http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/list/1 EN Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:13:08 +0100 Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:13:08 +0100 SE1 Discussion Phorum 5.1.6 600 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2770#msg-2770 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ismael) Of course they are not, they are UNREGULATED SALESMEN/SALESWOMEN (the massive majority not deciding to sign up to the voluntary regulatory body...god knows why?) and if you knew anything whatsoever you would know that the government are currently looking into issues of estate agents accountability and value for money. Complaints against estate agents signed up have doubled.

Anyone can become an estate agent tomorrow, whether they would last or be good is another matter. In fact, the last agent I came into contact with previously worked in Comet, therein lies a lesson for us all.

Academic study, don't make me fall off my Ron Arad chair]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2770#msg-2770 Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:13:08 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2727#msg-2727 forum@london-se1.co.uk (the loft man) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2727#msg-2727 Fri, 12 Jul 2002 01:22:16 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2650#msg-2650 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ignorance)
Now many people might associate vocation with the priesthood, or maybe teaching (there's an underpaid element creeping in there with the word vocation). I suppose it's the advanced learning of the professional exams that puts Chartered Surveyors, accountants, lawyers and the like within the definition.

Loftman & friends: is estate agency a profession or not? You've all gone very quiet here...]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2650#msg-2650 Tue, 09 Jul 2002 13:44:50 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2638#msg-2638 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ste.)
Maybe that's a problem in society as our most respected professions become debased - I'm talking about the ambulance chaser lawyers now but still you'd expect the above all to be honest of character and you can't say that about estate agents can you?]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2638#msg-2638 Mon, 08 Jul 2002 17:42:23 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2637#msg-2637 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ignorance)
Isn\'t everybody who works, in some way or other, a salesman?]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2637#msg-2637 Mon, 08 Jul 2002 16:19:35 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2635#msg-2635 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ste.) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2635#msg-2635 Mon, 08 Jul 2002 10:39:15 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2631#msg-2631 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ignorance) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2631#msg-2631 Sun, 07 Jul 2002 12:05:41 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2626#msg-2626 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ste.) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2626#msg-2626 Fri, 05 Jul 2002 16:59:02 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2623#msg-2623 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ignorance)
I admit to being ignorant and seeking advice, I always have done. I have been fascinated by your comments and wished I'd been able to read them months ago. However I still don't understand how refusing to let a potential purchaser see a property is of benefit to your vendor.

(By the way, Peter, as a member of a profession, it's a risk I wouldn't like to take; being struck off isn't much fun! Estate agents are not traders, they're members of a profession, and they're handling somebody else's property as agent, not their own. That's when you have to be much more careful and integrity becomes much more important.)

Good to see you are a sucker for fashion. Plaster has been used on townhouses for the last 200? 300? years. (Lets just ignore inglenook fireplaces in ancient rambling country pubs for the moment.) Exposed brickwork was a fashion introduced by lazy architects and builders in the 90s, and very popular it has proved too. Marvellous.

Problem is, it's a fashion (like open plan kitchens, lofts, dotcom shares etc.) and like all fashions it will have its day. Then you'll all be getting in builders to plaster over your bare brick walls, much as those who modernised their 'horrid, inefficient' wooden sash windows with uPVC double glazing have been forced to modernise back to 'traditional' sash windows.

You're welcome to your bare walls, good luck to you. Keep the economy turning when you decide to plaster them. But don't say I didn't warn you.

Of course your hundreds of architect friends will love the bare walls, but I'm sure they loved uPVC double glazing when that was first invented and wouldn't have dared let you modernise your house without ripping out the sash windows.

Meanwhile, I'm off home for the weekend to enjoy going up and down my staircase, and to change the colour of my walls (tricky that, with brick) and then mow the lawn. Have a good weekend.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2623#msg-2623 Fri, 05 Jul 2002 16:37:07 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2618#msg-2618 forum@london-se1.co.uk (christian) SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2618#msg-2618 Fri, 05 Jul 2002 09:38:20 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2617#msg-2617 forum@london-se1.co.uk (the loft man)
Needless to say your comment on the other discussion page about PLASTER WAS INVENTED FOR EXPOSED BRICKWORK, nearly bought me to my knees with laughter. I have forwarded your comments to 250 architects, 1,000's of other 'loft dwellers' in London and 'The Society for prevention of cruelty to Inglenook Fire Places'.

Plaster was invented for those lovers of Barratt Homes, PVC, Nylon and Chips with everything. Long live polished concrete!!]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2617#msg-2617 Thu, 04 Jul 2002 21:40:19 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2615#msg-2615 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Peter)
How would a vendor in a million years ever know, or be able to prove that an estate agent had (inappropriately) only shown their property to selective clients?

How would you argue against the view that those clients were targeted because they were the most suitable and likely to proceed as well as being nice?

You are wrong about your conclusion. 30 general buyers does not necessarily generate that many offers, 5 good n'ready buyers with good viewing availability matched to the property could generate more offers and get the property sold without delay.

Loftman is dishing the inside, don't waste time wishing you were living in PC-topia. The level of integrity you are seeking doesn't exist in most commerce.

P.S. Done any suing recently, thought not because you would have lost your internet access when you had to sell off your computer?]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2615#msg-2615 Thu, 04 Jul 2002 18:00:46 +0100 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2614#msg-2614 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ignorance) If your job as an estate agent was to act for the vendor of a property (as indeed it was, they pay you), then how do you justify keeping a property under wraps, and only showing it to a favoured customer who is nice to you? Surely the best way to generate the best result for your vendor is to encourage lots of interest and end up with lots of offers, sealed bids etc.

If you only show the property to people who are nice to you, then I should think that the vendor would have a strong case for accusing you of acting in the purchaser's best interest, and an opportunity to sue you.]]> SE1 Discussion http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/2614/2614#msg-2614 Thu, 04 Jul 2002 14:08:39 +0100