Estate Agent Talk
400 ARTICLES on getting more instructions for your estate Agency
Growing an estate agency is hard work. I have walked in your shoes and I know its like pulling teeth to get more stock to sell The biggest problem is it’s getting in front of the house seller in the first place. Looking at the official stats, every agent’s stock is the lowest it has ever…
Christopher Watkin
First Time Buyer Meets Japanese Knotweed
The Guardian recently published an article about a first time buyer encountering Japanese Knotweed on the property he is proposing to purchase. The potential buyer discovered that the property has Japanese Knotweed only after making the offer. The article mentions that digging up knotweed is a thankless task. Although digging up knotweed is not easy…
Estate Agents – 1 minute read – If it’s good enough for Google……..
I think most people would agree that Google is a pretty successful outfit. The undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the internet search has entrenched itself in our everyday lives. The people at Google are smart – very smart. So smart are these digital geniuses that they send out fliers. Yep. They do. I’ve just had one….
Property Personnel points to positive markers in the UK jobs market
The UK’s oldest estate agent recruitment consultancy says that the UK job market is looking surprisingly resilient in the wake of the Brexit vote. In addition, the company says the recruitment sector should be encouraged by a positive outlook from major property companies, as well as several big investment schemes announced in recent weeks. Property…
Christopher Walkey
Interview with eMoov – Just a couple of quick questions please:
Is property selling nationally at a fast pace with eMoov or are there more so hot-spots that you are successfully breaking into? We’re selling more properties than ever and, should you ask, have not been affected by the EU vote at all. We will sell properties to a total value of over £1bn this year…
Christopher Walkey
Should You Buy a House Now, Later… or Never?
In many affluent countries, buying one’s first house is a mark of success, a symbol that one has “arrived” or at least is on the way up. But with house prices on the rise, and wages for the most part remaining stagnant in a global economy that hasn’t fully recovered from the Great Recession, the…
Christopher Walkey
Do 0% fee deals work?
There is a huge temptation to offer 0% fees to attract new house sellers and landlords as a new start up agent .. in fact, many established agents do it as well.…so every agent, new or old could learn something from this article. The idea of 0% (free) is attractive, especially to new start estate…
Christopher Watkin
Brexit means Brexit
Several weeks ago, we heard the UK was leaving the EU and what happened… panic set in. Whilst one half of the UK were revelling in their success, the other half were going in to meltdown. The stock exchange was all over the place, Sterling fell off a cliff, political resignations went around like wildfire…
Do these roads, street and location names Really Exist!
I am sure we have all done it, as we are driving in our car, riding our motorcycles or burning off the calories on our bicycles, we have spotted that oddly named village or street sign and with today’s social media trends, we no doubt have taken a photo of it to share! I have…
Christopher Walkey
How to Combat the Rise of Online Estate Agents
As the battle between online and high street retailers rages through all industries, the fight for the property market is heating up. Online estate agents may have gained steam lately, with companies like Emoov and Yopa attempting to undercut traditional property marketers, but it’s not quite game over for high street agents. Your biggest advantage…
Christopher Walkey
Key Questions to Ask Before Getting a Loft Conversion
A loft conversion can be a great addition to your home, providing a lot of extra space to be used as a new bedroom, playroom, office or anything you want. However, arranging a loft conversion will be a timely and somewhat expensive endeavour. Therefore, it is important to answer a few essential questions before you…
Christopher Walkey
The Rise and Rise of Manchester’s Property Scene.
I was recently interviewed on Key 103 radio as part of Adam Catterall’s talk show which was discussing a recent Manchester Evening News article. The newspaper piece was about rising house prices in Manchester, and I was asked to give my “expert” opinion on the subject. I have also been asked on countless occasions since…
Why do new estate and letting agents fail?
… and also, whilst I am at it … why do more established agencies find it so hard to grow? Could these things be the reasons? The cost of attracting landlords and homeowners to use your agency is too high, the difficulty of attracting homeowners and landlords to even ask you out for a free valuation…
Christopher Watkin
What does Brexit mean for London property?
Almost 2 weeks after the UK somewhat surprisingly voted to leave The European Union, the dust is now starting to settle. Focus has shifted away from the merits of the decision and onto the implications, specifically how the UK will negotiate an exit. With a new prime minister and cabinet now in place, the fog…
Christopher Walkey
Townends Estate Agents Reacts to Bank of England Decision to Cut Base Rate to 0.25%
Yesterday, the Bank of England made its first interest rate cut for more than seven years, slashing its base rate from its already historic low of 0.5%, which it has held since March 2009, to 0.25%. It is a move aimed at stimulating the economy after Britain voted to leave the EU in the referendum…
Christopher Walkey