“Time wasting, money grabbing buffoons”

I recently read the results of a national survey which listed estate agents as one of the most hated people among society, sitting comfortably below ticket inspectors.

The reliability of the source is not definite but it struck a chord – I too find ticket inspectors a perplexing species!

One person described us as ‘snake-oil parasites providing below average services for extortionate rates’.

I think this statement is a little harsh. Like many things in life, be it shops, mobile providers, insurers, friends, restaurants, you find what you like and what you have an affinity with.

Let’s be honest, nothing ever works out the way you’d like it to if you don’t like the person you have to deal with. So find an agent you like and trust.

This person goes on to say we don’t need qualifications or training, the industry isn’t regulated, we have stupid cars, we lie, we tell people the property is perfect for them when it isn’t, we are time-wasting money grabbing buffoons with our own agenda. He goes on still … to say that we hate other agents, we use boards as free cheap advertising, when the market is busy we perform terribly, Jesus loves us but that is it and we charge ridiculous fees.

Wow. That is a lot to take in. Is that really what the general public think of us? I feel compelled to smooth the waters, to throw in my two penneth, so let’s start at the beginning.

Firstly I’ve never had a snake or a parasite arrive at my house to give a valuation and I’m sure The Property Ombudsman (TPO) would have something to say about it if one tried to.

All agents should be regulated by TPO and if they are not, move on, find another. All agents are either trained before they start or trained on the job regularly plus they have targets to meet. Cars, why is this even an issue? I have a silver VW Golf, standard spec, I think it’s a good car!

Am I a liar? (“No I didn’t eat the biscuits mum. Richard broke that, not me. That’s not my alcohol. No I haven’t got a boyfriend Dad”. Maybe I am then). Most agents nowadays are far more interested in building lasting relationships with clients and getting repeat business. I can’t vouch for every agent, I can only hope they are not letting the side down, but if the clients likes a liar, then good match I say – leave them to it.

I’m not sure anyone would be so bold as to convince someone that a property was perfect for them. We point out the positive aspects – no good turning up and saying ‘Look, I’m sorry this is perfectly gross and smells and to be honest it’s not for you’. A better approach would be ‘There is potential here if you change a few things, you could do X,Y,Z and then it would be worth X amount’. One man’s perfection is another’s nightmare. Cheap advertising? – Or as I prefer to think of it – letting buyers from the city and outside know that there is a home available. More buyer interest generates more offers and ultimately achieves the best price, win win situation surely and no cost to agent or seller. After all, they may have missed it on Rightmove or On The Market, the new online independent estate agents portal.

When the market is buzzing, it’s true, it’s easy to have your eye taken off the ball. But an agent who has experience (and no doubt training!) will be an all-round performer. Seasoned directors like me have no excuses whatsoever, we are not even allowed to have Monday morning blues or that Friday evening feeling. As for ridiculous fees and what we do to earn them, that’s a whole other article, sometime very soon – and I shall be honest, I assure you. And for the record, I know there are others besides Jesus who love me. Amen.

Sarah Indraine, Jason Dean Estate Agents, 01273 727000.