Estate Agents - to cut fees, or increase them?

[googler]

Every time I go quiet for a while, you drop into petty insult mode.

"posture & bluster", indeed......

[googler]

Quick reply. Look back. I said neither of these things. You did.

[Darth Marty]

I think the u.k's agents get unjustified bad press in the main, in other countries the fee is 6-8% and they are highly regarded. As usual the press in this country make up general bullshit and it sticks, im sure there are bad agents out there but thats the same in any profession. One other point, someone said its good that over half of agents will go under, let only the strong survive. Thats all good & well but the strong arent necessarily the best, just the biggest and most profitable. I know of an agent who was extremely highly regarded locally who was in business for 20+ years, 2 man job and they offered brilliant customer service. Hes gone bust and theres a remax just down the road.

[googler]

"Hes gone bust and theres a remax just down the road."

...is this mentioned to have some significance?

[Darth Marty]

Yes, and I thought it was pretty clear in the context of the conversation so far.
Little independant = great service but closed
Remax = Generally shit service but still open

Backs up my point about the fella who said let the strong survive being wrong about that being in the best interests of everyone. The strong are not necessarily the best are they.

[Darth Marty]

I see your points, I do. I feel that Estate Agents, rightly or wrongly get slated way too much for basically doing what many other sales people do on a far less criticised basis. I dont quite understand why but id suggest it is because the agents are dealing with the biggest and most expensive purchase of the customers lives. Its like I said earlier, it seems to be a lose lose for the Agents because no matter the outcome the people still seem to hold a grudge. The 6-8% is based on American figures and of course the Realtors do some of the work that a conveyancing solicitor does in this country and they are all qualified Realtors, therefore I certainly am not saying that uk's agents get that much although I would like to see all agents becoming qualified, and not some 3 day course either, a proper well respected qualification which would hopefully go some way into lessening the ott criticism they currently get.
Anyway, back on track, I still feel that the current average fees of between 1-2% are fair, we charge 1.75% but negotiate down to 1.25% if the property & vendor are good for us.

[googler]

To homeseller;

In post 17, I said;
"Are you running one of these self-sale websites? If so, let us know which one, so we can have a look and see how successful it looks right now."

and later, in post 20;

"OK, if you're not running one of these sites yourself - which do you think are the good 'sell your own home' sites?"

and in post 22

"As I said; point me at any that you feel are successful, so's we can all have a looksee."

If you're not running one, that's fine, I'm not bothered if you are not, 'cos that's not really the question. The core question is - since you're such a proponent of these internet-based agencies, or self-sell websites, then (even if none of them are yours) -

1. Which do you think are the good ones? (and)

2. Do you think there are any good ones at the moment, or do you think they're still to come?

[googler]

Well, if there's lots of news of developments in the EA news websites, which sites (in your view) are these news articles referring to as the leaders and developers?

Do you agree with their choices?

Do you have an opinion yourself on these or any other sites?

Which sites are under discussion in the news sites you've read?

I'm not asking about you, I'm asking about which sites you're referring to, and what new developments they have.

Why should I tell you anything about myself in order to ask these questions, or debate them?

I've already mentioned other sites that I've seen advertised, recommended or promoted, and pointed out where I see them to be lacking, or where they've fallen by the wayside. Since you seem to be a supporter of similar sites, I'm interested in which you think are the leaders. If these are merely those mentioned in the EA news websites, that's fine - just say so, and tell us which news sites you've been reading (as long as that's not too personal a question.....).

[googler]

Post no 22 mentions two of them, one of which was promoted in a thread at this site, the other of which was mentioned in an online article, but not necessarily promoted there. You could Google the article title that I mentioned.......

Should I feel obliged to find some more?

[googler]

Why?

You're the one who's saying all the new developments are in online estate agency, that the future of house selling is in the online world, etc etc - but you want my opinion first on a number of sites that you can't or won't name....?