Do we have too many Estate Agents?

• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  10 June 2008     07:492757
  #1      
  Radio 4 this morning stated that house transactions are at a 30 year low. The crippling economy has flattended and demoralised the housing market throughout the country and of course here in Dover. Nobody has the cash confidence to contemplate a move, all prefaring to batten down the hatches and weather out the storm.
  
  Also on the topical pace in this arena, news editor Kathy Bailes in this weeks Dover Express did a large article highlighting the woes of the poor harassed local estate agent.
  
  "House Sales Slump" says Kathy on page 6 june 5.
  
  Of course as a body of people, estate agents score pretty low on the popularity richter scale, so should we care if they go out of business? There seriously isnt enough transactions in Dover to sustain them all.
  
  One glimmer of hope for them and the local market seems to be that ould chestnut...the High Speed Train. Its all going to change with the High Speed Train or so we often hear. But where does this confidence come from. I suspect its more a case of wishful thinking and hopeful aspiration rather than stark reality.
  
  Can you see all the London high flyers beating a path to Tower Hamlets or Buckland..ermm No I dont thinkso..and those with less than high flyer status wont be able to afford the exhorbitant train fares which come attached to high speed performance.
  
  In the meantime anyhow, all our proverbial boots are filled with downturn economic concrete and we are unable to move a yard without crippling financial pain on all fronts.
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 655

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,247
  10 June 2008     11:152767
  #2      
  If there are too many the market will resolve the issue. You cannot buck the market.
• Guest 666

  • Registered: 25 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 323
  10 June 2008     13:232772
  #3      
  Great chestnut that 'ol high speed train for sure.
  
  It drew me down to the coast with images in my be-fuddled mind of zipping back and forth to working nights in the big bad city at the big bad firm, sipping Chardonnay in a Eurostar cabin.
  
  ! REALITY CHECK !
  
  Spent 4 years freezing on slam door 60's reject rolling-stock on Connex who lost their franchise around the same time I lost my job through sickness, possibly exacerbated by the god-awful service.
  
  Travel improved? well, I did travel to London for an X-factor audition a year later and the new rolling stock was much improved, but journey times still bad.
  
  Time will tell as with all things.
  
  Did a spell with an Estate agents in the early 80's when I was madly doing three jobs to build a deposit and have to say that at that time the rep they got was well justified, but now? too much legislation surrounding the job and all the Terry Thomas' in sports blazers have moved to journalisim......
  Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
• Guest 641

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 2,335
  10 June 2008     18:132774
  #4      
  I can see it all now - Buddy G starring in his all time classic "You're an absolute shower' - 'The Musical' as Terry Thomas running an estate agents in 'downtown Devor'
• Guest 666

  • Registered: 25 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 323
  10 June 2008     20:502775
  #5      
  Yep! bring it on Mr B W-S, gonna need you as my Ian Carmichael!
  
  Am getting my front teeth drilled right now for the authentic gap-look, got the jacket, just need to borrow an 'ol school tie to complete the look.
  
  Maybe Blackfish can get me a spot!
  Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  10 June 2008     22:442777
  #6      
  i always had you down as a bit of a cad buddy.
  i must remember not to buy a second hand car from you.
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  11 June 2008     14:572783
  #7      
  Terry Thomas is alive and well and doing Bargain Hunt everyday on the BBC..in the shape of upper crusty Tim Wannacot, even down to the hereditary gap in the teeeth.
  
  You made some good points there Buddy about travelling back and forth to London. I tried a bit of that commuting malarkey from here on those old trains you mention and it was pretty awful. No sign of any cool chardonnay just that oul clattery tea trolley, where all the drinks are warm even the cool ones!!lol.. Its true the trains have improved but it left me tarred with a negative brush re training it to London.
  
  I dont as a consequence take local politicans word for it, especially from guys who have never commuted, that once the high speeder arrives all our slump days will be over.
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  15 June 2008     08:372882
  #8      
  I do believe there will be a great opportunity for house prices to stay bouyant and not drop people in the negative equity problem, but Gordon Brown has to do two things:
  
  Drop HIPS and reduce stamp-duty substantially, or cut it out altogether.
  
  The High-Speed rail link's arrival in 2009 is (should be) a major driver for optimism.
  
  Evidence shows that where high-speed services are provided, economies expand. Travel times to and from London are reducing to within reach of the "Golden hour" , increasing the attractiveness of the Town to commuters
  
  One of the major problems Dover has, is on the doorstep of Dover Priory where £2.8 million is being spent on regenerating the station and its approach to the Town.
  
  The lovely good quality family homes along the Folkestone Road are all (as they become available) are being sold to developers and turned into tiny one-bedroom flats and bed-sits, where only the miscreants of our society would live.
  
  I don't have a problem with flats - if they are say, two bedrooms and decent sizes, but these are awful places, where decent poeple will NOT want to live.
  
  We are losing a great opportunity here and no one is listening (and yes I am shouting).
  
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  15 June 2008     19:112909
  #9      
  i zgree with hips bit, it has not been thought put at all.
  the ruling is that it only applies to a property advertised for sale.
  
  naturally people tell the 2 solicitors that it was done through word of mouth.
  there are other loopholes too.
  one is family member, what constitutes a family member?
  
  stamp duty is just an easy way for a government to sit back and collect free money.
  all governments have seen this and will do nothing about it.
  
  the people it hurts most are the ones starting out.