Resident uses last wishes to name independent agent he wants to sell his property

A co-owner at an independent agent in Stockport has spoken of his pride after learning that a local resident had left orders for their property to be sold by the agency when they passed away.

Richard Pickford, a director at Snapes, told EYE he had worked with the resident, a solicitor, in a business capacity between 1993 to 2007.

He said the daughter of the unnamed resident called him to say a note had been left ordering that “Snapes need to be the selling agent”.

Pickford described it as “one of the biggest compliments” and said it was down to local relationships and the hard work of past and present staff.

He added on Twitter that he was considering selling the home for free.

His story prompted other agents to share their experiences on social media.

Kristjan Byfield, founder of lettings agent Base Property, said a landlord had written in his will earlier this year that the family continue letting through the firm.

https://twitter.com/snapes_/status/1192529507888115712

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18 Comments

  1. jamess48

    “He added on Twitter that he was considering selling the home for free.”

    No offence, but I think the unnamed deceased gentleman would have preferred for the property to be sold at market value.

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    1. Becky E

      I also was honoured by a client in this way.  We had sold one of his properties for him and he rang me out of the blue and said that “there was no easy way to say this but I am dying but would like you to sell my other properties and help my wife through this difficult time”.  This we did and built up a lovely relationship with his wife too.  Sad to do but was delighted that he trusted us enough to help.

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    2. Ric

      Do you know the agent? Doesn’t take much to work out Ric Twitter and Ric EYE.

      Jamess48 as you don’t know me, crawl back under your stone!

      The comment was genuine from the heart, but as I run a business, they would be full fee, as for the notion of “under selling a home” not my style. Local builders and developers don’t use me… because I care not for selling to “turn arounds” and “bargain hunters”. The proof is in our New Build and Refurbishment type stock. They hate me and good.

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      1. Snyper

        Ric – pretty sure it’s a tongue in cheek joke; as in he’d rather you sell it for £200,000 than £0 ie free…

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  2. smile please

    Well done Ric, stands testament to you and your team that another professional in our industry would leave instructions to make sure his biggest asset is dealt with correctly after his passing.

    Lovely gesture to look to do it for free, shows who the chap thought so highly of you.

    I love these stories portrays our industry in the right light.

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    1. Ric

      Cheers Smile. (Must admit, my heart says, do it for nothing, but my staff would shout at lost commission opportunities – and they scare me at the best of times).
      What ****** bugs me is someone would get “I’m gunna undersell the property” because of a comment like that… argh.

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      1. bridget

        Are you sure he wasn’t joking!! – that’s the way I read it. I am pretty sure it was a play on words??

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        1. AgencyInsider

          Surely it was just a weak joke?

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      2. MrNE28

        I think you may need to learn how to detect a joke!

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        1. Ric

          OK ok ok… jeez… I read it as a dig on the cheap fee cheap selling price bridgade… pft… stop it, I feel bad.
          James, forgive me… tell them you accept my apology…

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  3. FAQs

    James48 appears to be using humour, I think you may have misinterpreted the comment a little Ric and dare I say overreacted a tad.
    Disclaimer: Unless it was edited by James within the hour window.

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    1. Ric

      Yeh… Edited that was it…. It had 3 extra lines in it before you lot read it….
      Actually TBF it hasn’t been edited. It is word for word the original comment.
      I feel bad now.

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  4. Ric

    If it was a joke, I could have done with “Knock Knock” at the start this morning… My end Rightmove head is in full force.

    and to boot I have an appointment this morning “Who might move” – “dependent on valuation” What, why how…. what does it depend on…. please let me know… in advance…. if your £100k home is worth £84m or what….

    Someone needs to lock me in my office… it is going to be too peopley out there for me today.

    James cool joke if it was one…. I am sensitive soul when it comes to looking after people.

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    1. fx-361

      Sorry if this tips you over the edge Richard but any Rightmove rep looking at your twitter feed as I just did gets to see your master plan to end Rightmove.
       
      One minute you’re posting photos of a car** worth than Wayne Rooney’s head of natural looking hair, next you ‘re tweeting  your subs are going up 30%, then you tweet you have no choice but to pay it.
       
      They’ve got you by the short hairs mate!  You’ve either have to shut up and cough up or you’ve  got to come off or forever more you’ll be price rise pushover – Pickford
       
      Given its Christmas and we’re all deep in the depths of an election winter, what have you got to lose by leaving? They can’t charge you more if you come off and go back if it doesn’t work out.
       
      Imagine being the rep who’s counting on a xmas bonus for giving Snapes a 30% shafting, winning the prize for the biggest mugging of the season and spending a wad on a car that’s better than Ric’s only to find out Ric  just called to say you can shove your price hike, I’m off!?   ** (a bent up but a really nice, really expensive car)

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      1. Property Pundit

        They can’t charge you more if you come off and go back if it doesn’t work out’

         

        You sure about that?

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        1. Ric

          Haha… I know… that is a concern.

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      2. Ric

        Haha… my car…. why would you remind me… I get it back this week though… YAY.

        My Friday afternoon phone call with the Regional Manager was pretty clear on what I thought. They always have. 10% rise and I actually would not have moaned. (Oddly)… but 30% is a joke. (as I say).

        Paying it we can and will is the sad truth… so I do agree with the put up and shut mentality as I have for some time posted the same view and opinion.

        I am just deciding now, is it put up or shut up… A big decision to make… and I suspect as ever put up is the best option for the business, not for me that said, but definitely for the good of the business as we are today.

        PS – If they spend their bonus on a Car, to be honest I think I would feel better… bit of a car man and all for people spending on cars.

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        1. fx-361

          3 offices, ARPA is £3k a month – £36k a year for 3 years – £108k depreciation on something a bit tasty If you’re a car man Richard which £250,000 motor would shout I am a ******* brilliant estate agent  most? You sell property to the real housewives of Cheshire, you owe it to yourself and your agency to be hauling up in at least a Bentayga (to cope with the county lanes round there) rather than ******** the cash on a portal you hate and in all honesty don’t need. Your applicants want service not to be sat there breaking their nails looking at the net!

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