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Chris Mervyn

Branch & Marketing Manager

2077 Profile Views

About Me

Independent Estate Agent. NAEA Regional Executive for the Westcountry Region. Industry Blogger.

my expertise in the industry

Involved in the Property industry since 1998. First in media and marketing, then in Independent Estate Agency.

Chris's Recent Activity

Those that have been agents for a set amount of time will have their expertise taken into consideration on new training' or 'minimum standards' being set - and any training will have an amount of time to be implemented (2 years). The regulatory body will have teeth to suspend any agents not undertaking the necessary training/cpd but please don't get this 'association' or 'body' mixed up with one that can have a direct affect on the industry as a whole - that will not happen. The government are the only 'body' that can change the buying and selling process - which they will as they feel it is broken - as long as they are in power of course! I personally think that if done correctly this is great for the industry. I am sick of having to justify my own NAEA qualified, time honoured in the local market expertise against those who see selling a property as a 'quick buck'. Those days are long gone. But if done correctly the industry can start to become one that can rightly attach the words 'professional' and 'licensed' - and hopefully be seen in the public's eyes as comparable with other professional industries.

From: Chris Mervyn 15 July 2019 16:57 PM

More likely the government needs to be seen to be acting on voter want. Whilst I agree with your comment on overheads being too high, perhaps legislation could also be seen as giving more value to the Industry as a whole? Although this is not regulation of the Industry, it will hopefully make more noise in public of any complaints and issues - and if warranted the need for regulation of estate agency (selling of property in general). So, higher quality agents and a change in the publics perception that they now have to pay more for the use of a 'professional' to work on their behalf could be a result also?

From: Chris Mervyn 24 January 2019 12:56 PM

There is a distinct difference between marketing a property and actually negotiating and selling. The latter needs empathy, knowledge, expertise, humour, the ability to adapt and above all the personality of a human being. What we are seeing for those Estate Agents who grasp the opportunity, is a widening gap between those that are low fee and those who offer high quality in all they do. So it's not even an 'online v high street' argument - more an agent having the ability to prove their worth to the consumer. Even social media, whilst definitely having a big say in marketing a property in the future, will not replace the very best estate agents. Whether those agents choose to be based in a community or elsewhere is irrelevant.

From: Chris Mervyn 24 January 2019 12:20 PM

Totally agree Richard - unless you have the marketing budget of a small country and the very best agencies enlisted. The word Remax springs to mind.

From: Chris Mervyn 03 October 2018 12:10 PM

Thought that was a great mix of football knowledge and estate agency name dropping. Well done Paul!

From: Chris Mervyn 04 July 2018 12:06 PM

'the misery every NO SALE - NO FEE agent feels when another mis-leading statement is made by Purple Bricks against them by spending thousands of pounds and being left to advertise however they like. '

From: Chris Mervyn 02 July 2018 12:29 PM

‘Reality gap’ between the typical asking price of homes on sale and the price they actually sell for?... with no mention in the piece of any percentage difference between a marketed price and an achieved price, just average sold prices and average selling prices? Sounds like someone at a newly merged company is realising that when you let the vendor dictate the asking price you perhaps have a stock of over-inflated properties not selling and vendors unwilling to reduce. Or is it just a poorly written piece to fill a page?

From: Chris Mervyn 21 June 2018 12:01 PM

Interesting to see what the AI and voice search brings. Rightmove and Zoopla do bring in leads at the moment but once consumer trends start to change to newer technology, it will be interesting to see which way Rightmove go in particular. At the end of the day if the public want you on a platform then you need to be on there - then its simply up to you how much more you spend, if at all. Regarding On the Market itself you have to simply judge on the same criteria 'Does my consumer ask me about On The Market?' If they do then it forms some justification to consider perhaps. Those that have signed up will say 'what have I got to lose - its FREE for the moment?' But once they are on for 6 months and inevitably get a few leads through due to SEO, this will possibly form some justification for staying on the platform.... whilst all along the share price will grow due to confidence that the portal may be viable after all. And then again you could always use that classic estate agent line 'I just need one listing to pay for it'!!! The irony of an agent being on OTM along with RM and Zoopla should not be lost however.

From: Chris Mervyn 02 May 2018 10:39 AM

Long have estate agents been worried that Rightmove would be able to offer a private listing service - although you could say with the multitude of 'online' offerings available at the moment there already was a way for private listings to appear? Could this investment from a major digital company be seen as less a backing of Purple Bricks business model and more of a possible entry and ownership into an estate agency model?

From: Chris Mervyn 26 March 2018 12:46 PM

Why not a clearer distinction what they offer v what traditional high street agents offer? Any agent involved in a chain would tell you that despite the claims they also don't have an after sales dept (have you tried speaking to anyone!) Yet another difference. These are not Estate Agents - they are Marketing Agents. Sooner the public is made aware (strongly) - the better for the industry. https://plymouthpropertynews.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/buy-now-but-pay-later/

From: Chris Mervyn 05 July 2017 13:18 PM

Mike Lewis you are absolutely right on this. The industry is changing and I am heavily into pointing out the differences. Without consumer education and a more powerful reason for choosing a 'real' agent against other companies that now perhaps earn much more money from just ancillaries, then we'll all be complaining the same come this time next year etc etc. I'm on the board of the NAEA as the exec for the Westcountry and I do feel that the new 'Protected' Propertymark initiative is at least a step in the right direction. I would be keen to speak to anyone however in my region who has well thought out and constructive ideas about new legislation to push for which would enable more clout be put behind the new term 'Protected' too.

From: Chris Mervyn 23 February 2017 10:09 AM

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