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Written by rosalind renshaw

Estate agents come second to bottom in being the biggest rip-offs in Britain and also across Europe as a whole, a new study by the European Commission has shown.

Both in the UK and across the EU, used cars come one place above estate agents, whilst all that keeps agents from bottom place is financial investments.

They are the three markets found to be the most likely to fail consumers, according to the 2010 Consumer Markets Scoreboard.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health & Consumers ranks 50 markets in all 27 EU member states, based on research among 500 consumers in each country, all with recent purchasing experience in each market.

They were asked about such factors as trust, customer satisfaction, complaints, ease of switching and cost.

Consumers across Europe were most satisfied with food and drink, whilst funeral services also scored highly.

But markets with consistently low scores were investments, ‘real estate services’, used cars, internet provision, and railways.

Estate agents scored poorly in all the EU countries, coming bottom in the Czech Republic, France, Luxembourg, Latvia and Slovenia.

In the UK, the worst markets were: investments, estate agents, second hand cars, car repairs, gas, and legal and accountancy services. But UK consumers were relatively pleased with credit and mortgage services, giving them a higher ranking than their overall EU rating.

Comments

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    This doesn't really surprise me that people are dissatisfied with their real estate agents. Especially in a down market agents are just struggling to get buy, so of course buyers and sellers could feel pressured.

    Courtney H.
    Commission Agent1

    • 04 June 2011 00:46 AM
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    You obviously don't pay the bills for a successful company. How about the bills for high street shop, newspaper advertsing, web advertising, regulatory registrations to this and that, phone bills, stationary (you want to see how many trees are disappearing) and of course staff wages etc etc etc etc etc!

    • 02 November 2010 10:30 AM
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    Sorry Tim but having read your post I am a bit confused.
    High Street premises, car, phones, portal fees, newspaper advertising, wages, national insurance, public liability etc these are all costs.

    The long term average fee of the property sales that complete has to be 1.5% to deliver a profit of about 0.25%
    Yes the vendor who completes is paying a high price when taken in isolation but inevitably given that they probably have a history of having a couple of aborted whimsical attempts to sell, they are simply paying the agent for the collective effort he has put in over the years for them.
    If people didn't shoplift white Primark T shirts could be sold for 50P instead of the 99p
    If everyone paid their TV licence the cost would fall.

    Pay agents to value the property, (2 hours at £150/hour) pay agents for every advert that appears (50p/col cm), pay for portal listing (£50), pay for negotiation time (£25/6minutes) and then agents could reduce their fee to 0.25%

    • 29 October 2010 11:08 AM
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    Tim
    Can I respectfully suggest that your gurning avatar does not help the credibility of Estate Agent Today. It might be amusing to you but personally I think you are doing Ros Renshaw a dis-service. I do not bother to read your posts because (to me) the avatar announces something about your state of mind and your likely opinions, to that end it doesn't give any credibility to you either
    I apologise if that is your natural look and will ask the administrators to rmove this post.

    • 29 October 2010 07:48 AM
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    Mr Hendry
    All of my posts have been courteous, even in the face of you aggressive hostillity towards anyone who disagrees with you. I have respected your "wouldn't it be brilliant if" suggestion and it is your refusal to engage with civil questioning that leaves me unable to show you why your scheme simply will not work.
    There is a certain irony in the "e" relationship we enjoy. You are acting like a very typical discontented vendor and I am remaining polite, albeit at times blunt, which is the way that good estate agents and teachers have to deal with aggressive vendors or remedial students. it simply takes restraaint and patience.
    I am more than happy to engage in your video debate for nothing, but asked the question "why is it always all about money with you estate agents? Why are you whinging about paying a fair fee for my service. I quoted you half of what I expect for such an appearance and was putting the othert half up myself and was intending to donate the full fee to charity.
    The industry won't benefit from seeing the video, the general public won't benefit, NFoPP will just have a good laugh and central government will keep your idea filled where it is now. The only person to gain is you and therefore like a vendor gaining from the sale of their property you ought to be prepared to pay the commercially established going rate.

    • 29 October 2010 07:38 AM
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    I get your point and agree with it.


    BUT, "the ignorant forget that marketing isn't cheap" hold on a minute, EAs have no stock to buy, no warehouses to store their goods, no machinery to make their product, no trucks and vans to deliver it. Marketing is one of the few expenses they do have. Marketing is supposed to be what they do, yet most do only the minimum they can get away with.
    In proportion to that... their fees ARE high and that is why the public think they are a rip off.

    • 28 October 2010 18:30 PM
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    The only marketing that is expensive is marketing that does not work.

    The good stuff works, pays for itself and turns a profit.

    • 28 October 2010 15:41 PM
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    Mr PropertyMatch: FOR THE LOVE OF ADA - WILL YOU WIND YOUR NECK IN! You turn EVERY post you churn out into a negative about the role of an Estate Agent; their motives - yet YOURS are far from clear but starting to come to the surface (and I will continue to scratch away...); and the need for change to your way of thinking. Okay, last time I checked, you had not usurped the (elected)Government by way of coup, so I assume you are in no position to force these plans upon us - so we will put that one on a VERY low gas for now, as I reckon that is one of your fuuture plans. Mr Daws simply suggested that you pay monies towards what he believes to be an extremely worthwhile cause for your five minutes of fame. What is so wrong about that? Think of it as an investment: the amount of publicity you would get as a result would be worth far greater return, surely? Or do you not subscribe to the old adage that ANY publicity is good publicity. You certainly SEEM to - judging by current performance... Now to your latest snippet of brilliance - " It would be better to make estate agents serve the market - rather than just the seller (and themselves)." How does THAT work, then? You see, Estate Agents are appointed by the vendors (that's the seller, by the way...) - to serve VENDOR'S needs. Vendor pays for results. Buyers' Agents (if and when used...) are appointed by the BUYER - to serve the BUYERS' needs. Buyer pays for results. Do you suggest that ONE Agent is appointed to serve the needs of the PROPERTY, and the property pays the Agent? Come on - I'm DYING to hear this one... ;0)

    • 28 October 2010 12:48 PM
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    As usual all gone pear shaped with anti-agents. No wonder the research highlights ignorance.

    Slowly we got to the route of the problem which will never go away within any industry....

    MONEY MONEY MONEY.

    The route of all evil. Yes you can pay a rather hefty bill but not all are. Agents are money grabbing so and so's is commonly heard. Well as some have posted you want to see what we have to deal with, try working in estate agency and see the shit (pardon me) one gets from vendors and buyers and who then have the nerve to run off without paying their dues etc etc. The list is endless, and nothing to do with the estate agent conduct.

    The ignorant forget that marketing is not cheap, but the consumer doesn't think about that, just make sure I can have a no sale=no fee clause, I know I'm asking to much Mr Agent but it's not going to cost me anything if it doesn't sell and you will put it on the market for the price I want! Where do they think the money comes from to cover the expenses?

    Well it comes from the commission of those properties that did sell. So it's not all profit and reality is if you can't make a profit running a business, you wont stay in business for long. Other business can make a profit, why can't we? And why shouldn't I have a nice car, holidays and be allowed to buy my kids presents? The consumer deems that to be their right! Jealousy??

    The public persception is agents are loaded, some are and some aren't = fact. They don't like handlig it over, a large sum during which for some is a stressful time of life = resentment. Compounded if the agent wasn't exactly to your liking, maybe the agents fault, maybe not.

    The consumer is happy to get a safe and secure salary every month without any hassel, live in a big house, two cars, luxury holidays etc etc and yet the estate agent only gets the dosh for success, not failure. Jealous, ignorant, selfish consumers will always hate anyone they have to pay fee's to. Thats life.

    The majority of the time it's the agent stuck between vendors and buyers attitudes!

    Many are happy with us, so much so I have had to confiscate all the box's of chocloates they keep getting lol, otherwise they wouldn't look like those stereotype agency staff some seem to hate!

    • 28 October 2010 11:11 AM
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    I've just seen your staggering message. Please understand, I don't sit constantly peering into the screen at various blog sites and don't intend to let them to take over my life in the way they appear to for some.

    In response however Mr Daws, you don't need your birthday suit for such an appearance. You've obviously got the wrong end of the stick - yet again.
    Why does anything an agent does, always have to be associated with cash being paid to someone?

    Of all the foolish, ignorant, pathetic and tragically misbegotten notions you have, this one beats them all. Lets be real, please.

    As an occasional contributor to this blog, I agree with those who are saying that the tone of it, lets all estate agents down.

    If the quality of these bloggers is representative of the knowledge and training of current day estate agents, no-wonder they have a pretty shoddy reputation right now.

    I'm interested in sharing ideas about the pressing need for a complete re-think in the way estate agents make their sales.

    The housing market has not (and cannot) function anything like perfectly, under their care and control. Change is overdue.

    It would be better to make estate agents serve the market - rather than just the seller (and themselves).

    • 28 October 2010 10:07 AM
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    Ah at last were getting to the bottom of it .... money, money, money. The route to all thats evil.

    • 28 October 2010 10:04 AM
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    Details and conditions of my acceptance have been posted on the story which has slipped down to page two.
    (if Mr Hendry's donation is matched by other donations to a total £40,000 I will say all I have got to say wearing my birthday suit)

    • 28 October 2010 09:22 AM
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    OI! George - he wants YOU in the ring as well, matey! ;0)

    • 27 October 2010 16:34 PM
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    Mr Hendry you can call Mr Bolton King and report me if you like.You have got my name. Perhaps now you are back you could return to the other discussion and have the decency to reply to a few of the questions raised.

    • 27 October 2010 15:58 PM
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    How does an industry that is aparently so bad manage to carry on? How come there continue to be so many Estate Agents in the every town and city all over the country. Given that the industry is almost 100% result driven commission why does Joe public continue to fund their particular, freely chosen crooked Spiv?
    Here is the reality for the bloke who thinks his best Gurn is a suitable avatar, the life long non achiever who promised himself he wouldn't post on here ever again because he might be forced to explain away the holes in his ego fuelled plans but now want his celebrity endorsed by an EAT funded video fight with Peebee, plus all of the other folk who got shafted by another applicant with more funds, the majority of vendors are happy to pay a fair commission for a fair service. If Estate Agents are involved in criminal activity then presumably the mortgage industry, conveyancing industry and land registry are all involved too

    • 27 October 2010 15:39 PM
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    Explain "chauvanist pig", please. You ARE a woman, are you not? Remove the chip from your shoulder, please - and put it somewhere warm where the sun won't fade it!

    • 27 October 2010 10:25 AM
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    Shut up you chauvanist pig. I can dislike his ramblings but at the same find it amusing that he obviously thinks himself so perfect and right all the time. Funny that he is so sad.

    • 27 October 2010 10:11 AM
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    It all depends Harry, I am currently looking to buy another 2. It really doesn't matter what happens to the value of the property as long as the mortgage is covered by the rent. With 30+ applicants chasing every property there is a positive rent inflation pressure. With rent yields locally about 7% and finance 3%, the net gain of 4% is better than the money in the building society.
    If I wait for there to be a rise in the market I stand every chance of missing out or paying 10% more than I need to. A single month of house price inflation (if and when it happens) buys me 3+ years of waiting time.
    If you are buying 1 property to live in yourself the big challenge is finding a mortgage to fit your aspirations, deposit and earnings. With a relatively finite commodity the long term trend has to be upwards.

    • 27 October 2010 09:45 AM
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    Tim: completedly on the money - although I would have to say that the faction you refer to are present in almost EVERY marketplace. It just so happens that some believe that Agency is easy meat and looks a bit flash to boot. Don't worry - they are quickly realising it's 10 years of famine for two years of feast. The sooner they leave the job to the REAL Estate Agents of this world, the better...

    • 26 October 2010 15:49 PM
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    E.Hessan to Jonnie: "...I' not the only one who dislikes your arrogant ramblings - albeit it is funny to read..." MAKE YOUR MIND UP, WOMAN!!

    • 26 October 2010 15:43 PM
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    Paul: Good point to start out with, and a neat twist on the old 'count the SOLD boards, not the FOR SALE ones! Of course, it is open to abuse by Agents who fail to remove listings that are sold - but I know RM are culling themselves so maybe it is as good an indicator as any!

    • 26 October 2010 14:29 PM
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    Absolute rubbish!! If i spoke to customers like i am spoken to in 99% of retail, doctors, etc i would go bust in hours. People are never happy when they over price their house and it doesn t sell. Pay me 2% up front if you want a service. Cant guarentee i will sell your house though so u will still be upset.

    Its the nature of the beast. Agree that eu is the real rip off.

    • 26 October 2010 14:29 PM
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    Fair point on the HIP providers some agents did give them hell but it wasn’t at the individuals more at the ‘economy’ that it created.

    The thing is that now they’ve all gone the only bloke that ended up with a decent job from it was Mike Ockenden – he was a popular chap on these pages.

    I believe that a lot of civil servants are on their way out and like you HIP guys no one will miss them – you are the ‘Diversity & Equality Outreach Coordinators’ of the property world – unlike the various non jobs in government though you have skills and knowledge that has a place in the real world so chin up and all that.

    Jonnie

    • 26 October 2010 14:22 PM
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    There are good and bad agents - I think we can take that as read - but just because some give bad service it doesn't make them rip-offs per se.

    The rip-off in my eyes is the fact that nearly all estate agents charge extortinate percentage-based commissions. Moreover this percentage is often based on the asking price not sale price and some vendors may be charged even if the agent didn't actually sell the property themselves.

    Commissions also have the nasty side effect of distracting too many estate agents with the lobbying for higher prices so that they can make more money instead of concentrating on their levels of service and other core business.

    The answer is a fixed fee model with lower than commission fees. This could be tiered to deliver premium levels of service for higher paying customers. This is fairer, the fees can easily be made transparent, it frees up agents from worrying about house price fluctuations and it goes some way to repair the tarnished reputation of estate agents in this country.

    • 26 October 2010 14:20 PM
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    No - I don't agree. Firstly, it was the HIP itself that took much of the vitriol from posters on here. There was, I agree, quite a bit of abuse hurled (wrongly, in my humble opinion...) at certain individuals - essentially the big names in the companies. As I stated ad nauseum, HIPs were the flawed creation of a flawed government. HIP providers, DEAs, Home Inspectors etc simply jumped on the bandwagon that promised to lead to riches. Can't blame them - SOMEONE had to do it - but lack of control meant it all went Pete Tong even before the death sentence was carried out. There was no reason why Agents and HIPPs couln't get along - but it never happened. As far as the animocity goes, it was definitely six of one and half-dozen of the other as far as I could see. I wish you (and others in your situation) good luck with future ventures - and I am sure that many Agents would also. Just don't believe the next 'new' industry announced by this or any other govermnent will be any better than the last....

    • 26 October 2010 13:14 PM
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    ....eventually!

    Now that's what I call self-employment!

    • 26 October 2010 11:13 AM
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    IMHO, the problem is that the industry is frequented by cliche wielding, bull$h1t slinging spivs that could not sell a bucket of water to a man on fire.

    Shelf stackers who, unfortunately even if they stack their shelves badly the houses will (eventually) still sell themselves by default, and, the agent still receives a fat fee out of all proportion to the work involved.

    People buy houses. Agents don't sell them, they just think they do.

    Smart agents know that they don't sell houses, they market them. There is a difference.

    • 26 October 2010 10:52 AM
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    PeeBee your memory is short. The abuse thrown at most in the Hip industry (even the hard dilligent workers) was as bad, if not worse and was sustained for many many months. Just like bullies in a school playground, many who dish it out don't like it back. Bitter me, no! I am off to set up as a funeral services provider so I will get carried through the streets shoulder high!

    • 26 October 2010 10:22 AM
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    Mr Monk. I'll keep this brief - a first for me. Yes. Or no. Depends. Seek professional advice.

    • 26 October 2010 10:12 AM
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    Oh, dear - you have me worried now. Reporting me to the CEO of the NFoPP. Sorry - for what I ask...? Nice to see you fixed your web search facility, by the way. Not even going to thank me for pointing out it was offline? Ah well - always a pleasure; never a chore... ;0)

    • 26 October 2010 09:55 AM
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    Virgin poster: Considering the amount of unneccessary abuse the non-Agent posters hurled in this thread, I think that the Agent responses were extremely acceptable. Answer me this: you are obviously an ex-HIP worker. If someone had called you some of the things that these posters have, in the course of your duty - what would you have done or said? Oh - and I am NOT an Estate Agent so don't think I'm throwing my rattle out of the pram for MY sake - just some extremely hard and diligent workers who never get the credit they deserve for jobs bloody well done. THEY make up the majority of the Estate Agency profession - not the sharks that give the whole industry its' undeserved reputation. But - that's the same in EVERY industry, isn't it? Even HIPs had rotten apples in the barrel...

    • 26 October 2010 09:48 AM
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    Love it! :)

    • 26 October 2010 09:20 AM
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    Well if any members of the public get to read this thread they will be very reassured about the professionalism of estate agents. I also remember a lot of hatred was being thrown in the direction of Hip suppliers. What goes around comes around maybe? Anyway on a far more serious note, of course funeral services rate high, bit tricky for the customer/end user to complain! Have a nice day.

    • 26 October 2010 08:54 AM
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    Oh, Liam - I know you previously said you were young and impressionable - but you don't need to impress your Mother now! Tell her you're a responsible adult; you have a respectable job as an Estate Agent (despite what the numpties posting here are trying to convince us of - what's that about FFS??) - and you HATE brussels sprouts! Go on - you'll feel better for it I promise... ;0)

    • 25 October 2010 23:32 PM
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    Harry my angry little mate – simple question but not a simple answer……………ill try and explain.

    My brother in law has a big job in IT – cant explain what he does but over the last 3 years he has earned more and more and it keeps getting better for him, rocked up here in a Porsche not long ago and is looking at nice big houses to buy and looks set to keep his current one as a buy to let……………………he is what’s known as ‘Confident’ – park that word in you head for a minute.

    Then we have a pal of mine who’s and NHS manager – bit like the IT job I couldn’t tell you what he does but he’s bricking it right now, he’s not sure if he’s being made redundant, switching to an agency contract or what (and his partner is also in a similar position)……………………I think you have sussed it – he lacks confidence.

    So there is the answer – if you feel confident and have the money then buy the house you want and live in it, if you don’t feel confident then don’t move up market or alternatively sell up and rent.

    So as you are one of these blokes that flicks your self silly over house price indexes etc you lack confidence so no, don’t buy

    Jonnie

    • 25 October 2010 21:42 PM
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    Dear PeeBee,
    You are incredible horrible to me!

    Theres nothing wrong with my web site and anyway, thats got nothing to do with this debate, even if there was.
    This is not the first time I have been the butt of your pathetic ire.

    I was thinking of reporting you to Peter Bolton-King, but am not sure who you actually are. (For all I know, maybe you are him!)
    If you are going to try and be so insulting online - and have the courage, please, at least, reveal your identity.

    The fact that you get so v. angry about things suggests that you feel threatened by what is being said and are unable to produce a rational alternative argument.
    If I am wrong, or to resolve this matter, I would be prepared to meet you 'on camera', debate the issues face-to-face, and have the video published by EAT online the following day.

    In case you have forgotten, the issue we two were debating is: "The Call for agents to 'have to buy properties' they cannot sell"
    If you agree, please signify and reveal your identity. I shall then invite EAT to arrange the video debate.

    • 25 October 2010 20:27 PM
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    Quite easy to see which estate agent to use. Go onto rightmove website and look at agents total properties including solds and then without solds. By doing this you can see how many properties each agent is selling in relation to their total stock. EASY!!!

    • 25 October 2010 19:38 PM
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    OK, let's carry out a simple experiment. Let me pose one simple question, and you all answer as honestly as you can. Here goes.

    "I have heard that the Halifax say that the average house fell in value by over £6,000 last month, and I have also heard that unemployment is expected to rise by a million, and combined with the lack of mortgages, this is expected to cause house prices to plummet over the next few years. Is it a good time to buy a house right now?

    • 25 October 2010 19:26 PM
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    OIT!!!! wait just one darn second. I like brussel Sprouts ;)

    • 25 October 2010 17:48 PM
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    To quote you Harry "Estate agents are basically all crooked and thieving scum - good riddance to the thieving parasites" I've read the report and re-read it but nope I didn't see the above comments in said report. My gripe is not with the report, it's nothing new, but with your outrageous generalisation of all estate agents. Like I've said before, you are just on the band wagon like many others, however you are also a glory hunter.

    • 25 October 2010 17:30 PM
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    You are just plainly uninformed! One of the reasons that Agents are not as respected as some is because Vendors & Purchasers very rarely see the amount of work that is done without a fanfare, but most of the time they get results. Come into an office and do the job for a week and then you may learn something.

    • 25 October 2010 17:07 PM
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    You are just plainly uninformed!
    One of the reasons that Agents are not as respected as some is because Vendors & Purchasers very rarely see the amount of work that is done without a fanfare, but most of the time they get results. Come into an office and do the job for a week and then you may learn something.

    • 25 October 2010 17:06 PM
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    I can only assume that "Respected Female Estate Agent" has not read the article to which this thread relates, which makes it clear that estate agents are regarded as little more trustworthy than used-car salesmen. In my experience, estate agents are smarmy and dishonest people with salesmens' plastic smiles, so my own experience mirrors the experience of those surveyed in this poll.

    • 25 October 2010 16:58 PM
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    Fred Bobbins, what a very bitter person you are. You can not see the wood for the trees. I wasn't lying, merely stating facts. Clearly you have a chip on your shoulder and like to join the band wagon of slating estate agents. Things a bit boring in your life are they?

    • 25 October 2010 16:36 PM
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    To 'Respected Female Estate Agent' who has now demonstrated why Estate Agents are NOT respected. You see, no matter what language is slung at you, if you are in a profession you must take the moral high ground and simply make your case using an intellectual and well thought out argument, NOT simply resort to similar mud slinging as you have done. It's obvious to many that Estate Agency is not a profession seeing as any old jack/jane-the-lad/lass can set themselves up as an 'Estate Agent' without any sort of apprenticeship but merely the goal of ripping people off with an exorbitant fee. It's not even a 'craft' as becoming a craftsman takes years of dedication something the grab-it-now-high-fee-no-matter-what estate agents would be unable to comprehend. If Estate Agents were loved so much, why are we always seeing in the press negative stories about them. Oh yes you also demonstrated another thing Estate Agents are despised for. Seeing as you are NOT respectable resorting to the mud-slinging etc I mentioned above you are demonstrating the Estate Agent's love of quite simply lying.

    • 25 October 2010 16:25 PM
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    Funny isn’t it – while we’ve all be arguing today this bloke bimbles in and sums it all up in a few lines – brought more to the discussion than some of you while he was at it as well.

    Cheers Paul

    • 25 October 2010 16:02 PM
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    having just bought in july i dropped the estate agent a few quid for a job well done as they went above and beyond what was expected and it was a problem buy...some of them are very good and a lot are awful...just like lovers..

    • 25 October 2010 15:59 PM
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    Mr PropertyMatch: "I have already aired my suggestions for improving the housing market..." Might I humbly suggest one way that IS within your power - FIX YOUR WEBSITE!! No search results showing! Maybe getting your own house in order first would be a way to gain the ounce of credibility you seem to believe is owed to you. D'oh...! ;-(

    • 25 October 2010 15:52 PM
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    Not guilty with that post that was removed last time I am afraid - some clever dick posting as my name - wonder who would do that aye? I have a fair idea.
    FYI I commented this time becasue it made me chuckle that I' not the only one who dislikes your arrogant ramblings - albeit it is funny to read - it must be so great to be you - so perfect hmm!?

    • 25 October 2010 15:28 PM
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    Harry Monk cockney rhyming slang for something that begins with Sp. Sounds about right.

    • 25 October 2010 15:11 PM
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    – im flattered you are bothering to waste you breath by talking about me, and pleased to see you are still managing bring yourself to read my ramblings – although after that post of yours got removed by site admin last time (naughty girl) do tread carefully, made you look very silly indeed.

    • 25 October 2010 14:59 PM
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    – im flattered you are bothering to waste you breath by talking about me, and pleased to see you are still managing bring yourself to read my ramblings – although after that post of yours got removed by site admin last time (naughty girl) do tread carefully, made you look very silly indeed.

    • 25 October 2010 14:57 PM
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    WELL SAID, wooden top! Can't think of a more childish word to be used by adults than 'hate'. FFS get real, you lot - if you're going to hate anything, hate brussels sprouts like the rest of the world!

    • 25 October 2010 14:53 PM
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    E.Hessan: Kettle... frying pan... - now can you manage to fill in the blanks all on your little own or do you need someone to put the words into your mouth for you YET AGAIN???

    • 25 October 2010 14:50 PM
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    Touched some nerves! Hatred is something we can do without in this world and certainly not on this forum, please go away.

    I note solicitors are missing off the list.....

    In every walk of life, it's not the company that matters, it is the people, yes some poor but also some good. Historically estate agency has never had a good press, some justified, some not but you can't do without us and in a people buisness world there is no fix to get utopia.

    So how come the not so good get the business in the first place ... maybe the consumer should look in the mirror before answering, as many a case is caused by their behaviour, a very very long list.

    • 25 October 2010 14:47 PM
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    Oh dear indeed,

    Did I make you cross? – im sorry, now I think I should retract my age thing as you have demonstrated that despite your years you are articulate, mature and business like with your response and it doesn’t sound as though you are having a mild tantrum and should end it by blowing a raspberry.

    CONSUMER ALERT –

    Ignore the age thing, I was wrong on this one (again)

    Jonnie

    • 25 October 2010 14:43 PM
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    …….go on Harry, let it all out son, you’re okay – catch your breath…

    Jonnie

    • 25 October 2010 14:37 PM
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    Harry Monk:
    I agree with Female but it sounds like a wind-up in extremely poor taste by someone who is obviously not a professional.
    If your post was worth commenting on further I would do so.

    • 25 October 2010 14:36 PM
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    You missed out white socks and flip chart kid!

    • 25 October 2010 14:31 PM
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    We were having a conversation actually on something he wrote the other day, you are right: he IS patronising and THINKS he knows everything.

    I absolutely love your comment -
    "certainly don't go for the agent that tries to create a celebrity personality on an Estate Agency website"

    Couldn't have summed him up better - he should team up with PeeBee -

    "Peebee and the Wannabe"

    • 25 October 2010 14:27 PM
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    Harry Monk, you are an idiot, to say the least, and I can call you that because it's clear you are one. YOU can't call all agents crooked thieving scum because it isn't true. So you go back to reading your Viz comic and leave us grown ups alone, ok.

    • 25 October 2010 14:15 PM
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    Estate agents are basically all crooked and thieving scum... I predict that as house prices crash over the next 3-4 years that hundreds of them will go bust and good riddance to the thieving parasites.

    • 25 October 2010 13:50 PM
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    Jonnie, I am a valuer and am well under the age of 30. I pride myself on providing an excellent service. You are very patronising and seem to think you know everything. I often get compliments because I am honest, believe in my service and always provide accurate comparables. The best consumer advice is to go with the agent that offers the best value for money and certainly don't go for the agent that tries to create a celebrity personality on an Estate Agency website.

    • 25 October 2010 13:31 PM
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    I agree with Kevin Jenkins I see this all the time and it seems that many organisations employ numpties to do a proper agents job. Week after week there are houses being marketed at too much money and one corporate has an MD who at one time told staff after a month if not sold get 5% off the price or lose the instruction. They then go back to the client and show what a buch of dip sticks they are by showing evidence its too much money! Why dont they do this to start with? No wonder we get bad press.

    • 25 October 2010 12:42 PM
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    Dear Public,

    Ive created a consumer guide in 10 easy check points as follows;

    1. If you choose the cheapest agent it serves you right – some cost more for a reason
    2. If an agent turns up to value your house in a sign written car, turn them away –if they still only qualify for a sign written car they are not doing great career wise / aren’t able to value your house
    3. If an agent appears to use a lot of hair products – don’t use them
    4. Rings on little fingers – big no, no ditto bracelets, ring on index finger don’t even let them in your house (only applies to blokes)
    5. Any sign of a spray tan – walk away, big pillock alert (doesn’t apply to females)
    6. Don’t use one under the age of 30 if your selling, its okay if you’re buying, more junior staff do the viewings etc but valuers must be experienced
    7. If they try and sell you ‘free mortgage advice’ within the first 5 minutes of meeting them run away
    8. If they are wearing shoes that appear to have cost less than £50.00 be wary
    9. If they have one of those funny ways of shaking hands its not a Masonic thing they are just a berk
    10. Generally use your instinct but if they look like a monkey that’s been shaved, covered in glue then kicked through a branch of Top Man its fair to say you will not be a happy customer.

    Jonnie

    • 25 October 2010 11:57 AM
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    Well there's one thing for sure, surveys won't get to the public by means of the industries they represent...

    Having just sacked one estate agent for a dire lack of service (viewer says there's too much work to do - "what work?" - duh, we didn't ask them...) I am wondering who can be trusted to market my house and how to judge between companies. Word of mouth comes to mind, but the original recommendation of my now-sacked agent comes to mind....I suppose it's just a case that you can't get the staff these days...?

    • 25 October 2010 11:48 AM
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    Surely the biggest rip-off of all is the EU itself?

    • 25 October 2010 11:40 AM
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    Industry Observer:
    Here you go again!
    Same old outdated theme -your axe should need sharpening by now.

    • 25 October 2010 11:34 AM
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    The Law Society has just launched its new initiative, the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, due to become operational in January. The idea is to enhance the reputation of conveyancing solicitors, provide reassurance about integrity and practice standards, create a trusted conveyancing community (by lenders and insurers amongst others) that will deter fraud and provide a more efficient service for clients and work suppliers. Maybe something similar should be set up and put in place for estate agents? If anyone wants to understand the full details have a look under Latest News at www.theboldgroup.co.uk.

    • 25 October 2010 11:31 AM
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    I don't like generalisations as they are ultimately meaningless. I agree with the post below in that about 70% of agents in my area do not care for customer service just for fees. Regulate the industry and try and improve standards, but remember that this will improve the agents behaviour but not the actions of the clients.

    • 25 October 2010 10:57 AM
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    Oh I see! Sorry, I thought it was a good news story!

    • 25 October 2010 10:45 AM
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    Unbelieveable I expected to log in and see the usual self denial and that it's everybody else's fault but apart (so far) from Sidney these are surprisingly mature responses. Estate Agents have featured in the public's most hated list for decades and no matter what the market is, good, bad or indifferent. Don't any of you ever wonder why and try to address what are obvious issues the public has with your 'service'? I agree 100% with the comments and especially Kevin's. Only bankers and MPs and journalists currently sit below estate agents in any unpopularity poll and have done for ages. Oh and probably in a non United fans vote, Rooney. Someone quoted in another string where there were the most unbelievably patronising, arrogant and insutling comments being hurled about in the usual responses on house prices and whose fault it all is. It is a combination of 'faults' and tha value of anything is only what someone will pay for it but estate agents are prime movers in assessing values initially and, hopefully, having a talk with their client on realistic asking perices and, above all, speed of sale.

    • 25 October 2010 10:44 AM
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    I have used a local estate agent several times and i have to say they were worth every penny. Yes it was a lot of money - but on both occasions my agent made the deal happen by actively finding a buyer and then managing the deal to completion. I dont buy it that all agents are useless - it is just not true.

    • 25 October 2010 10:36 AM
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    Could the EEC now carry out a poll on the satisfaction or otherwise of of the Public of the EEC?

    They maybe surprised to see themselves well below Estate Agents.

    • 25 October 2010 10:36 AM
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    I'm afraid I agree with both of you.

    The problem is in fact beyond the control of most estate agents themselves, unless their governing bodies were to change the present way agents tout for business.

    I have already aired my suggestions for improving the housing market, in another blog here, but not surprisingly hardy any of the estate agents discussing this want to embrace any such changes.

    We would therefore appear to have a stalemate currently.

    • 25 October 2010 10:35 AM
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    Not suprised as most estate agents give little or no service.
    I'm an estate agent and I hate half of them. Some price homes higher than what the market value should be just to get the listing and then knock the price down later, at the customers expense. One gentleman called to say he had been on the market for two years and had hardly heard from his agent. For this man to sell his home at a realistic price he discovered that he no longer had an equity in his home and could not sell. If the agent kept his client updated weekly on his sale he would have changed his price, but now he cannot afford to sell. Does the agent care? Problem with the system in some agencies is that the agents are paid extra on listing properties. They should only get paid extra for selling. I could go on but I won't.

    • 25 October 2010 09:32 AM
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    Sadly, I tend to agree with the generalisation.

    Many agents give an awful service because they either don't know any better or, more usually, know full damn well that they are unlikely to suffer any consequences. It sickens me.

    • 25 October 2010 08:20 AM
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