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James's  Personal Profile View my company profile

James Scollard
James Scollard
Owner
5478  Profile Views

About Me

Agency Owner | Property Investor | Landlord

my expertise in the industry

* 25 yrs + Experience in Agency
* NFOPP Qualified
* NAEA Domestic Energy Assessor
* Member of The Property Ombudsman

James's Recent Activity

James Scollard
To be fair, when looking at a £20m loss, £1 is fair (like the sale of Prudential E.A.in 1980's). Although, I'm not sure Simon, 3 yrs at EXPO (who has zero properties for sale, 4 under offer) is the right candidate to take on PB.

From: James Scollard 21 February 2023 11:39 AM

James Scollard
The reason charging for viewings was made illegal , was due to agents under valuing properties, conducting 30 viewings and then withdrawing the property, and then repeating the following week.

From: James Scollard 24 July 2021 09:49 AM

James Scollard
In the failed Home Information Packs, the mortgage lenders would not accept local searches that are 7 months old, the solicitors would not accept a management pack that is 7 months old. In conclusion, it was a waste of time and money. I think the Trading Standards should stick to enforcement of current legislation, rather than coming out with these banana ideas. If you want to improve the system - agents, RICS, Mortgage lenders and conveyancers - But mainly agents, need to be at the forefront of change.

From: James Scollard 21 April 2021 09:25 AM

James Scollard
I'm sure we have been here already with the failed Home Information Packs. Many sellers, especially in regards to say probate or repossessions etc, do not know the lease information and they do not want to pay £300 to the Managing Agents for the Leasehold Management Pack. (Which will be out of date when a sale is achieved and will need to pay again).

From: James Scollard 21 April 2021 09:20 AM

James Scollard
The issue with filling in a box 65 year lease or Service Charge £3,500 per annum, as upfront information, is not advantageous to the consumer. Unless, there is another box where an agent can add: "Although, there is a 65 year, the owner has had joint meeting with the leaseholders and they are not only looking into RTM but also SOF, they have a tentative offer for £8,500 plus £2,000 legal fees and £1,500 surveyor fees. However, it is provisional they are waiting for the freeholders surveyor to also provide a valuation. In regards the £3,500p.a. this is the service charge for this year, this is because they renewed the car park driveway and re-decorated the outside, from next year this drops to £1,000 per calendar month going forward. In this case, the property is being sold by a Housing Association and they are not allow to spend the money on lease extensions unfortunately, so the property is being sold as seen and it must be bought as a 65 year lease. However, there is legislation you maybe not be aware of about owning a leasehold flat for two years ... let me tell you about that .... Try putting all that in a tick box on a portal !

From: James Scollard 21 April 2021 09:16 AM

James Scollard
I was worried when Zoopla started buying up the estate agency software providers ... ExpertAgent, Alto, Encorelive, Jupix Etc, and accessing all data. Boomin integrating with diary / software and now OTM joining in. Portals becoming the first port of call for the user/consumer, Boomin going a step more with 'Sneak Peak' and accessing valuations & Zoopla & now OTM owning, accessing, using, raw data, its like China building our nuclear sites, doable, an easy route and cost effective, but very very risky. Its a bit like Lloyds owning Halifax, the largest mortgage lender in the UK now entering the buy to let market, with an aim to be the UK's largest Landlord. Is this not a conflict of interest? Will they restrict lending to developers if they are competing with very large development sites for PRS? Or having a monopoly /substantial control of this market.

From: James Scollard 16 April 2021 08:16 AM

James Scollard
In any industry, companies can set up and undercut the marketplace. Its the easiest strategy, however, how many more will it take to go bust before institutional and angel investors realise, this model is like "the King with no clothes". Platforms like this and many agents, concentrate on lowest fee but customers want value for money, not the cheapest. ... Its a phase like the conveyancing warehouses a few years ago trying to be the cheapest, it's not so "House Simple", more like "Strike" will soon be "Struck" ... "Off".

From: James Scollard 06 November 2020 09:33 AM

James Scollard
Dolan herself adds: “I am very excited to be joining Rightmove" .... I bet you are for £2 million quid ! Happy Days !

From: James Scollard 04 August 2020 10:02 AM

James Scollard
Hopefully, not without test kits. We go house to house, 10 appointments per day x 14 days - we could unknowingly infect 140 + people easily.

From: James Scollard 16 April 2020 10:12 AM

James Scollard
Private landlords need to be subject to the same training and qualifications, if they are letting property. If agents are enforcing legislation, Landlords will find an easier solution and rent themselves. The result is standards do not improve in the PRS.

From: James Scollard 29 January 2020 08:15 AM

James Scollard
People won't sell = Reduced Supply of stock. Transaction levels have reduced dramatically over the years. Fluid market = higher revenues = moving economy = new kitchen, furniture etc. Increase selling costs, 'i'll just keep the property' We need more stock, more people selling, making it easier for sellers - more supply please.

From: James Scollard 16 July 2019 17:37 PM

James Scollard
I wouldn’t give £100k but if they are reading this, I’d offer £6,000. Although, I’m really waiting for bigger online purple companies, which I’d offer another couple of thousand for.

From: James Scollard 11 December 2018 08:14 AM

James Scollard
The search engines cannot use estate agents data without permission. 95% of UK stock sells through agents. If everyone starts using google, why use an agent? Rightmove, Zoopla & onthemarket do not allow private advertisers. Hence, why agents use them.

From: James Scollard 23 March 2018 07:54 AM

James Scollard
Thinking about it, we actually register buyers, have a database and proactively sell properties. Unlike Purple Bricks who only get paid for listing the property for sale. We don't sit around and wait for someone to check Rightmove. Proactive selling is the order of the day. I understand people paying less to put their property on a notice board and wait.

From: James Scollard 23 November 2016 08:02 AM

James Scollard
21% of all our registered buyers and tenants are from walk in's. Therefore, it stands to reason we have a fifth more buyers and tenants than purely online, that's not counting newspapers, magazines, yellow pages, yell and other the other areas we generate enquiries from.

From: James Scollard 23 November 2016 07:54 AM

James Scollard
There's another one that will be bust in 12 months.

From: James Scollard 28 October 2016 10:49 AM

James Scollard
And so it should be. Would Rightmove let an agent simple walk out of a contract? Given Connells bought these agents, they should honour the existing contracts in place. I think any company would do the same.

From: James Scollard 30 September 2016 05:39 AM

James Scollard
This is not going to change anything. Agents do this to generate more enquiries and more interest, more chance of selling the property. Although, I do this with the owners permission going from say £500k to £499,999 to £499,990 to £499,995 - thereby making it re-appear in new search results. The reason is many buyers search new properties added in the last 24 hours. Meaning a higher level of enquiries for the seller.

From: James Scollard 29 September 2016 04:22 AM

James Scollard
Just goes to show UBS are not really in tune. Brexit has meant, due to drop in pound, overseas buyers receive an instant 15% discount and has had a small positive effect. The property market has changed due to the massive stamp duty increase. This is the feedback from investors, landlords and agents.

From: James Scollard 29 September 2016 04:15 AM

James Scollard
Just goes to show, the agent is absolutely 100% correct. The extra stamp duty has killed off the property market. This is supported by The Land Register showing the massive spike in transaction levels in March 16 across the country. Bexit has had very little effect and in fact, the drop in pound means overseas buyers receive an instant 15% discount and has had a small positive effect on the housing market.

From: James Scollard 29 September 2016 04:11 AM

James Scollard
Ian Kenworthy, you are 100% correct. I cant make the figures work (probably why purple bricks are losing a million pound per month). I understand the model is pay whether you sell or not and therefore, do not need any sales staff, its all about trying to persuade people to list their property, at any price. It doesn't matter if they don't sell. The industry is highly competitive but the DIY (online) route is still a very small market in each town.

From: James Scollard 06 June 2016 16:55 PM

James Scollard
The DIY (online) service is still losing money for hybrid models. It can work but the fees need to be higher. It's a shame for clients, having seen agents make clients thousands, tens of thousands from an experienced negotiator.

From: James Scollard 06 June 2016 08:04 AM

James Scollard
I don't really understand the problem. Agents do this because of the interest is generated in the first four weeks. If the property has been on 2 or 3 months going stale. The agent takes the property off, takes new photos or re-arranges photos and adds as a new instruction, the interest can dramatically increase resulting in a sale for the client. Also, home buyers can register with a portal and the new instruction is emailed to buyers, thereby generating renewed interest. Who cares the property has been on 6 months, so what? If a property has been on 12 months - does that mean its undesirable? or more desirable because prices have increased? It doesn't matter. People should not be sheep and think, I'm not looking at that property because no one else as bought it. The length of time is completely irrelevant. Real Agents are interested in SELLING properties and this tactic is well used throughout the industry to generate interest when properties become stale.

From: James Scollard 28 April 2016 09:53 AM

James Scollard
1. AM and OTM made public their desire to target Zoopla and Rightmove. That was one of the major deciding factors for the independent agents across the UK clubbing together to start On The Market. Rightmove & Zoopla sold out to the stockmarket and shareholders demand PROFITS and GROWTH which means squeezing agents further, increasing prices further. The reason most agents dropped Zoopla is because Rightmove is ten times better ! 2. NAEA has chosen to back the portal owned by Independent Agents and adds competition to the portal market. I completely understand Zoopla and Rightmove being bitter its been so successful. 3. The CMA has openly said, On The Market exclusive arrangement to chose one other portal is sound. I personally dropped Zoopla like a brick because its weak in the marketplace and Rightmove is so much better. If most agents think the same way, its not surprising most have dropped Zoopla. 4. So agents were sceptical how good On The Market is and a discounted rate to try On The Market seems a good idea to win the business. Lets just hope more agents move to OTM. Lets just hope OTM continues to grow and hopefully becomes the number one property portal in the marketplace.

From: James Scollard 23 April 2016 10:39 AM

James Scollard
Joining On The Market makes commercial sence because the portal is owned by the agents, nor shareholders and the reason everyone dropped Zoopla was because it was the obviously choice due to Rightmove being number 1 and having a much bigger market share. It's good CMA has finally confirmed on the market is not breaking any rules and perfectly legal.

From: James Scollard 22 April 2016 07:25 AM

James Scollard
It's good the CMA have confirmed they are happy with On The Market which is not surprising given the third portal adds competition to the other two leading portals and gives agents a choice who they advertise with. I expect more agents will want to join on the market given their lower fees and growing market share.

From: James Scollard 22 April 2016 07:15 AM

James Scollard
When Rightmove set up, I was told, it was better the agents / industry collectively set up a portal, rather than an outside company like Richard Branson or Autotrader setting up a portal. The corporate agents are laughing all the way to the bank, they have made millions in profit from shares in Zoopla and Rightmove and now receive heavily discounted rates, much, much lower than a stand alone Independent office. OnTheMarket has circ. a third of all UK agents listed with them and to push through into the second biggest leading portal, they need to persuade the last few agents to try OTM, even with discounted fees (just like both Zoopla and Rightmove do). The 'One other portal' rule is in place so agents are not worse off, rather than paying for 2 portals, forced to pay for 3 portals. The difference now is OnTheMarket is owned by the agents, as a mutual. No massive profits for a select few shareholders. All profits can go back into developing the business, the agents collectively own. I'm very pleased, I use OnTheMarket as a Unique Selling Point, than corporate agents can't offer or be part of. In the area I operate On The Market is already the second biggest property portal with independent estate agents and growing with more members joining every month. If it has the available property stock, the public will visit to find the best home in the market.

From: James Scollard 13 April 2016 09:37 AM

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