Good riddance
Every cloud has a silver lining:
Caught in the crunch - 4000 estate agents could be forced to close.Everyone has their own story about estate agents. (Remember that old joke about Peter Mandelson: Why do people take an instant dislike to PM? Because it saves time. For Peter Mandelson, read estate agents.) If you are bored by them, skip this post.
We bought our house in July last year. I sold my flat privately, and it was the most painless, most efficient, smoothest sale or purchase with which I have ever been involved. The estate agent through which we bought the house, however, was a nightmare to deal with, lying to us about the vendor's intentions, not returning critical calls, etc. We are still waiting for some of the documents to arrive from him! It was only when the purchase looked like collapsing because the estate agent told us the vendor had rejected an entirely reasonable request of ours that we contacted the vendor directly and discovered he was an entirely reasonable man. It was the agent playing dirty.
I've bought four houses in my life. Every estate agent with which I have dealt - all from big, so-called reputable firms - has lied to me. And I mean lied, as in telling me things which he or she knew to be fasle, rather than merely offering me false information by mistake.
I don't want house prices to collapse. I'm not that stupid. But anything which causes estate agents to go bust has something to be said for it.
Previous
Blogs: Clive Davis | Melanie Phillips | Americano | Coffee House | Trading Floor
Actions: Print this article | Email to a friend | Permalink | Comments (7)
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
Stephen Pollard's Blog Roll
Oliver Kamm
Politics, economics and culture from the master. Unmissable.
Daniel Finkelstein's Times Comment Central
A daily must-read.
Tim Worstall
Lots of interesting nibbles - and a ruthless swatter of economic gibberish.
Marginal Revolution
Tyler Cowen's riveting economic blog.
Harry's Place
Must-read left of centre blog from writers who understand the threat to the West.
Thought Experiments
The peerless Bryan Appleyard's blog.
Opera Chic
An American in Milan, on opera.
Intermezzo
A London-based classical music enthusiast.
Jessica Duchen's classical music blog
Does what it says on the tin.
Samizdata
Libertarian blog, packed every day.
Norm's blog
The thoroughly sensible thoughts of renowned left-wing academic Norman Geras, Professor of Government at Manchester. And cricket, too.
Public Interest
Peter Briffa's inimitable take on The Yazzmonster and other assorted demons.
Reform
The public sector reform group; their website is an invaluable source of data and ideas.
Centre for the New Europe
The leading European public policy think tank.
Latest blog posts
sponsored links
A List of Luxury Hotels in Rome
Selected by tablet hotels for their personality and attention to detail.
Discounts on Luxury Hotels in Rome, Italy
Huge savings. Lowest prices guaranteed on hotels in Rome. Book online or call now and save.
A List of Luxury Hotels in Rome
Selected by tablet hotels for their personality and attention to detail.
Discounts on Luxury Hotels in Rome, Italy
Huge savings. Lowest prices guaranteed on hotels in Rome. Book online or call now and save.
ROME CENTRE
PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique
City Breaks. ROME and PARIS
ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit www.romanreference.com and www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.
Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).
Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs! You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other
Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine
Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
Water
April 14th, 2008 9:35amI'm sure they will be back ;)
Jennie
April 14th, 2008 12:46pmIt's hard to choose which are sleazier - estate agents or politicians.
London Calling
April 14th, 2008 5:32pmEvery small local shop has turned into an Estate agents, starbucks or new restaurant's and now with the housing crisis and rising food prices all are under threat, however people can live without ten estate agents, three Starbucks and zillions of restaurants in all cuisines on their high street, but the elderly,the disabled and local people can't manage without a local Post Office.
I agree with you Stephen, I don't think the tissues will be coming out the box too soon in sympathy for Estate Agents, but in their defense they are given new hairdo's and are then trained in the art of deception, just like any salesman or Politician, yes I said Trained, therefore its not just a case of getting a useless Estate Agent, as in your case, they are institutionally deceptive, the problem is, where will all the Estate agents go? and who will detox them and remove the pound signs from their eyes.
patricia
April 14th, 2008 7:06pmIsn't it interesting...!
When a columnist writes about something that does not affect Israel, a handful of people comment.
When Melanie Phillips spits her venom, she gets 80 people or so, the same ones mind you, frothing at the mouth in agreement.
So is the Spectator's rampant support of Israel a commercial, and not just an ideological, imperative?
max
April 14th, 2008 9:16pmPatricia, I think you're on to something. Have you considered a career as an investigative journalist?
sabetudo
April 14th, 2008 9:44pmt5, estate agents and so on; never mind your are a big boy now.
Ann
April 19th, 2008 7:21pmPatricia talking about venom? Oh, dear ... you need a mirror, darling: your anti-Israel venom comes from a very deep, very ugly place within you.