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Ed Mackenzie Smith

Chairman

2672 Profile Views

About Me

Estate agent since 1972

my expertise in the industry

Various positions in the industry culminating in founding and running my business since 1992.

Ed's Recent Activity

Whilst totally in support of RoPA and the need for minimum standards I do think that regulation should also be applied to aspiring or existing MP’s given the appalling quality across the political spectrum. I suggest a similar sentiment as per the last paragraph of your article. However, currently there no minimum standards to work representing people of this country and there are no statutory rules to ensure those governing are suitably qualified. This amendment is an opportunity to provide a greater level of protection for voters and should be widely supported.”

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 19 January 2024 09:12 AM

Agents need to stop pandering and start advising. If everyone got a grip on their pricing, and said it as it is, then the rest will follow irrespective of the market.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 01 June 2023 10:01 AM

PS And escalate to their internal complaints team quickly. This provides structure to your problem.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 24 March 2023 09:32 AM

My experience with Barclays was good. That's because I have a customer account manager who took responsibility. My experience with another bank was dreadful. They claimed to have written (I'm satisfied they did, but with the post office it could have gone anywhere) but we never received their letter requesting info. They could not explain why they did not email to create an electronic trail. It took me a year to reopen the account only after escalating it to their complaints team. Even dealing with them was a nightmare resulting in being passed around 11 different departments and finally ending up with the one I started. Fortunately, it was just a savings account. The key is that you must not ignore any correspondence and you need a personal client manager who will take your call and take responsibility. I only deal with banks that have this structure. This is all about compliance fear. My view is that any correspondence to customers of this nature should be by special, signed for delivery.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 24 March 2023 09:30 AM

Looks like they will sell something this year then.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 01 March 2023 12:05 PM

Congrats from a 1972 £5.35 a week Mann & Co office junior

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 27 February 2023 09:41 AM

Spot on. SDLT rates have been a major factor in cutting off supply and maintaining higher values.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 20 January 2023 09:26 AM

There are a lot of people in this industry who are going to find out that estate agency isn’t just about winning an instruction.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 20 January 2023 09:22 AM

Spot on article. How many agents know how much it costs to sell or rent a property?

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 04 January 2023 09:51 AM

Thanks for the heads up.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 15 December 2022 08:00 AM

You used to pay newspaper’s

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 03 December 2022 08:38 AM

Some very good observations and plenty to think about. SDLT rates have in my opinion have affected the supply side considerably. The key next year will be transaction numbers rather than prices, but that’s just my opinion

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 18 November 2022 07:59 AM

Agreed all the developers we have represented only want to build and sell, that’s how they get their return

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 11 November 2022 17:27 PM

My point entirely Values will need to adjust and they will in a free and open way Many people in the agency industry will find that a difficult process to handle

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 11 November 2022 12:50 PM

So what will stimulate demand other than reductions in values?

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 11 November 2022 09:45 AM

So you are saying give great service and check out chains is what we should be doing?

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 07 November 2022 07:51 AM

Thanks for the update Zoopla.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 14 October 2022 08:44 AM

One of the main reasons for the reduction in supply has been the ever increasing stamp duty rates introduced originally by Labour and then continued under the Conservatives. This meant that the difference between price bands increased forcing people to renovate/extend rather than move - cutting off supply. I clearly remember in the 90's the cost of moving was very reasonable, the difference between what you sold and bought for, made sense. It made more sense than staying put and extending. All the key drivers have choked off supply - planning policies (we all agree more housing is required as long as it's not near me) - low interest rates (providing owners to sit tight and ride out an economic downturn)- the ability to let rather than be forced to sell (again cutting off supply) - and SDLT. (If you break down the cost of moving the bulk of the cost is tax) Any change should be permanent and not temporary; it should be a strategic move not sticking plaster. Consideration should be given to transferring the tax obligation away from the buyer to the seller.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 22 September 2022 09:36 AM

This is breaking news?

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 24 August 2022 07:44 AM

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 29 December 2021 12:28 PM

So 'No Sale - No Fee' Who would have thought that the conversion rate would improve if you promised to return up-front money? You really needed market research for that.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 06 July 2021 09:58 AM

Thanks for the head's up, Lee. Great to be kept up to date with the groundbreaking technology.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 30 March 2021 10:24 AM

I would say that every time I have spoken to one of the team they are always very helpful, they deserve better leadership.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 18 February 2021 14:10 PM

The last time I turned up for the annual meeting I thought I had arrived at a local council meeting discussing renewing playground equipment. We do need an organisation that reflects its membership but aligns itself to great consumer codes. I quite like Chris Bell's suggestion.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 18 February 2021 10:15 AM

Could the average 23 years to move be influenced by the rate of SDLT steering owners to reinvest in their home rather than trading up?

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 02 February 2021 08:42 AM

Stick to property.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 22 September 2020 16:46 PM

Would he charge nothing if he was using his own money?

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 20 July 2020 08:58 AM

Forgive the unprofessional response. You are a tosser.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 06 May 2020 12:02 PM

Which, of course, they aren't.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 02 March 2020 09:25 AM

Unless you use an Estate Agent.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 02 March 2020 09:16 AM

Excellent article.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 07 January 2020 10:04 AM

I don't often comment on these articles. A complete non story and a waste of print. I'd actually forgotten Tepilo had gone bust; that's how irrelevant these companies are. Chip paper.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 06 September 2019 09:30 AM

I have always thought their charges were very high for what they do. No incentive to get the deal over the line and how can a local property 'expert' have detailed and necessary knowledge of the patch given the size of the area they cover? On a slightly personal note I'm sick to death of these kind of people talking themselves up, disparaging people who have built their companies up through sheer hard work and commitment and of course with their OWN money.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 05 April 2019 11:50 AM

Providing customers choices on fees is more about hedging their bets on winning instructions

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 13 March 2019 08:04 AM

Wow Cost leadership

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 18 August 2017 12:46 PM

What a load of utter rot.

From: Ed Mackenzie Smith 25 August 2016 09:57 AM

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