We have seen some interesting testimonials in our time – but this feedback genuinely looks more interesting than most.
It is from a purchaser, moving into a property where the chain was handled by high street agent Charters, of Winchester, Hampshire.
The purchaser had sold their own previous home through an online agent.
The email, reproduced below, only excludes the address detail and the names of the home mover and the negotiator to whom it was sent.
We should also say that the home mover has given their explicit permission for the email to be published.
Hi,
I hope this email finds you well.
I wanted to take a moment to send over some feedback on our imminent house move.
May I start by saying that your assistance has been invaluable.
What a stressful time the whole moving process is and I think without you providing a vital link to the whole chain above us, I would quite literally have lost my marbles.
You were tenacious, patient, polite, proactive, and that meant that a natural organiser (that I confess I am) was able to concentrate on pushing the chain below us – having faith you would keep everyone above us moving.
You dealt very well with a potentially delicate situation of the ‘older’ lady at the top of the chain moving out of her (I presume) home of many years.
Talking to you, I felt confident that you had her interests at heart but were also moving her along the journey as swiftly as possible.
I must confess that we sold our house through a certain online estate agent and based our decision solely on price.
Having now (almost) been through the full sale process, when we (undoubtedly) move again, I would not make that mistake again.
I know in my heart that if the full chain had been solely with the online agent, we would not be moving any time soon (as they help you sell, then disappear).
That is where Charters (you) make a huge difference, pushing the chain along and keeping everyone focused.
So, I just want to say “thank you”, I really appreciate all you have done to help us get here and I still need to pinch myself that we are moving this Friday; 8 weeks from selling our house, in a chain of five people, great work!
Kind regards
Says it all. Pity that the HSA’s lost out on that particular one but hopefully that person will spread the word and never make the same mistake again…
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Like what I wrote yesterday:
Vendors are selfish and lazy, ultimately they will all choose the on-line option to save money.
With any luck each vendor will try it once and only once then maybe Mr O might realise what we do as an industry is not just list property for sale.
Well done Charters.
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Do all of your clients know what you think of them?
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really, selfish and lazy and only choose the cheapest agents?? Not around here, we regularly get 2.5% – 3% plus VAT on our sales since we demonstrate why we are worth it and our clients get it. Online account for less than 1% of the sales or lets in our area.
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Yes I worked in a very poor part of the country once too. I remember selling property between £20K and £50K with a minimum £1500 plus VAT fee so that worked out to … how much comm ?
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7.5% down to 3% plus VAT. Is there a prize!
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yes a medal but you have to get your own chest to pin it on!
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That is why anyone who sells to a client who has sold via an online agent should insist on a ‘buyer premium’ since you end up doing twice the amount of work on sales progression….a word completely alien to online listing companies, not ‘agents’.
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“That is where Charters (you) make a huge difference, pushing the chain along and keeping everyone focused”
“I still need to pinch myself that we are moving this Friday; 8 weeks from selling our house, in a chain of five people, great work!”
Mmmmmmm… I love the smell of PR in the morning.
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They’ve done well to move at all. Colleague of mine didn’t even manage to arrange a viewing through an “online” agent. Initially they weren’t sure which property they were talking about, then not sure if it was available, then told to click the “arrange viewing” button on the website unaware my colleague was looking on RM at the time so there isn’t one. Call ends, no name, no number. Nada. Not sure much marketplace “disruption” happening there.
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This link gives a much greater insight into the Purplebricks experience – funny how their own TrustPilot reviews all seem to be glowing….
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4973625#topofpage
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Good read that. Interesting that non-industry type forums are wary of spam reviews too, plus the guess that they’d just be listing on the stock market then running from early last year was pretty insightful.
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That is so true and why it was annoying that the Sarah Beeny programme kept referring to the properties being ‘sold’ via online agents. I wonder how many would have actually completed if they didn’t have local agencies either side. I am actually online (ie I don’t have a shopfront), but my main role is sales progression and the big online agencies do nothing to help the chain.There is no incentive as they already have their money. I had a similar testimony from one of my chain who I know believes she wouldn’t have got her chain through had it not been for the locals either side progressing it for her.
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I have to agree, the three chains I’ve had this year with online agents in them have all been murder.
Couple that with cheap licensed conveyancing farms and I can honestly say that this has been the year I’ve worked hardest at chasing chains.
All for saving maybe £500 – £1,000 total in fees for a transaction worth more than all of their other possessions all put together and multiplied by 10.
What a bonkers way to make a choice.
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Oddly enough I have a chain with a private buyer connected at the beginning. No one has access to him, I volunteered to assist but he never responded. So I can only talk to the solicitor. We were supposed to exchange & complete yesterday.
Because this buyer is operating without any outside contact he does what he wants.
My rant is this: At the top of the chain there are small children looking forward to Xmas but now they are moving 22nd instead. So a terrible strain for these kids and the parents.
Grrrr!
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