10 times have conveyancers 4/5 weeks after having been sent these details asking for an EPC. Now given they already have it, even if they did not they too have access to the national database where it literally takes 10 seconds to download a copy ...... Why write an email or even post a letter to us asking for a copy!
From:
Smile Please
16 November 2020 09:05 AM
Looking at their website they have 470 properties available. Divide that by the supposed 250 agents that's a whopping 1.8 properties per agent! I can see a few individuals running up credit card bills while trying to make a living.
From:
Smile Please
24 July 2020 08:27 AM
Not sure thats the case James. They have signed up to RICS guidelines (They did not have to) and they went against best practice. You cant choose what guidelines you want to abide by and which you want to ignore. Otherwise it makes a mockery of signing up to them in the first place.
From:
Smile Please
04 November 2019 11:31 AM
Is a property more likely to fall fall with PB ? Yes, Yes it is. We have seen from Lee and others that PB do not proactively chase a sale they leave it to their solicitors who as (in my opinion) anyone in the industry will tell you are the absolute worst. They have cost me many a sale and added far too much grief to chains. It was the same when i worked for Countrywide, we were forced to sell CCS (In house solicitors) which we were told sped up the process. Again complete rubbish. CCS probably accounted for 50% of the falls throughs i had during my time at CW. What annoys me is someone like Lee, who has been in the industry for many years thinking the rest of the industry is stupid and things he says he must know are not right. Either that or he has become institutionalised and does not know good from bad as never experience good service in the companies / roles he has held.
From:
Smile Please
28 June 2019 11:02 AM
Lets start with the good bits. Well done Chris for getting the interview, Well done EAT for publishing it. As for Lee decent chap. However the narrative Lee spouts throughout his time at CW and Purplebricks makes me think he either has not got a clue or is in complete denial. As for other agents popping up on here saying they have a 93% sold rate is frankly laughable. Anybody that has any industry experience knows the crap these people are speaking.
From:
Smile Please
25 June 2019 15:59 PM
Agents need their head examined if they list with this portal, they take private sellers listings. It would be similar to building it up to the might of Rightmove and then Rightmove saying, thanks for all your support we are the biggest portal, sellers don't pay thousands listing with an agent sell through us at £50.00
From:
Smile Please
14 May 2019 11:47 AM
John D Wood rebranded to a Bairstow Eves? - Chalk and Cheese springs to mind.
From:
Smile Please
13 May 2019 09:12 AM
How long until we see the new option on their website that they can choose to list the property without an LPE for a reduced fee. PB need to give away £X and have the hassle of staff (sorry self employed) - The majority of their clients are penny pinchers so they are not really bothered about service.
From:
Smile Please
04 March 2019 12:55 PM
Of course they have a place in the market but its Niche. And that is why the business model does not work. The onliners are banking on market dominance and mass appeal.
From:
Smile Please
04 December 2018 10:13 AM
The guy is full of it, Lets hope this is the last we see of him.
From:
Smile Please
03 December 2018 13:46 PM
Okay so you have 377 ‘Branches’ You state above in the last 12 months you ‘listed’ 4,053 properties So each office is listing on average 10.75 properties a year. Less than 1 per month. Its a joke!
From:
Smile Please
12 September 2018 17:37 PM
I keep asking the question but what percentage of franchises are still trading with the original owner on the third anniversary? Looking at the above stats your retention rate is something to be worked on.
From:
Smile Please
12 September 2018 09:14 AM
They tried that and that's why they are in this mess.
From:
Smile Please
16 August 2018 16:56 PM
Bless him, Guessing it will not be long until he jumps ship to a new employer soon ....
From:
Smile Please
23 July 2018 09:14 AM
As i have posted elsewhere. This is not so much a merger or acquisition its is three underperforming companies consolidating to minimise further loses. Correct me if i am wrong but none of them have posted profits. despite all the promises and money spent i have never seen an emoov board and only 1 tepilo board which went unsold until a traditional full service agent stepped in. As Simon says above automation certainly on the letting side with rent payments and statements are becoming much more slick but this has nothing to do with onliners. We just need the conveyancing world to take a long hard look in the mirror now. End of the day people buy people, and with an onliner / hybrid my experience is they are lazy journeymen or newbies with zero experience.
From:
Smile Please
31 May 2018 09:52 AM
Anyone else seen the cringy #BackToWinning posts on linkedin? These same people that said how wonderful they were doing while Platt took aim at the iceberg. Weak minded employees, cannot speak up when they see things going wrong. Do not wish anybody to lose their jobs but when they close your office in the next round of cuts (yes its coming) please do not put on Linkedin what a big hitter you are.
From:
Smile Please
10 May 2018 12:43 PM
What a car crash of an idea OTM is. For the agents, HA!
From:
Smile Please
10 May 2018 12:40 PM
Or fails to sell 49% as i read it.
From:
Smile Please
01 February 2018 17:47 PM
Well written piece.
From:
Smile Please
23 January 2018 09:56 AM
CW have shelved it and admitted they have made mistakes.
From:
Smile Please
15 December 2017 12:56 PM
He probably does but is unable to verify with PB - Read into that what you will....
From:
Smile Please
15 December 2017 12:54 PM
Very little, to be fair just before they announced they were going to do the IPO the leads did start to pick up (for a couple of weeks) then soon as they announced it they stopped. The cynic in me says they upped the advertising budget to hood wink agents to commit to a further 5 years with the IPO.
From:
Smile Please
05 December 2017 11:02 AM
We got one of the late bird deals £50 (plus vat) per office. Even that is expensive compared to what we get from RM
From:
Smile Please
05 December 2017 10:23 AM
Just another reason not to support OTM - They have shown time and again they are not the agents friend but in fact their enemy.
From:
Smile Please
05 December 2017 09:58 AM
His opinion piece on Mr Bruce is a fascinating read. Not sure it was a good idea.
From:
Smile Please
18 October 2017 12:10 PM
I think this is actually a brilliant idea. We have high street offices I want more awareness in other high streets but not pay for more offices and staff (or portals!) so the thought of finding high footfall on a busy high street with a touch screen is very appealing.
From:
Smile Please
13 October 2017 10:28 AM
The car crash that is OTM continues to make the headlines. Any outside investor would be barmy to get involved in this mess of an outfit. Personally, i hope the agents that have been forced into floating dump their shares on day 1, best chance they have getting some money back on this mess.
From:
Smile Please
11 October 2017 09:45 AM
The above article quite clearly shows why CW are in the mess they find themselves in. No doubt a CW 'Bod' from HO will read this and disagree. That again shows why they do not have a clue, and are ruining a once dominant market player. Any business that takes direction from CW must be barking.
From:
Smile Please
09 October 2017 16:36 PM
https://www.allagents.co.uk/view-branch/james-pendleton-estate-agents/clapham/ Plenty of 1 and 2 star awards........ People in glass houses .........
From:
Smile Please
25 September 2017 08:53 AM
Point 6 is the most absurd, He is aware that estate agents work for the seller and it is for them to achieve the best price?
From:
Smile Please
25 September 2017 08:31 AM
They really have no idea! How about instead of wasting the hard earned money the branches have made on silly promo ideas that will not work you actually help them and support them. Why not actually invest in admin support instead of slashing it every week?
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2017 07:31 AM
Is this solid information? - Be good to use if it is.
From:
Smile Please
10 July 2017 14:52 PM
What has that got to do with the price of chips? You are showing yourself up to be a joke Trevor. The only ignorance being displayed is yours. Feel free to keep digging that hole you have manged the get yourself in.
From:
Smile Please
07 July 2017 09:00 AM
Give it up Trevor, Nothing worse than a whiny loser. The naive, silly agents that signed up to a 5 year contract and expected a bucket load of leads inside 2 years are penny pinchers which is why they have set up this group. Chances of them stumping up 5-10k each for a court case is zero. You backed the losing horse Trevor. Your vindictive and factually wrong remarks and your inability to read the law will continue to haunt you.
From:
Smile Please
07 July 2017 08:44 AM
Trevor ... Trevor .... Still are cartel?
From:
Smile Please
05 July 2017 16:55 PM
Not often I agree a 100% with you Simon but today I do.
From:
Smile Please
05 July 2017 12:38 PM
"Each agent needs to ask himself the question: Is it worth risking £35 per month for the chance to form an organisation which will represent me nationally for the first time? The industry has spoken. Its NO.
From:
Smile Please
20 June 2017 09:04 AM
You could have let the poor chap go to the toilet before you started, looked like he was busting for a pee! Joking aside, interesting to pick out Rob Ellice made a hash of it (who knew!). Reading between the lines (i maybe wrong) The financial backers lost confidence in the management and wanted to put it in the hands of "experienced agents" - Still baffled why Fine & Guild was the choice, can only assume a company such as CW was too expensive.
From:
Smile Please
13 June 2017 09:07 AM
So is that now a full house? All directors, Regional M.D's, Board members with many years estate agency experience all replaced from individuals with a retail background? Well at the share price at £1.59 i guess its an incredible success. That purple shouty lot have a share price in excess of £4.00 and yet to turn a profit. Well done CW, Well done in deed you really are a company to admire and invest in..... ....... Will the last one out please turn off the lights?
From:
Smile Please
07 June 2017 08:58 AM
Rob may well be a class act Tim, but as you have highlighted its the industry in general i and many others have an issue with. We can discuss all day bad conveyancers, bad estate agents but upshot is once a sale is agreed it is on average 12 - 14 weeks to completion and that is far too long. Hate to repeat myself but it is the conveyancers that hold it up for all the reasons you have highlighted above. It not a personal attack on you or Rob, but denying there is an issue within the process and most of it is attitude or lack of proactive means as opposed to new tech is the real issue. I for one do not remember sales going through at any greater speed when we had HIPs - All it did was stop people coming to the market which is why they were abolished. If i could start a conveyancing firm tomorrow i would hike fees up by at least 50% invest in advertising (not a doctors waiting room or small advert in the paper, proper advertising). Give each conveyancer at least one assistant. implement a CRM system which highlighted whats needed to be done when. Make my conveyancers use the telephone for outbound calls. Build relationships with the agents (not monetary) to help chase outstanding documents. Conveyancers no doubt have to be process driven but the also need to look at service which whether you like it or not is sadly lacking as an industry. Richard, good luck with your home made exchange pack, let us know how it goes. But do not be surprised if it is not as smooth as you imagined
From:
Smile Please
16 March 2017 11:57 AM
Incredible. How they have fallen. Anybody who has worked with Ben knows his real name "God" - This was a guy that should one day have been CEO. Transformed branches, regions and brands within CW - Nobody can say anything bad about him if you work with him. Massive loss for CW and if anybody can make KW work in the UK its Ben. If he cannot do it nobody can. - See share price still 1.58 i think it will drop to 1.25 over the year. Cannot see a bounce back in any case.
From:
Smile Please
16 March 2017 11:41 AM
Rob, The issue is people like you. Undoubtedly you are hard working, and you feel you do a good job. But the issue is the direct users of your service (not yours directly but industry) are in the main horrified of the service they receive. If i was a lone voice i could be dismissed as a nutter or too high expectations. But i am not. The majority of both clients and estate agents feel as an industry conveyancers do not produce a service fit for 2017. You and any other conveyancer can deny it until you are blue in the face, and i am sure there are some good proactive conveyancers but the large majority offer substandard service. Until attitudes change the service will not. I have 20 odd years experience, independent, corporate and i own a firm myself. I think i am pretty well placed to judge. I do not profess to know the ins and outs of a lease but i do know from 1000's of transactions over the years the main that we encounter the same issues time and again and its more to do with being efficient as opposed to awkward or time consuming inquiries.
From:
Smile Please
15 March 2017 16:43 PM
Rob,
From:
Smile Please
15 March 2017 16:16 PM
Its a nice idea in theory but to be honest Richard you are not the problem. Yes there is the occasional property with a bit of damp or movement but its the estate agent that renegs it not the solicitor and is sorted pretty quickly. In regards to valuations not much gets down valued. The problem is too many solicitors have too much work and do not invest in support staff. And their process have not changed since the 1970's. Despite all the work you put into your pack (or any pack a conveyancer wants at the outset in a reform) it will not change the fundamental issues in a profession that has not evolved in 40 / 50 years.
From:
Smile Please
15 March 2017 12:10 PM
Do estate agents still use recruiters?
From:
Smile Please
15 March 2017 08:50 AM
As others have said elsewhere, if conveyancers got off their backsides and actually proactively chased a sale through instead of firing off a letter and sit there 4 weeks later with no response and then if they are chased by the client or estate agent begrudgingly send another letter it might actually make a difference. Have a diary system, use a phone and make a difference - Its really not hard, even the estate agents you loath manage to do it!
From:
Smile Please
15 March 2017 08:49 AM
To be fair i have been critical of Ceila - Personally i think its a revenue raiser. BUT Well done taking the fight on with PB, In my opinion they are deceiving the public in many ways, costs, service, coverage. Not yet convinced this bunch are for real but a good start ........
From:
Smile Please
02 March 2017 10:26 AM
2/3 do.
From:
Smile Please
02 March 2017 10:24 AM
Already sold auctions, zoopla shares, closed offices (a number profitable ones), reduced headcount Surely not much left to sell off is there?
From:
Smile Please
22 February 2017 14:29 PM
Share price down from circa £6.80 to just above £1.85 in two and a half years since they have been "Clearing out the rubbish" Think you may wish to take a closer look .....
From:
Smile Please
22 February 2017 13:20 PM
Selling off the family silver ......
From:
Smile Please
14 February 2017 09:07 AM
Without getting too conspiracy theorist i can confirm that from what i have heard. Remember CW are about 20 million down year on year and they dumped circa 20 million pounds worth of Z shares ....
From:
Smile Please
13 February 2017 16:46 PM
Very sad that this company is a shell of its former self. The way they are going they should not have Platt in to "Restructure" They would have been better offer just starting a "retail" arm and running it along side the original model. Share price has nose dived since the new management team were appointed.
From:
Smile Please
13 February 2017 09:24 AM
Well that clears that up ...... So as long as you are not an onliner or corporate you can join. Oh and its not there to give advice (Whats the point again). AND its not open to companies just owners for the companies .... Anyone else feel this is just away to obtain a nice bunch of decision makers to sell products to? Again i am lost of what the actual point is of this bunch?
From:
Smile Please
30 January 2017 09:26 AM
HA HA - we are making a load of you redundant with statuary redundancy, the rest of you are living in fear of losing your jobs, any branch could be next - BTW Please sign this NDA its for the good off the company. Sounds a wonderful place. Just a note to investors. If a company is perceived to be in trouble, Good experienced estate agents will not want to join them (job security) - So they take any Tom,Dick or Doris with a driving licence and suit. Poorly performing company will become even more poorly performing.
From:
Smile Please
08 December 2016 09:59 AM
Wetherell, super effort, very classy!
From:
Smile Please
05 December 2016 09:16 AM
Errr well they certainly managed to stay still. Only thing i would add is if i ran the office i would be applaud at the state of it (not very tidy) and it seems they have no dress code.
From:
Smile Please
29 November 2016 09:19 AM
Share price down again today. Dropped 50% in last 12 months. 2014 height of the market when Platt was announced share price circa £6.80 today it is circa £1.74 - Not many would keep their job with that slide!
From:
Smile Please
28 November 2016 17:01 PM
I agree somewhat Simon. But i have worked at corporate (management level - not branch) and i can tell you from first hand experience that members staff are bullied into leaving on a daily basis. Also if a greivence is raised everything possible is done to hide it or fight it. The "Company" have no interest to know if it is a legitimate gripe. Especially if the figures are low for the individual and the person they have a grievance about is seen as "A good sort" If certain companies actually took their responsibilities as an employer seriously, they looked to create a fair, safe environment (can still be sales focused) they would not have as many complaints and turnover on staff would be lower. I know if i wanted to i could get a job with a dozen well known estate / letting agents and i would be able to bring a claim against them for bullying, discrimination within a 12 month period and get a sizable settlement. The sad thing is if the recruitment process was better rather than filling a seat ASAP, branches were staffed to a sensible level not skeleton levels, training was consistent and followed up, and their was not just focus on figures all of these cases would disappear. Again from experience i do not know if some of these companies are oblivious to the issues they have regarding the quality and moral of their staff or just in denial.
From:
Smile Please
28 November 2016 09:23 AM
Algarve, Most of these LPE's cover a 100 mile squared radius, most agents at a push cover 10!
From:
Smile Please
22 November 2016 14:53 PM
17 weeks for searches? Really????? It is 4 months to get searches back?? That must be a one off or a solicitor not applying in a timely manner, surely? If it really is 4 months to receive searches back then you have my utmost sympathy.
From:
Smile Please
14 November 2016 09:35 AM
Heard a rumor they lost another area director, Martin Coombes.
From:
Smile Please
10 November 2016 11:56 AM
What annoys me is RM & Z allowing these companies to advertise. They are in no way a professional agent. It is a free ad in a paper.
From:
Smile Please
29 October 2016 09:22 AM
FYI - I know companies need to change with the times but Countrywide is abandoning everything they have built a successful company on basically starting again. It only needed shaping not complete destruction and rebuild. Especially as the rebuild is so out of kilt with what is needed from the public or "Customers" as countrywide would now call them.
From:
Smile Please
17 October 2016 09:14 AM
How much longer are shareholders going to indulge Ms Platts ridiculous notion to reinvent the wheel? They have pretty much lost all senior management with estate agency experience. They are closing offices. They are micro-managing staff. Staff turnover is higher than normal (thats saying something!) They are trying to keep a foot in both camps, High Street and online and as such failing miserably. And because of this share price has slide almost 2/3rds since she came on board. Lets remind ourselves its only been under 3 years! As an ex-countrywide member. I would urge shareholders to demand a change in leadership / direction ASAP before its too late. As a high street competitor of Countrywide, i hope she stays in the post and continues in the direction she is taking Countrywide as she is making my company better by the day!
From:
Smile Please
17 October 2016 09:11 AM
If thats the case i eat my words! - Well done!
From:
Smile Please
26 September 2016 10:00 AM
Just a guess but assuming they are giving away the app but charging for the pictures enhancement and floorplans - Hardly anything to get excited about.
From:
Smile Please
26 September 2016 09:06 AM
Ahhhhh takes me back! The big sale! - Hammer your vendors for a minimum 5% reduction, Try and flog them some "enhanced" advertising. Tell them they will be in a London expo. Make the staff work a full weekend. See diddly squat difference to a normal weekend! For the following six weeks deal with vendors complaining that the prop has still not sold and they want their money back for the extra advertising before leaving and going to another agent to get it sale agreed before Christmas. The good old days!
From:
Smile Please
20 September 2016 14:17 PM
"As a Gold member of OnTheMarket, Gascoigne Halman is extremely disappointed that Agents’ Mutual has chosen to divert over £4m of its members’ loan notes and subscriptions away from its marketing activities when they would surely be better employed for the benefits of its members.” But this is because of your fruitless legal case you are mounting! - Unbelievable!
From:
Smile Please
20 September 2016 08:43 AM
Kristjan, In some respects it does not matter if the firms are successful in breaking even and making a profit. As long as they can continue to raise millions in funding they are happy. Lots of people are getting VERY rich off the back of other peoples investment. If the firms close tomorrow they will not loose the millions they have accumulated through salary or the multiple other companies they have formed and charged the main company for "Services" / "Products" They are not run like a business in the traditional sense. Of course that is the dream that they are able to dominate a market and become self reliant but this is almost secondary. You just need to look at the massive issues regarding data around new instructions and sold properties to see how big an issue this is. Ask yourself why they are trying to distort the figures so largely and what are they gaining. I am not saying its the companies you have mentioned that is for you to decide ....
From:
Smile Please
16 September 2016 10:26 AM
Rodger - You get it! many agents do not but you do fully understand it from your posting, shame others do not. - Only thing is i was not brave (or stupid) and signed up to a 5 year contract, i signed up this year on a 12 month contract. I believe in what OTM are trying to achieve (or what they initially said it would be) but skeptical if they will ever achieve it. We took the commercial choice to continue with RM and ditch Z - We have not lost any business because of it. The question now is do we continue with OTM or ditch them and increase further our spend with RM? Would be a bitter pill to swallow but OTM is loosing traction and i believe it is not being run properly. I believe others could make OTM work but they are not allowed to have the input it needs. However i would never join a band of disgruntled OTM members to try and put a nail in their coffin, i am too ethical and have too many principles and pride to blame others for what could be my mistake. Shame on the agents that feel a need to blame others for their poor business practices.
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2016 15:06 PM
We have our own ways as well thanks Simon ;) But be honest would Choices come off RM? Think that shows the power of certainly RM
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2016 14:54 PM
Sorry Simon, i have no idea what you mean. That may very well be my problem not yours but makes no sense to me i am afraid.
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2016 09:53 AM
You are right 100% but as an industry we have elevated RM to the top of the public's wish list on where an agent should advertise. OTM was not about obtaining leads for instructions it was to do the very thing you are advocating. It was set up as a place that agents can advertise their property in one place for the public to find at cost. Local advertising sponsorship and service would win you instructions. Unfortunately agents did not understand or buy into this and in my opinion OTM has lost sight on the direction it was headed. We now have individuals with vested interests trying to take down OTM and OTM finding themselves in a losing PR battle to grow. One thing OTM has shown without a doubt is agents cannot and will not work together.
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2016 09:51 AM
Simon, i bet any organisation / service can be found to breach their T&C's if you look hard enough. Even companies like Purplebricks, Emoov in the press again today with the ASA breaking advertising laws. How many times is that over the last 12 months? - Surely vendors who have had to sell through another agent yet still pay the fees to the online listers should be taking them to court through misleading advertising? - Where is the story on that? Or does that not sit well with you?
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2016 09:46 AM
I am an OTM member, I will be honest i am disappointed in a number of issues with them. Allowing agents that are based above a pub to advertise, lack of TV advertising, board members backing online options and yes the lack of leads. BUT I have signed a contract. I have gone into it knowing i am committed for a set period. And i will either stick to it or pay it up. End of the day these agents have signed contracts and should honor them. I bet they would bleat if a vendor decided to leave 2 weeks into a 12 week sole selling rights contract.
From:
Smile Please
14 September 2016 09:09 AM
Algarve You are spot on, But the problem is there is plenty of communication from estate agents and next to none with conveyancers.
From:
Smile Please
13 September 2016 12:40 PM
Its a good idea but i fear it will not work. Any proactive agent with any real market share knows that the majority of hold ups and issues lay at the conveyancers door step. They need to change there attitude and service. They still practice like it is 1976 and they are just not fit for purpose in 2016. 9AM - 5PM Monday to Friday and an hour for lunch - Unless you use a "Bucket shop". Sending out inquiries and not hearing anything for 2/3 weeks and not chasing is just not acceptable. They need to be much more proactive and maybe invest further in support staff. Yes means fees will increase but they need to. 50% of Conveyancers work come from referrals from Agents. We offer conveyancing with our preferred solicitor and we hardly ever have objection over price. Push it up and offer a better service. They also need to respect agents, if we call for an update we are looking for what is outstanding so we can HELP YOU not the what the preconceived idea i have heard many times which is us chasing commission. Makes no difference if i am paid this month or November!
From:
Smile Please
13 September 2016 10:25 AM
Shows the stupidity of some "Campaigners" 1. It is not estate agents that are to blame for so called "gentrification" - Its market forces. 2. Why single out Foxtons? many agents are based within the area. Without sounding a complete capitalist snob, if they put as much effort into their day to day jobs maybe they would climb the corporate ladder to be able to continue to live in their everso precious area.
From:
Smile Please
09 September 2016 09:18 AM
Very much over egging! I would question Mr Quirk getting praise in running a decent operation. He is very good at spending other peoples money. He has boasted in the past getting friends, family and even members of staffs families to invest. He has secured millions in funding (and spent it ) He also was at the Virgin investors plea for funding (was turned down on that occasion). He is without doubt a great fund raiser (how long can this be carried on) but in over 5 years yet to break even i would question if it was a well run operation with millions spent on it.
From:
Smile Please
08 September 2016 11:37 AM
Remind us again Russell, how much profit does your online offer show and how much does Countrywide show? Let me answer it for you Emoov has not even broken even and Countrywide has made millions. Which one is the "insane" business?
From:
Smile Please
08 September 2016 10:04 AM
Think the days of 1.5% are well and truly gone. Around my neck of the woods anyway. We operate in an average earnings area but where we are prices for property is high. I would be surprised is any agent is getting close to 1.5% within a 20 mile radius. Even the traditional corporate that charged between 1.5% - 2% are out pitching at 1% The ridiculous price increase in properties in my area mean many agents are now jumping onto a fixed fee. Instead of 1.5% to sell a 500k property many agents would now go in at 4k fixed.
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Smile Please
05 September 2016 09:02 AM
Not brave, intelligent. They know that there are no "Cartel like restraints" doing the research. Only people with vested interests against OTM say there is.
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Smile Please
02 September 2016 09:30 AM
56% Increase. What is that in real numbers? how many completed in that period last year compared to this year? If could have been 2 properties in 2015 and 3 properties in 2016 = Actually that would just be a 50% increase. But you see my point. Also be interesting to see the number of completions over the two months divided by the number of offices they allegedly have (94). Without putting water on his fire, i bet Foxtons and Countrywides operating profit will be greater than his year end.
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Smile Please
31 August 2016 10:20 AM
So Countrywide the (at the moment at least) largest UK estate agent is predicting that house prices will fall which means in turn a tighter market. Which means the basis a lot of online agents business plan of "Take a reasonable picture and stick it on a portal to sell" is flawed as agent will have to neg, chain build and proactively sell property. So given Countrywide are predicting this they have made senior management staff redundant (the ones that know about estate agency) Started to close offices. And start to adopt an online only approach. I do not often agree with Paul Smith but last week he questioned how long the current management team will still be in place at Countywide. I would think not long now ......
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Smile Please
22 August 2016 09:08 AM
What odds do i get on emoov folding or merging in next 12 months?
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Smile Please
19 August 2016 12:28 PM
On a side note, 4k for a website that has demonstrated it does not attract enough traffic seems excessive
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Smile Please
19 August 2016 09:12 AM
Que Queen music "Another bites the dust" Think i remember commentating at the time that this was yet another doomed to fail exercise. As even the big online / hybrid agents have shown, the model is simply not profitable. Sad to see any business go under but closing in less than a year shows poor research, poor planning and poor finances.
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Smile Please
19 August 2016 09:07 AM
Well guess its easy to impress you. You probably fall into the mindset of people they are looking to market to. Throw a few big numbers out to confuse people. The thought of my estate agent working from an arm chair while watching 'Loose Women' fitting appointments in around the school run and cooking dinner would not inspire me with confidence. (usually a reason people do Hybrid). Would also be interested what the average £ a bedroom agent makes after removing the 1 or 2 exceptional ones (with real branches / serviced offices). Also be interesting to see retention rate after 3 years. I am sure very profitable for the group, Cheers for the start up money, here is your license, oh and dont worry if you do not sell too much as cost us nothing to have you associated - By the way we will take our % or monthly retainer.... So in that respect well done.
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Smile Please
16 August 2016 13:01 PM
From my understanding the majority are 1 man / women bedroom agents. If that is the case does that mean the two members of staff i have employed in the last month count as two new offices?
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Smile Please
16 August 2016 11:03 AM
Four more dining room tables or spare bedrooms being utilised. Super!
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Smile Please
16 August 2016 09:03 AM
I think a fair few "agents" will be worried, and rightly so. Some could have manipulated figures to gain funding from investors or mislead the public to gain instructions. This is a criminal activity and is now gathering pace. Hopefully we will see some prosecutions soon.
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Smile Please
15 August 2016 11:13 AM
A fantastic result, credit to all who have campaigned long and hard for this. despite the legal threats and dismissive large companies.
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Smile Please
12 August 2016 08:47 AM
Its a bit rich. "The newer and less reputable companies don’t care, all they are after is brand awareness" How did you get your brand awareness, oh thats right a large part of it was with boards! - What James is saying is, "We have established ourselves and do not want competition" * How about lead by example James? - Remove all your boards from Brighton & Hove and the big commercial boards and development boards (do you have planning on, each individual one?) - I guess you do not want to do that .....
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Smile Please
10 August 2016 09:23 AM
Will be an expensive mistake JT but wish you the best of luck. Leave marketing and brand awareness to the experts and continue stepping over the pounds to pick up pence ;)
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Smile Please
28 July 2016 17:13 PM
They are the best for gaining instructions. Lets say you have no interest in the property industry, and you have not moved for 5 years. You want to get your house valued, like most you chose 3 agents. Chances are you will call out the closest agent to you. and the further two you will chose because you are familiar with them. How do they become familiar too you? chances is over the years you have seen more of their boards than any other. As the saying goes "Boards breeds Boards" You are right, some are an eyesore and a vast majority are actually illegally placed (another example why they are important) - So report them.
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Smile Please
28 July 2016 12:10 PM
Silly idea, will just push advertising cost up for agents. All that will happen is large stickers will be placed in windows of properties for sale. Boards are not a problem, rogue agents fly boarding is a problem. Councils do not actively seek boards that should be removed, they rely on the public to inform them. If you have a problem with an agent or agents flyboarding in your area just report it to the council where the boards are, they will contact the agent and force them to remove them. Streets will be cleaned up in no time.
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Smile Please
28 July 2016 10:39 AM
Revenue up by 9% but profits down by 25% Whats the old phrase "Turnover for show, profit for dough"
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Smile Please
28 July 2016 10:33 AM
Although he is entitled to do this it is frowned upon and not really accepted. Maybe he has caught wind of something that is brewing ......
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Smile Please
26 July 2016 10:24 AM
Maybe Hello Agents Mutual - Contracts are to be respected. Who would ever imagine!
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Smile Please
25 July 2016 09:29 AM
Is this any different to the many systems conveyancers already use to update you on "Key milestones" ? You know the ones that are never updated until completion when all the key milestones are emailed to within an hour from "Formal instruction received" right through to "Completion"
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Smile Please
18 July 2016 09:26 AM
100 Agents - 300 Properties = Each agent on average just 3 properties ...... Does not sound like a franchise i would like to get involved with.
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Smile Please
06 July 2016 10:17 AM
What a load of tosh! Please do tell how you have halved the time taken? - How are people allowed to get away with such outlandish claims?
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Smile Please
04 July 2016 09:07 AM
I do not know where you have been hiding for the last 30 years but the economy and institutions have changed a lot in that time. Still nothing like an old dinosaur giving out a scare.
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Smile Please
24 June 2016 12:26 PM
I hate commenting on political issues but please how ill thought out is this? Why will we have a shortage of labour? If we vote out tomorrow, we will not be sending people packing on Friday. If people have been here for 6 months and can evidence it, chances are they will be allowed to stay. Lets say we do leave and a restriction is put on people coming to the UK. We would obviously still accept people that offer a skill we are short of providing they come here able to support themselves and have a clean criminal record. Immigration has plus and negative points. A negative is our welfare system is close to bursting and housing is at a premium (is this immigration fault or government polices?) A positive is today in 2016 for every 1 person that draws a pension we have 4 people paying into the pot. By 2050 that figure will be reduced to 2.5 people paying for every one. So you can see we need to attract able bodied individuals paying into our pot. Its not black and white, there are a lot of grey areas. Stories like this show either how stupid some people are or they have ulterior motives. I will let you decide that.
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Smile Please
22 June 2016 10:24 AM
Saving 15k a year ..... or £1,250 a month. So the chap that has walked past your office last few years thinking of moving now will forget about you. Thats 2k lost. The chap that wanted to buy that property with a property to sell another 2k lost. The fact other agents over the year will use this against you say lose circa 10 instruction another 20k lost. The fact your sellers will not call you out as they feel comfortable with a high street presence another 10. Another 20k So just looking at the quick figures you may save 15k but just lost 44k Stepping over pennies to pick up pounds. Either not a very bright owner or he actually has not stock and is a poorly run business, either way he should not run a business. *I do not know the average commission in Hull but guessing at 2k increase or decrease as you see fit
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Smile Please
21 June 2016 13:07 PM
I thought the conservative government were suppose to be supporting small businesses. Remove boards from marketing will mean increased expenditure on other advertising such as print or online. Instead of a complete ban on boards, look to enforce the laws they have and be proactive not reactive in dealing with "fly boarding"
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Smile Please
20 June 2016 15:55 PM
Christopher, you have completely done a U turn and answering different questions now. You said at the outset High Street Agency needs to buck up their ideas and improve its offering. Now you are saying you do not need to change the product just the way you advertise it! I have seen your blogs in the past and to be honest they really (in my opinion) do not mount to much. Its idealist and simple that in a competitive, saturated market of agents will not work. You of course will disagree with me as is your right. But given you cannot even convey on here your thoughts i am not likely to implement them in any marketing campaign. The truth is if you have a large marketing budget its about brand awareness locally. You can put out pretty much any message as long as it has your logo on it and buy the market. If you do not have a large budget its about being smart, door knocking, going through the database and making most of opportunities. What you advocate (from what i have seen) is the middle ground or wasted ground as i like to call it. You want agents to promote why they are the right agent for the user yet still spend X£ on rather expensive adverts like newsletters or newspapers. Truth is makes little difference (in my opinion) people are just paying to be different but does not really make a difference (you will of course disagree with this). So once again i will ask you, how can a high street agent improve their offering compared to an online lister? We already streets ahead of them on every thing! - Saying we need to reword adverts given your accusation is just nonsense.
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Smile Please
13 June 2016 17:11 PM
I agree with your last paragraph of your reply, agents need to demonstrate a difference and value. But you said High Street agents need to buck up their ideas and offerings which is a completely different argument. The only way Online Listers are attracting sellers is by lying to them and deceiving them. Just look at how many complaints the ASA have upheld against them. Are you suggesting High Street agent lie to the public to show why they are different?
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Smile Please
13 June 2016 10:55 AM
What are you on about Christopher??!!! Tell me how High Street agents compared to online listers need to buck up their ideas? The main difference as you have pointed out is service and knowledge which is far superior on the high street. What do the online listers do apart from offer a basement fee which is then shown in the service they offer? They do not proactively call out instructions, they do not know their buyers or sellers, there is no incentive to sort out a chain that is falling through. Give me one example other than fee were an online lister can offer something a high street agent does not?
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Smile Please
13 June 2016 09:07 AM
I think the judge was right in the Foxtons case but his wording has left this a can of worms for future disputes. Basically the judge is saying its not enough to show a property and expect a fee, you need to get an offer and put the deal together. If you are aware of the case it is a little more complicated than this, which is why in my opinion the wording of the judge is so poor as it leaves the door open to aggressive agents to claim a sale they do not have a right to.
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Smile Please
03 June 2016 10:43 AM
3k For a mornings hire of no doubt a Regus room with a bit of tea and coffee. All for agents complaining they are not getting value for money from a portal. IRONIC!
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Smile Please
06 May 2016 14:34 PM
@ Ray Evans I guess i should have phrased it better. :) 99% of the 6,500 agents with OTM are entirely happy with it.
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Smile Please
06 May 2016 13:41 PM
60 apparent upset agents, Last month alone OTM added 76 new branches. 60 out of almost 6,500 represents less than 1%
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Smile Please
06 May 2016 11:51 AM
£50 to attend a meeting???? What a waste of money. Guess they are expecting a small turn out then as otherwise why charge for the hire of a room?
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Smile Please
03 May 2016 17:30 PM
Trevor show me where they are saying they are taking action against agents? Also as for OTM all they are doing is holding agents to a contract. If one of your members did not pay their fees would you say not to worry about it or would you look to take them to court? If this news site had an advertiser that did not pay their bill would they not take them to court? If Iain White provided a consultancy for a firm and they did not pay him would he not take them to court. You are fighting a losing battle Trevor and stinking of desperation. Every month goes by OTM adds more and more agents. Getting more and more stock and its starting to worry you and others as you will lose out so now you are doing your best to spin the situation. Problem is Alastair Campbell could not spin this for you!
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Smile Please
26 April 2016 10:11 AM
Micheal, this is just the spin the "news outlet" is putting on it. All the CMA is doing is stating law. At no point do they say they are taking action against OTM. it is just scaremongering by certain individuals. Look at the people involved and what they stand to win from this.
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Smile Please
26 April 2016 09:37 AM
L.A. I thought long and hard about OTM - Is it perfect, No. Do i like what they are trying to achieve, Yes. Do I think they will achieve it, Probably not. So for last 18 months i have not signed up. I kept with RM & Z. I did not gain market share, i did not lose it. Agents signing up more importantly did not lose market share. The eye opener for me is as long as you are on RM do you even need a second portal? I thought we did. I put my hands up now i got it wrong. RM is so well known its the only portal you need. Also i started to look at what Z were doing re data, support to online agents and did not like it. I decided i did not need or want Z. But i liked what OTM were trying. So i took the choice to leave Z and join OTM. To put your mind at rest business has been the same, no lash back from public, no lost business, no loss of market share. I have a good steady supply of leads from RM and i support OTM hopefully that one day it will grown enough so i no longer need RM. WIN/WIN
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Smile Please
22 April 2016 14:48 PM
I note the fee schedule is missing from the contract. Is it £50 forever or £50 for a set period I.E. until they have the 7,500 members? I think this makes a big difference.
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Smile Please
13 April 2016 10:59 AM
I think they could have handled the launch and whole process better and i think big mistakes have been made (hence i did not sign up). However, they must be appluded for getting further than others, i also do not see them making things worse at the moment, i have gained a reduction in my Z bill and RM increased same as always. So i am actually better off. I think OTM should continue to be supported but they need to be more ruthless in coming after RM. That will get alot more agents on board. Its a hollow victory sticking it to Z in my opinion. Tim, Sorry i cannot believe you have had no leads this year from OTM, i would belive less than Z but 0 - Sorry just dont buy it. As for £500 a month, i would not sign up in the first place (as i did not), I think £50 is the right fee to be honest until they gain market share.
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Smile Please
12 April 2016 13:45 PM
These are my thoughts for what its worth. A number want to run OTM down and disband. Unless you are a portal rep or online only agent why would you want this? Look i am not a member of OTM but i dont want them to disappear, if they do Z & RM have an even bigger licence to print money. If they know that there is no rival threat they will push fees even higher. To me there seems some very silly people or just plain stupid.
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Smile Please
12 April 2016 09:27 AM
For what its worth i am not a member and i called up my local rep and asked for the deal, i was told that this is a not a deal they offer and a lie.
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Smile Please
02 March 2016 11:43 AM
Some industries are just not suited to the exchange. I think Harry Hill said when CW floated last time around it was a nightmare. I think PB and others will also find this in time, make a quick buck and then sell it on.
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Smile Please
27 February 2016 10:26 AM
Really? - Tell that to the people that register with us who will only consider South facing gardens! I am yet to find somebody actually asking for a North facing garden.
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Smile Please
17 February 2016 10:09 AM
Considering they get it for about a tenth of the price i am sure she thinks it is good value!
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Smile Please
17 February 2016 10:07 AM
Jesus! - 7am - 9pm what are they a factory and going to do shift work? How to destroy motivation in your entire work force in one sweep! What decent estate agent will want to be forced to work these hours? I have staff in at 7 and leave at 9 but its their choice, they are motivated to do so. I know if i turned round today and said that we are now open 7 - 9 they will all look for neg roles, and i dont blame them!
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Smile Please
09 February 2016 09:21 AM
May be interesting but would be educating criminals how they are detected.
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Smile Please
03 February 2016 09:47 AM
I think you may have misread the information provided. Average deposit or an average house. This will include investors and movers not just FTB's Not many FTB's by an average house i.e. 3 bed semi they tend to start with a 1 bed flat But i do agree house prices have spiraled out of control
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Smile Please
27 January 2016 12:02 PM
Sorry, which platforms in respect to what?
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Smile Please
11 December 2015 11:03 AM
I have tried to be positive about OTM and not jump on board bashing them as the message they sent out with the concept was truly fantastic, i had reservation if they could achieve it but wished them the best and retained council with the view to join if things were as laid out. However almost a year on they have circa 5800 agents on board and now if this is to believed giving away membership to a select few. Hardly big numbers and hardly a mutual. To me it seems as if the ship is sinking, OTM will be around for the next few years due to the die hard supporters but i believe it really is now a dead duck.
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Smile Please
11 December 2015 10:32 AM
I wonder how all the gold members feel about this? some paying in excess of £400 per office???
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Smile Please
11 December 2015 09:34 AM
I can see why it is upsetting for removers and solicitors, But makes very little difference to agents, most of us are open until 6/7pm anyway.
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Smile Please
07 December 2015 09:40 AM
Yes epc Do show square foot but how accurate are they? if a property is £1200 per square foot and the calculation is out could be expensive mistake.
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Smile Please
03 December 2015 14:52 PM
I guess we have differing idea of reasonable for labour and materials, or maybe we are just in different areas KB! -What are your thoughts of Price per square foot?
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Smile Please
03 December 2015 14:50 PM
I would also add in other parts of the world, labor and materials are a lot cheaper. This is why they look at square footage as many buyers renovate a space to what is right for them. The UK we have expensive property and expensive labor and fittings. This is why people pay a premium for a property which is practical and has a good finish.
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Smile Please
03 December 2015 10:23 AM
I think you will be hard pushed to find a UK agent that does not advertise on portals and have very dated websites. The majority are very good indeed. Yes there is a place for both in the market, but the reason I and others are so shouty as you put it is because they basically lie. The say they save thousands because they do not have an expensive high street office. Well not sure the last time you looked at a commercial rent of a high street office compared to that of a serviced office but they are basically the same. They also lie and say they offer a like for like service which they do not. Online agents seem to have got this reputation for being innovative. Can you give me just 1 example of something any of them have implemented that has been a true success? - Only thing they are doing is changing estate agency into listers for portals.
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Smile Please
03 December 2015 09:54 AM
Are you not describing a High Street agent? All High Street Agents are online, most if not all have several social media accounts not only that they have a local office with local property professionals. The only saving an online or hybrid has is on staff. Pay peanuts .......
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Smile Please
03 December 2015 09:04 AM
Bang on! - I thought i was the only one reading this that had alarm bells ringing. So i view a property through an online agent with no ofice i can visit if things go wrong, i look at a property like it, agree a price and at that point i am legally obliged to go through with the sale or face a hefty fine. Searches, mortgage valuation, survey, title, What could go wrong! If the answer is "Oh this is all done before anyone signs" is this really going to speed up the process?
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Smile Please
26 November 2015 09:45 AM
"Then again, estate agents were one of the few who didn't lose out to the global financial crisis" I take it you are joking? If not it shows how little you know of the industry. Many agents closed and those that did not culled staff by as much as 50% in some cases. Try selling a property in a market where banks do not lend and houses are in negative equity. Any estate agent neg or owner has my utmost respect and shows how good they are either at their job or as a business owner to have got through that period.
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Smile Please
19 November 2015 14:01 PM
sole trader and partnerships from what i understand do not need to be registered at companies house only LTD companies.
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Smile Please
19 November 2015 09:56 AM
I think this is probably just publicity. As Dan has pointed out somebody with such a high net worth would probably not look at this. even if they did there is also the fact people with that kind of money do not look on Rightmove and Zoopla to buy.
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Smile Please
16 November 2015 08:52 AM
I think you will find there is an understanding between the 3 Redress schemes this cannot happen. I maybe wrong but pretty sure i read in a story recently it was not possible to do this.
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Smile Please
11 November 2015 09:37 AM
- estate agents who break the rules and support criminal money laundering should face “meaningful punishment and sanctions So what punishment do the agents that featured on the expose face from the NAEA?
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Smile Please
10 November 2015 16:05 PM
Agree to the stain on landscape (and agents should not "Fly board") but boards are still the best form of advertising and the most effective. If you have not moved for 10 years, which agents will you choose? chances are the board you have seen the most (be it for sale or sold) will at least be invited out.
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Smile Please
09 November 2015 09:40 AM
Simon, reading between the lines, forgive me but sounds like it is more a case of sour grapes as you were snubbed from a meeting, which i can understand you being frustrated at especially if it was originally looking to help as oppose to hinder them. Reading some of the above comments from a number of posters you would think we have a number of saints in our industry looking to protect it. The truth is there is a lot of self preservation and agendas behind it.
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Smile Please
05 November 2015 17:54 PM
"OTM has sought to create an industry within an industry on the pretext of protecting the interests of the whole industry. It is clear that the real OTM agenda has nothing to do with protecting the little guy or the clever guy and everything about protecting the established big guy" But is that not what a capitalist society is? Same could be said for good old Trev, He has created his own market within a market using agents listings "repackaging" them and selling on. Making out he is there to help but looking after himself in the main charging £100 p.m. per member. I too struggle to see why some agents are advertising as it is a direct replacement for Primelocation at the moment, will this change? time will tell. As for "Not needing to be that clever to be an estate agent" sure your staff will like hearing that. I think its the same with any job / profession. Anyone can do a job poorly but to do it well you need to be at least clever within that field ....
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Smile Please
05 November 2015 14:54 PM
I don't necessarily disagree with you that it hurts the "Little guy" but surely this is down to individual business owners, Why do others feel the need to interject? From what i understand Simon you have the chance to join and decided not to (like 15,000 others). Why do you feel the need to run it down? what possible difference does it make to your business? Surely the concept you are behind? I know i begrudge my monthly RM bill and yearly hike, do you not want to see this level out more? You dont have to promote it but also you do not need to run it down.
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Smile Please
05 November 2015 14:23 PM
What approaches did you make? Was it simply to ask if you could be used along side OTM and one other portal or was it more than that? I fail to see how a software company could tip you off, this has been going on for over a year now and since launch OTM have not said its an issue with your INEA. However in that time you have done your best at every opportunity to try and run OTM down. Is now any surprise to you that they have taken this step?
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Smile Please
05 November 2015 13:03 PM
A lot of bitterness towards OTM / AM. Do you blame them for taking this step? Trevor has done his best to bait them over the past year and yes they may well be bullying him but some would say he picked the fight in the first place. I think there are a lot of things wrong with OTM but cant for the sake of me see why people need to run it down? You have your choice if you want to join and you have voted not to so what the problem? - Unless you fear them actually doing well and excluding you for some reason then leave them to it.
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Smile Please
05 November 2015 11:31 AM
NAEA like to give the impression they are here to promote good agency and will only accept agents keeping to their "code" Truth is in (my opinion) they are just looking to raise themselves revenue, charge you a couple hundred quid a year for a sticker and use of a logo. And supplement it with qualifications that (again in my opinion) are not recognised by either employers or the public. Ask yourself why they are for regulation (which is a complete myth it will actually change anything)? - Answer they are one of the best placed to roll this out and they will see their coffers swell under the new members influx. I do not see any relevance in them, what have they done for our industry?
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Smile Please
02 November 2015 09:51 AM
What? What stats are OTM going to have? You think they will produce a set of stats showing that launching their portal has directly led to less property coming to the market? One: Thats just bonkers as previously stated. Two: Even if they did believe / prove this, they would not confirm it as would be the final nail in their coffin! Are you an agent or just looking for a chat??????
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Smile Please
31 October 2015 14:32 PM
Yes i am sure those handful of potential buyers that possible may have a property to sell are responsible for there being less property being available ..... Clutching at straws spring to mind ...
From:
Smile Please
31 October 2015 14:12 PM
Despite how not in touch with the world John is he has members of family and friends which point out to him how normal functioning individuals search for property. So now to make your point relevant we are looking at a technophobe who has not moved in over 15 years is agoraphobic and a social outcast and does not own a television!
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Smile Please
31 October 2015 13:31 PM
Simon appreciate the interaction but we both know deep down 'John' in the story above is few and far between and despite your contempt for OTM it has no effect on the market (be t they wish it did though!). i have numerous qualifications in finance (not just uni) but i do not feel the need to shout about it to make a point. Just because we have bits of paper to our names means squat in the real world, As a self made business man you would agree to that i am sure.
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Smile Please
31 October 2015 11:34 AM
"As an industry we have collectively failed the consumer by diluting their easy access to property for sale" Really? Richard from seeing your offerings over time and a number of your podcasts / interviews and such like have you suddenly had a shift in your beliefs? We failed as an industry giving away our identity and after that we failed to stop portals hiking the price up. And now we are failing to fight online offerings which are bringing our industry down to just listers not full service agents. Also as you well know for most agents its not about appealing to buyers 50/60 miles away its about appealing to sellers within a 5 - 10 radius of your offices, Its not about national identity its about local identity. As i have stated further up the thread i believe OTM has not had any impact in property coming to the market its down to a number of other influences that have culminated at the same time. In fact most agents i speak to (and myself) are selling property faster than ever and despite lower numbers of property coming to the market many agents are on for their best financial year, its almost as if people are panic buying. And just because a statistician you respect tells you something you are not obligated to believe him (you are of course welcome to) but just because he says it does not mean its right.
From:
Smile Please
31 October 2015 11:26 AM
Looks like we are going to have to agree to disagree, but being as i cant walk away i will point out how silly that analogy actually is. In the old days before portals John would have driven to Reading and walked around the town center going into all the the estate agents, he also would have picked up a local paper to show him other agents, he would look at this stock and possibly even call or visit other agents not in the town as he was looking to make such a big move it was worth his time. Fast forward to 2015 and the all conquering internet! - John may like zoopla, it very well maybe his favorite portal but most buyers like John start their search on Google, John will probably type into google "Houses for sale in Reading" and he will have a number of pages to visit from the comfort of his own home, probably spending many evening looking at all the different portals and websites helping him find out if his move is right. And guess what while searching he will not only find, zoopla, rightmove and otm he will also find individual estate agents. The internet is the virtual high street. Put it this way my wife recently wanted a new "Kitchen-aid" food mixer i do not log on to John Lewis and search just their website i type "Kitchen-aid food mixer" into google and i have my choice of shops, colours, prices and location. John is not representative of todays mover in your scenario.
From:
Smile Please
31 October 2015 10:51 AM
Oh come on stats can be manipulated to look at anything, Hey even Russel down the thread managed to raise a cool 2 million on a business that does not break even and will not for some considerable time going to show bu***hit baffles brains! The main reason we have no stock is election, stamp duty changes, Changes in pensions, MMR and so on. These all have an impact by themselves but coming together has created a "Super storm" as long as rates do not go up the market will correct in my opinion by quarter 2 next year we will have a more settled market and numbers will return to more "normal" levels.
From:
Smile Please
31 October 2015 09:59 AM
No i think not. I do not advertise with OTM but some comments are just ridiculous. Some of the Pro brigade are laughable but some of the Anti brigade are just as bad. There is no sound reason Richard can blame the state of the housing market on a portal. Just take a minute to say that outloud "A property portal is the reason the UK housing market does not have enough property for sale" Its bonkers! - Where as i agree OTM has a number of issues (in the main attracting enough supporters) they cannot be blamed for this.
From:
Smile Please
31 October 2015 09:36 AM
WOW What a load of rubbish! I use to enjoy listening to Richard as i thought he had a pretty good balanced view of the industry (although sometime opportunist). Pretty much every agent is on RM and pretty much every mover looks on RM, to blame OTM for lack of stock is ridiculous!
From:
Smile Please
31 October 2015 09:15 AM
There is a saying in business which we have all heard a million times. "Go with your gut!" circa 5000 branches did this in January but many more did not. OTM cannot expect to grow membership just coming round to agents, having a cosy chat sticking the boot in about z (they really are so far away from challenging rm). And then asking for a non-binding letter of intent and walking away with a smile! They need to radically grow membership which will in turn grow stock and traffic before apathy sets in and it truly becomes a dead duck.
From:
Smile Please
30 October 2015 11:38 AM
Feel like stepping into the enemy's camp but .... I think some degree of balance needs to be addressed, Did the chap really think he would get as many leads from OTM compared to z or rm? - Little naive i think. Also looking at the current inventory he has just 7 properties for sale ...... I would not expect too many leads with that level of stock. I think there are obvious issues with OTM but i think this is more a case of poor business choice and nativity and rushing into something. Maybe the agent will think more carefully in future. I believe OTM should go after him for the money as he did sign a contract for 5 years. As far as i am aware there is nothing in the contract regarding levels of leads or traffic.
From:
Smile Please
29 October 2015 17:16 PM
Looking at your directorship Jonathan seems like you have diversified into a number of areas, high street agent & online agent and sales & letting - What does that say?
From:
Smile Please
13 October 2015 13:22 PM
Jason, Just seen your comments (time on my hands today so looking through bits and bobs) Answer is no they have not done their research. Unless of course you mean by research asking half a dozen agents he may know. Like John points out Houser offered it for free but is a popular as a case of the clap!
From:
Smile Please
13 October 2015 13:15 PM
Sorry i did miss off the rental yield calculator, which is available as a free app, in fact we as standard now put anticipated rents and expected yields on all our sales particulars (more agents should in my opinion offer this).
From:
Smile Please
13 October 2015 11:12 AM
I wont give it a chance. First of all they have the massive uphill battle of getting the public to find them, you have probably seen the massive amounts of cash online agents have burnt through this and none of them are even close to making a profit. Also it will probably be a useful as the "Z" index on Zoopla. We all know what a joke that is. Yet another idea from a person outside the industry thinking they can reinvent the wheel. Strange how over the last 50 years selling a house still comes down to good old fashion agency, getting on the phone, getting a viewing and then negging an offer. A website pointing out a property might be 5 or 10k overpriced is not going to capture the public imagination. As for the vendor the agent has probably already told them it is overpriced but the seller does not care they will wait till a buyer agrees with the price.
From:
Smile Please
13 October 2015 11:09 AM
They are not making agents money but i bet they are making money with the data they scrap from agents. If you have not already done so make sure your agency is not on houser or any other affiliate.
From:
Smile Please
13 October 2015 11:01 AM
Another idea that will not get off the ground .........
From:
Smile Please
12 October 2015 08:47 AM
I try not to attack OTM as i believe in it, i just dont like the way they have executed it. However i do feel this is not the brightest of moves from them. Not many agents sell properties overseas. Why spend the money developing that part of the site for so little amount of agents? Would the money not be better spent either on additional advertising or a back office system such as RM Plus?
From:
Smile Please
05 October 2015 12:38 PM
2000 - 3000 agents signed up for launch. Sorry but what rubbish! There is no appetite from agents for yet another property portal especially on which is also a review site. Telling that the founder is a "Media buyer" - Somebody else who has little or no knowledge of our industry thinking they know what we want when in actual fact they have no idea.
From:
Smile Please
01 October 2015 09:57 AM
Nice to see a "Big Cheese" come forward and answer questions. This is very welcomed. Little disappointed that they were easy questions and he also seemed to go down the politician route of answering as opposed to real insight. I guess to be fair he has to look after the shareholders. More of a PR stunt the real Q&A but probably as good as we would get so well done EAT
From:
Smile Please
15 September 2015 09:56 AM
Sarah I was going to ignore you as you obviously have an outlook very warped and not inline with society. But if you continue to make comments about me which boarder on liable. I will either speak to the owners of this site or indeed report you. You managed to get yourself banned from the other site, it would be a shame to happen here as well.
From:
Smile Please
13 August 2015 12:05 PM
Hi Sarah. I am not hounding you. I think to start 10 threads on two stories. claiming everybody at all three portals are discriminating against race with no proof is very silly. You then come over to another website and try and play the victim (and bring me into it). Actions have consequences. If you accuse major UK employers and estate agents of being racists and now sexist, you have to expect comments. Unfortuanlty for you people do not share your thoughts. On the other site you liked all your own comments multiple times and disliked other comments multiple times. You are throwing stones looking for a reaction. You then come over here playing the victim. Unfortuantly for you a number of posters read both sites so they can see how silly and immature your comments are. Simon himself pops in from time to time. I am not hounding, you pulled me into this, I am just setting the record straight. If anybody does want to see what all the fuss is about take a look at the other site (sorry to plug them on here). I think you will find Ms.S.Parker is an incredibly angry, volatile, individual with a bad attitude looking to pick fights and then runs off. I will leave it there ............ Unless of course you wish to start further fights.
From:
Smile Please
12 August 2015 15:52 PM
Hi Sarah, If you look at your comments i think you are looking at picking fights and running away. If you also are a regular reader of posts you will know i do not even advertise on OTM, i advertise on RM and Z .
From:
Smile Please
12 August 2015 15:26 PM
Hi Sarah, I do not usually pop in here. But thought i may as well considering the comments brought to light. Did you want to be transparent in your comments here and let the other readers know what i said or why i said it? And questioning somebodies warped view is not attacking.
From:
Smile Please
12 August 2015 15:13 PM
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