Many estate agents have opened new branches in recent years following the property boom. Does anyone have any stories that this is now reversing?

A lot of estate agents lay staff off over the quiet period , ie winter . April and May should see the market start moving again for those that aren't mortgaged up to the eyeballs.

quite a few surveyors have gone at some of the big mortgage lenders

quite a few surveyors have gone at some of the big mortgage lenders

You got any proof of this or is it just sceptisism and scare mongering?

Wasn't there a comment on another thread that Bairstow Eves have closed an office?

Wasn't there a comment on another thread that Bairstow Eves have closed an office?

They have just opened a new one in Gleadless

You got any proof of this or is it just sceptisism and scare mongering?

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/House-prices-fall-for-SEVENTH.3873874.jp

Hate to be a sceptical scare monger but it seems that all is not well in the local property market. That's the principal of Crapper & Haigh talking, and he's an estate agent! :shocked:

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/House-prices-fall-for-SEVENTH.3873874.jp

Hate to be a sceptical scare monger but it seems that all is not well in the local property market. That's the principal of Crapper & Haigh talking, and he's an estate agent! :shocked:

Saw that last night. Wouldnt be overly worried though. If you have a nice house in the right area at a sensible price it is still going to sell. Personally though i wouldnt dream of selling yet. Ride out the storm and all will be well by the end of the year.

If the experience of Homebuyers is anything to go by perhaps we will see some popular estate agents closing branches very soon...Saxtonmee recently opened branches in Dore, Hillsborough and Dronfield...wonder how they are faring, particularly as they tend to focus on the higher end of the market which appears to be dead at the moment. Worrying times for the fat cat estate agents!

...and all will be well by the end of the year.

Why do you think that?

Why do you think that?

because thats when Santa comes....

Phylis, have you got a sand pit somewhere where you stick your head? These are comments by Estate Agents, people who I have never seen say anything so negative about the market. It's in their interests not to. May be the term 'doom monger' should be replaced by 'realist'.

"The state of the market is terrible."

"If people are looking to sell they may have to take a hit on the price.

"Gone are those halcyon days when houses in Sheffield were going for several thousand above the asking price. That is as rare as hen's teeth these days.

"You have got to be realistic and competitively priced, and if you get an offer near or around the asking price then you're lucky."

Mr Francis said properties were still selling but they were taking longer, with some homes on the market for six or seven months.

"There's a lack of buyers out there."

"It's grim,"

"We've pulled out of the market, so I suppose that tells you how bad things are. We took a business decision in December not to continue."

because thats when Santa comes....

Where have you been?

Phylis, have you got a sand pit somewhere where you stick your head? These are comments by Estate Agents, people who I have never seen say anything so negative about the market. It's in their interests not to. May be the term 'doom monger' should be replaced by 'realist'.

"The state of the market is terrible."

"If people are looking to sell they may have to take a hit on the price.

"Gone are those halcyon days when houses in Sheffield were going for several thousand above the asking price. That is as rare as hen's teeth these days.

"You have got to be realistic and competitively priced, and if you get an offer near or around the asking price then you're lucky."

Mr Francis said properties were still selling but they were taking longer, with some homes on the market for six or seven months.

"There's a lack of buyers out there."

"It's grim,"

"We've pulled out of the market, so I suppose that tells you how bad things are. We took a business decision in December not to continue."

Ive already read this so there is no need to make it bold. The market has got the jitters because of a lack of lending between banks. When all the banks have sorted out these issues (which i predict will be the end of this year) and have started lending again the problem will be solved.

perhaps some estate agents may mitigate the downturn on the selling side by focusing a lot more efforts into being letting agents rather than selling agents?

Ive already read this so there is no need to make it bold. The market has got the jitters because of a lack of lending between banks. When all the banks have sorted out these issues (which i predict will be the end of this year) and have started lending again the problem will be solved.

Thanks Phylis, I feel a lot better now. :) They should make you chancellor of the exchequer.

Thanks Phylis, I feel a lot better now. :) They should make you chancellor of the exchequer.

We are all entitled to our own opinions. Seems you lot must have a lot to lose as you are all so worried about the economic climate. Personally i dont have a problem and can see things improving over the coming months. I suppose we will have to wait and see

the main buying/selling season for houses tends to be after Easter until the end of June, so maybe things may improve then...

perhaps some estate agents may mitigate the downturn on the selling side by focusing a lot more efforts into being letting agents rather than selling agents?


the letting market is not as storng either as it once was. now is not a good time to get on the buy to let market either as many mortgage lenders are looking for around a 65% deposit for the mortgage.

I read a story in the press last week that mentioned some recent polish immigrants are now returning to Poland because the £/zloty exchange rate isn't as good as it was and the Polish economy is growing very strongly. Maybe this may knock the rental market?

the letting market is not as storng either as it once was. now is not a good time to get on the buy to let market either as many mortgage lenders are looking for around a 65% deposit for the mortgage.

I read a story in the press last week that mentioned some recent polish immigrants are now returning to Poland because the £/zloty exchange rate isn't as good as it was and the Polish economy is growing very strongly. Maybe this may knock the rental market?

People are rushing to sell their properties at the minute. When they sell they still have to live somehwere and more often than not this is rented accomodation. Buy to let is just not profitable but there is a demand for it.