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Kelly Evans

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About Me

my expertise in the industry

Kelly's Recent Activity

Well done to all involved. Great night out!

From: Kelly Evans 19 April 2016 12:08 PM

Is this any surprise? People want to live in London because of all that is has to offer so of course it's going to be more expensive to buy there. Simple supply and demand. I can't see why people are so consistently baffled by this.

From: Kelly Evans 19 April 2016 12:06 PM

I don't think CW themselves really know who is still on the payroll, so the rest of us haven't a got a hope in hell's chance!

From: Kelly Evans 18 April 2016 14:34 PM

Mountain out of a molehill once again. A lot of people want to see OTM fail - no idea why, perhaps they are happy with RM and Zoopla holding agents over a barrel? - but they've not gone away yet and I think people are worried that they haven't folded as many presumed they would.

From: Kelly Evans 18 April 2016 14:31 PM

The impending 3% stamp duty charge is definitely driving activity, but the housing market tends to really get going at this time of the year anyway, so none of this is a huge surprise. Available stock is still an issue, but the government are doing plenty to rectify that with the Starter Homes and Help to Buy Schemes.

From: Kelly Evans 14 March 2016 11:33 AM

I think boards get a bad rep, but I can see why councils (and the public) object to them. In many cases, they can still be very useful. But there are too many cases of boards being left up too long, or not being taken down quickly enough after a home has been sold/let. Also, streets that are completely dominated by boards can be offputting and somewhat of an eyesore. There is definitely still a place for estate agency boards, but maybe ones that are less obtrusive would work better. And giving councils the power to take them down after a set number of days might be one way of dealing with the issue.

From: Kelly Evans 14 March 2016 11:31 AM

These predictions are largely pointless. You ask five different people, you get five different answers. It's all speculation, guesswork and could, woulds or shoulds. Truth is, no-one knows how the housing market will perform month to month. Many variables have an impact on it, both from a domestic and global standpoint. Trying to predict the future is just illogical and self-defeating.

From: Kelly Evans 04 March 2016 11:00 AM

Hang on, I thought OTM were dying a slow death? That's what I'm always being told when I visit this comment section.

From: Kelly Evans 04 March 2016 10:57 AM

More fearmongering, pure and simple. The housing market will be just fine, as will the economy, trade and investment. Scare tactics from those with vested interests, that's all the "In" side have.

From: Kelly Evans 01 March 2016 15:00 PM

*there on a regular basis even. Too many theirs in that sentence!

From: Kelly Evans 25 February 2016 10:09 AM

Oh dear. Not looking so rosy for Countrywide. I think they're spreading themselves too thin and trying to do too much. They are in danger of becoming too ubiquitous. On the other hand, their ambition should be commended and their PR team do a fine job of getting their name out their on a regular basis. They must be fast becoming the industry's best known-name, with Foxtons taking a bit of a backseat and not being quite so aggressive in their approach in recent months.

From: Kelly Evans 25 February 2016 10:08 AM

From: Kelly Evans 25 February 2016 10:04 AM

You don't become one of the biggest companies in the UK without knowing what you're doing. Why not give some credit where credit is due, Jon?

From: Kelly Evans 23 February 2016 16:50 PM

You obviously don't work in the industry. The number of first-time buyers is going up. It's now becoming easier to buy again. Don't believe what the doom-mongers say.

From: Kelly Evans 23 February 2016 16:50 PM

I agree with Agace and David OConnor above. The UK property industry would be fine in the event of a Brexit. Anything that says otherwise is scaremongering, plain and simple.

From: Kelly Evans 23 February 2016 16:47 PM

Interesting points. Can't really disagree with any of them. There is space for new homes, but the government seem reluctant to fully drive the housebuilding programme forward.

From: Kelly Evans 22 December 2015 10:07 AM

Can't see an interest rate rise in 2016. I'm thinking 2017, if not 2018.

From: Kelly Evans 22 December 2015 10:05 AM

Spot on, Gordon.

From: Kelly Evans 22 December 2015 10:05 AM

There is certainly something in this. Maybe Christmas doesn't herald the slowdown that many in the industry keep telling us about.

From: Kelly Evans 21 December 2015 11:31 AM

Totally agree that precautions need to be taken, but the situation as it currently stands is ridiculous. So many sales are being put at risk because of unnecessary delays. It's not good enough.

From: Kelly Evans 21 December 2015 11:29 AM

It's a ridiculous situation, Trevor. "Make it up as we go along" seems to be their motto.

From: Kelly Evans 08 December 2015 11:10 AM

Whichever way you dress it up, online agents mean one thing and one thing only. A race to the bottom. A reduction in quality. Cheap fees being seen as more important than experience, knowledge and great customer service. That's why, Algarve, we get so defensive when it comes to online agents. What are they offering that high-street agents don't already offer? Most of us have fully embraced the internet and social media. And the portals. And innovation. But we also appreciate that people still want face-to-face interaction and human contact when it comes to one of the biggest decisions of their life. Nothing wrong with that.

From: Kelly Evans 08 December 2015 11:09 AM

That was meant to be a reply to giles, but something went a bit wrong.

From: Kelly Evans 22 October 2015 09:35 AM

Agreed. This is nowhere near as clear-cut as the FBA make out. You eloquently point out the potential issues much better than I ever could.

From: Kelly Evans 22 October 2015 09:34 AM

Plant is a plant. There's no agenda here, is there? Your anti-OTM stance is clouding your judgement. You say you're getting no leads, many others say they are. Who to believe?

From: Kelly Evans 22 October 2015 09:31 AM

@Steve Harwood - sorry, I didn't realise ambition was such a bad thing. Zoopla and Rightmove both have international arms. OTM - with aims to become the second biggest portal - should be doing the same.

From: Kelly Evans 05 October 2015 09:30 AM

Maybe, just maybe, they're doing better than you and the other experts on here seem to think, Rob. Have you thought of that?

From: Kelly Evans 05 October 2015 09:27 AM

I look forward to seeing how this pans out.

From: Kelly Evans 01 September 2015 11:03 AM

To all those people moaning about Mr Lewis not being in the limelight - he might, you know, just have been getting on with his job! - here he is. Maybe you'll realise he speaks a lot of sense when he is given the chance.

From: Kelly Evans 27 August 2015 09:53 AM

You've got that crystal ball out again, Jon. You're Mystic Meg and I claim my £5!

From: Kelly Evans 27 August 2015 09:47 AM

A glossy, high-end, slightly pretentious look?

From: Kelly Evans 14 August 2015 11:44 AM

Tediously predictable as always, Jon. Good news has to be twisted to fit your anti-government, anti-property industry, anti-agent agenda. It's really quite sad. Anyway, excellent news. Repossession is always a messy business and very much a last resort, but is necessary in certain situations. This shows, with wages rising and mortgage rates still very low, that homeowners are feeling more secure than they have for a while.

From: Kelly Evans 14 August 2015 11:41 AM

Bit of a kick in the teeth for the OTM bashers. Spin this in a negative way if you can!

From: Kelly Evans 05 August 2015 08:43 AM

"Writing in The Scotsman newspaper this week, he says that in a typical regional estate agency sector, many staff at competing agencies will know each other – especially senior partners whose paths will have crossed many times over the years." What is wrong with this? Surely rival agencies being cordial and friendly with each other is a good thing, no? I think all these conspiracy theories about cartels and anti-competition rackets is pure paranoia. People seeing what they want to see.

From: Kelly Evans 04 August 2015 09:41 AM

There has always been a prime market and there will always be one in the future. The sooner you get over that, and appreciate the benefits this brings to the economy, the sooner you'll stop being so bitter about those who have worked hard to earn their money. Back to the article in question, 146 images does seem excessive. But, as Helen points out, if that is what works for Blenheim Park Estates then so be it. It's not exactly going to break the internet, is it? Live and let live. Something Jon Tarrey struggles to understand.

From: Kelly Evans 03 August 2015 17:02 PM

Not surprised to see easyProperty struggling. This job can't just be done by everyone, despite what some of the comedians here will tell you. You actually need to know what you're doing, you need local knowledge, experience and expertise. easyProperty, with the swagger and complacency of a big brand, thought they could just stroll in and take over the industry. But, whaddya know, it hasn't happened. Can anyone actually tell us how well the lettings arm of their business is doing? Or will we have to wait until they float? I, too, know of no-one who has used their services, but maybe they are being absolutely inundated and are just keeping very quiet about. Which, given the brashness and confidence of the easy brand, seems highly unlikely.

From: Kelly Evans 30 July 2015 11:40 AM

The anti-OTM rhetoric here is ridiculous. OTM was set up to help agents, to show RM and Zoopla that they couldn't do whatever the hell they liked and not be challenged on it. Monopolies and duopolies are frowned upon in every other walk of life, but in the property industry it seems to be somehow OK. Maybe because estate agents are all lazy, overpaid, corrupt wrong'uns who should just put up or shut up, right? RM and Zoopla should be able to charge any fees they like and no-one says anything about it, that's the dream for some people here. I take all the research and analysis from so-called experts with a massive pinch of salt. Every time it's something different, what are we to believe? Everyone seems to have their own agendas, so I don't think even the independent research can really be trusted. I can only go from personal experience. From what I've seen, and many others I know have seen, OTM is doing a fantastic job for a large majority of agents. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

From: Kelly Evans 28 July 2015 10:07 AM

So, because of the actions of a few agents in From Russia With Cash, we're all going to be tarred with the same brush. That figures. Yes, thank you, the National Crime Agency, most of us are aware of our responsibilities and we follow procedures and regulation to the letter. You don't need to patronise us in this way!

From: Kelly Evans 27 July 2015 12:04 PM

The search facility works just fine. This just sounds like sour grapes from an anonymous bod at Spicerhaart unhappy with the direction the company is heading in. Doesn't the mystery agent think there might be a reason why Spicerhaart have signed up to OTM? Maybe, despite what all the anti-OTMers on here say, the portal is actually performing above expectations and is providing a fantastic service for many agents. That's certainly been my experience, which means I find it hard to fathom the constant doom-mongering I read in the comments section here. A lot of people are going to be made to look very silly.

From: Kelly Evans 27 July 2015 12:00 PM

Give them time, Felicity. They recently announced plans to fast-track decisions on brownfield sites and give more powers to local councils over planning. The Budget was, in fact, very assertive when it came to housing, Recognising the mistakes on housing in the last few decades and coming up with a wide range of measures to correct those mistakes.

From: Kelly Evans 22 July 2015 14:59 PM

Always with the sly dig at OTM, Jon. Why am I not surprised? This article has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with OTM, but you still couldn't help yourself. If it wasn't so sad it would be pathetic. Also, I don't see how this article in any way suggests that Zoopla have bounced back. It's just about a load of people buying up shares, isn't it?

From: Kelly Evans 22 July 2015 14:56 PM

@Franki Chaffin Edwards - good points. We all know - even the more militant online agents who will insist otherwise - that high street agents offer an excellent and worthwhile service. If we didn't, there wouldn't be so many different branches around, there wouldn't be so many new firms popping up all over the place. There is no point in trying to kill off the high street, because it won't happen. I have no problem with online agents existing alongside traditional agents and hybrids, it's only when certain people spout off about the death of the high street agent the new online revolution that I get very defensive. Because it's patently nonsense!

From: Kelly Evans 21 July 2015 10:45 AM

I'm with you on that, John. I don't think consumers will really care about the difference between private sellers/agent listings when they come to buy. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think buyers would pay much attention to the nitty-gritty details, they'll just go after the house they like the look of the most, regardless of who is selling it.

From: Kelly Evans 21 July 2015 10:39 AM

Finally, Labour realising how regressive and toxic this tax is. A few months too late, though.

From: Kelly Evans 21 July 2015 10:27 AM

@Simon - you have a crystal ball that is able to predict the future, do you? I think you might be made to look very silly.

From: Kelly Evans 29 June 2015 17:47 PM

Stats can be made to fit any agenda. We've seen that with all the anti-OTMers on here. As I've said before, smacks of people running scared. Why are people so keen to point out that OTM is failing? Where is the actual evidence to support that? I thought agents deserted Zoopla for OTM, or have I missed something?

From: Kelly Evans 29 June 2015 17:46 PM

Finally, Labour are starting to see sense over this punitive, illogical tax that would have done more harm than good!

From: Kelly Evans 23 June 2015 09:56 AM

Aren't you supposed to be retired? Can't you go and play golf or move to Spain so we don't have to listen to your ill-informed rants against the industry? It's tiresome. Anyway, fully agree with Mr Brooke-Smith. People soon find that going it alone or going through an online agent turns out to be a disaster. Back they come, looking sheepish, asking for those with actual knowledge and experience of the sector to help them out. If selling a house was really that easy, estate agents wouldn't exist. Truth is, it's a lot harder than it looks and those who go down the DIY route soon find that out the hard way.

From: Kelly Evans 19 June 2015 11:36 AM

That's a spot-on description, Richard. The Ryanair of the property industry. No-one seems to have much time for them and yet people still use them and they do great business. It makes no sense.

From: Kelly Evans 18 June 2015 13:40 PM

Lots of people here dancing on the grave of OTM over one poxy resignation, it's just nonsensical. Seriously, people, get a sense of perspective! As Paul House explained y'day, this sort of thing happens all the time. It's a normal situation. But the anti-OTMers will find any excuse to froth at the mouth and get all worked up over nothing. It's pretty pathetic.

From: Kelly Evans 17 June 2015 11:59 AM

Actually, Rob, if you read it properly, you'd see it says 'no decision has yet been taken on a replacement'. That doesn't mean it won't happen. It just means it hasn't happened yet. Your desperation to have little digs at OTM at every possible opportunity is quite laughable. People who use them are happy with the service they are offering - get over it already!

From: Kelly Evans 17 June 2015 09:46 AM

@Jon, do you have any idea how much high-end buyers pay into the Treasury? They are taxed at every possible opportunity, yet bleeding-heart liberals like you are still not happy. Whether you like it or not, we need the prime Central London market, we need the investment, otherwise we'd be looking a lot worse off in the economic stakes.

From: Kelly Evans 16 June 2015 10:45 AM

Is this news? Yes, he's resigned from the board but his company are still part of OTM and still advertising it prominently. There is no knowing why he's quit, just speculation and conjecture.

From: Kelly Evans 16 June 2015 09:23 AM

Don't give up the day job, Simon! :)

From: Kelly Evans 16 June 2015 09:21 AM

All the usual experts here pronouncing the death of OTM! It's beyond belief.

From: Kelly Evans 15 June 2015 12:29 PM

Well said, Rookie! People aren't forced to use estate agents, are they? They do it out of choice. If they want to try and sell their house themselves, good luck to them. They'll quickly realise how much work it involves. They'll soon be back to a branch, tails between their legs, asking us to take over. Estate agents offer a vital service and charge a proportionate fee for it. This whole idea that people can just go out and do it on their own is a myth that is perpetuated by the media to keep up the stereotype of greedy, evil estate agents screwing their clients over. Anyone who thinks being an estate agent is a bed of roses should come join me for a week and they'll soon change their mind!

From: Kelly Evans 09 June 2015 10:32 AM

@Hafsid Jalal - you're not the only one. I think I need a lie down.

From: Kelly Evans 08 June 2015 10:11 AM

This issue is nowhere near as bad as it's being made out to be. As usual, blown out of proportion by those with vested interests. Ridiculous.

From: Kelly Evans 05 June 2015 14:33 PM

Speak for yourself, Fake Agent. My standards are just fine, thank you very much!

From: Kelly Evans 05 June 2015 14:32 PM

Kristjan, this is what people don't seem to understand. They had to have the exclusivity rule, not to be anti-competitive but because it makes logical sense. OTM's whole modus operandi is to break up the current portal duopoly of RM and Z. If they then say, well, if you join us, you can still remain on both, then how is that going about achieving their aim? It's nonsense. If people don't agree with the one other portal rule, as many don't, then they simply don't sign up to OTM. If they are fed up of the portals milking agents dry, then they do sign up. As someone said elsewhere, OTM isn't forcing agents to sign up. There is such a thing as personal agency. This anti-competition nonsense is just a desperate attempt to scaremonger. More people afraid of OTM's potential success.

From: Kelly Evans 04 June 2015 13:13 PM

@FakeAgent - do you really believe the drivel you write?

From: Kelly Evans 04 June 2015 10:31 AM

Finally, John, some sense. This is being blown out of all proportion by people with vested interest and those who passionately oppose OTM. Mountain out of a molehill as they say. When did we lose our sense of perspective!?

From: Kelly Evans 04 June 2015 10:30 AM

Simon, you've been so virulently anti-OTM, do you really expect us to believe you would join if they suddenly dropped this so called exclusivity rule? To call OTM a cartel is utterly ludicrous, it's not even close to being that and I think you know that, deep down.

From: Kelly Evans 04 June 2015 10:27 AM

No. It was the global financial crisis that caused the last recession, not high house prices. So, unless the banks play up again, I can't see this changing anytime soon. And house prices were one of the few things that kept growing even while the government had to tighten the purse strings and cure the mess Labour had left behind.

From: Kelly Evans 02 June 2015 10:03 AM

No! This is a shameless gimmick that buys into the lie that all estate agents are evil, greedy, unscrupulous devils whose only intention is to milk as much money from their clients as possible. You do know that there are estate agents out there, many in fact, who already do things in a ethical way. They don't call themselves ethical, because that's just taken as read. Your disenchantment with the industry is making you look past all the good work many agents do. We're not all monsters and you know that full well. But the public like a scapegoat - and politicians, traffic wardens and estate agents are easy targets.

From: Kelly Evans 02 June 2015 10:01 AM

Yes, lots of great policies here. I think your reservations are misguided. Lewis has got his head screwed on and knows what he's doing. Just think how bad things could have been if Labour had got into power. The market would have been in chaos at the thought of a mansion tax and rent controls, etc. We dodged a bullet there.

From: Kelly Evans 28 May 2015 10:48 AM

As I've said before, why have people got such an issue with people owning their own homes? This will help people who couldn't otherwise afford it onto the property ladder - I thought that's what the socialists wanted! But no, it must all be some sort of evil Tory plan. The paranoia is ridiculous. They've said the housing stock will be replaced, so what's the issue? One for one, it's quite simple. It's a fantastic policy, just as Thatcher's original policy was. A property owning democracy, that's the dream. And a policy like RTB will push this closer to reality.

From: Kelly Evans 28 May 2015 10:46 AM

Pointless, overpriced gimmick that does nothing to speed up the sales process. Not surprised online agents and 'innovators' like Rob are proclaiming this to be the best thing sliced bread, not taking into account the time, cost and effort virtual tours need. And then the person still has to visit the property in the flesh anyway - what's the point!!?

From: Kelly Evans 27 May 2015 12:58 PM

Hmm, odds on how long they'll last?

From: Kelly Evans 26 May 2015 10:54 AM

@Rob Davies - maybe because extra regulation means more people who have nothing to do with property interfering on matters they know nothing about.

From: Kelly Evans 26 May 2015 10:52 AM

This always happens. Slow down in the weeks and days leading up to an election, then a post-election bounce/boom. Now we have a stable government in place, the shackles will be taken off housing activity. Expect plenty of buying and selling - the thing we agents live for!

From: Kelly Evans 22 May 2015 10:11 AM

I don't think you really understand how estate agency works. You call yourself Fake Agent - do you have any experience in the industry or are you just an ill-informed outsider with a serious chip on your shoulder?

From: Kelly Evans 22 May 2015 10:07 AM

Bit worrying, but as Rob points out there are a number of reasons for this. It's very frustrating when the sales process drags on, but we just have to suck it up and get it on with it. Nothing will change anytime soon.

From: Kelly Evans 21 May 2015 13:18 PM

Spot on, Robert Ulph. Can't believe I'm actually agreeing with Russell Quirk, but on this topic I think he has a point. Now to go wash my mouth out with soap!

From: Kelly Evans 21 May 2015 13:16 PM

People in social housing being given the chance to own their own property? No, never, can't be allowed. Evil Tories! Right to Buy is a fantastic idea in principle. As long as the stock is replenished, as Hollinrake says it will be, what's the problem?

From: Kelly Evans 20 May 2015 10:07 AM

God, Rob, it was a lighthearted article about the effects of a popular programme on a certain area. It wasn't the place for your diatribe against second homes!

From: Kelly Evans 18 May 2015 12:58 PM

Is that a whole portion of chips on your shoulder, Rob? You couldn't sound more bitter if you tried.

From: Kelly Evans 15 May 2015 11:40 AM

She might be a good MP, but she knows absolutely nothing about property!

From: Kelly Evans 14 May 2015 11:11 AM

They've had lots of people queuing up to invest in them, but so far it would seem they haven't produced any actual results. Other than those naff adverts! I too would like to see how much net profit they have made so far. Would make for interesting reading.

From: Kelly Evans 14 May 2015 10:53 AM

Why not give them a chance before outrightly dismissing them?. You never know, they might surprise you by being absolutely brilliant. Fair enough, Francois made a big mistake over the expenses scandal. But everyone's allowed a second chance. Let's just wait and see how they get on before rushing to write them off.

From: Kelly Evans 12 May 2015 10:03 AM

Sour grapes. You lost, suck it up!

From: Kelly Evans 08 May 2015 10:22 AM

Totally agree, with Zoopla not Rob. Labour would scare off foreign investors and landlords, and would cause untold damage to the PRS. The housing market is relatively stable again, why risk wreaking havoc by changing the status quo?

From: Kelly Evans 06 May 2015 09:19 AM

Totally agree Simon. Rent controls and rent caps have never worked well in the past - they used to have them in the 70s and they were an absolute disaster then. I work in sales now, but I worked on the lettings side for many years. The posters above don't seem to understand the mechanics of the PRS. Their ignorance is quite astounding.

From: Kelly Evans 05 May 2015 11:22 AM

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