Forum Topic

Why are Etate Agents working in their offices in Chiswick?

I walked past several Estate Agents on my daily walk yesterday and was surprised to see so many staff.Most property software is in the cloud so they could work from home.

Chris Lucy ● 2106d19 Comments

Greed? Marketing? Helping the community?

Russell Pearson ● 2106d

Estate and letting agents, and removals firms, can continue to work during Tier 4 and people are allowed to move house - following all Covid-secure guidance, of course. They will need to go on viewings and inspect properties between tenancies - the end dates of which won't have been determined by Covid and some might be triggered by Covid. It's part of the attempt to keep the economy going. I hope some will be buying lunch, coffees, etc, from our local independent shops, giving them some much-needed business. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-homehttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Joanna Biddolph ● 2106d

To do any of that,they do not need to be based in an office. A lot can be done remotely. They do not need to be there. They want to be seen in their shops to justify their enormous charges.And another is opening on TGT.

Stewart Jones ● 2106d

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55668457

Krysia Gdaniec ● 2106d

Most seem to have 'appointments only' on their (locked) doors, so it's hard to understand why so many of them are seemingly fully-staffed. Rules are one thing, using common sense to protect your staff (and those they'll mix with) seemingly another.

Gordon McDonald ● 2106d

This is quite a hot topic amongst agents, some for some not but if our wonderful leaders say agents can stay open then there is little choice as not all business can be carried out remotely.Below is a link outlining advice to agents.https://propertyindustryeye.com/updated-covid-19-advice-for-estate-and-letting-agents/Some wag wrote in an Agents portal, "We are always ultra careful, we even sanitize the baseball bat used on time wasters"I guess, dear reader, you won't be too amused by that, but hey ho.

Adrian Irving ● 2106d

AdrianWe used to call time wasters ‘tyre kickers’. I’ve no idea why!

Georgina Flint ● 2106d

Isn't there a stamp duty holiday at the moment?I hope they are not making people go into work who could work from home or could work shifts just to make the office look busy.

Philippa Bond ● 2106d

Yep and every time they go out and buy a lunch or a coffee they risk spreading the virus. It’s a great pity when Councillors don’t understand the government instructions to STAY AT HOME!!!  Little wonder Chiswick is so highly infected. No effective leadership from Councillors.

Steve Taylor ● 2105d

I think that is a contributory factor. Whilst there are some very honest brokers in Chiswick, there are some who just hype things into a frenzy and some who exploit vulnerable elderly people.

Stewart Jones ● 2105d

https://propertyindustryeye.com/estate-agency-branches-provide-an-unsafe-environment/

Adrian Irving ● 2105d

Well said Joanna I must say it is nice to have a counsellor that can think outside the Box.

James Dow ● 2105d

Well said Joanna I must say it is nice to have a counsellor that can think outside the Box.

James Dow ● 2105d

"Well said Joanna I must say it is nice to have a counsellor that can think outside the Box." How? By encouraging people to go out and buy coffees and lunches and spread the virus when the government has told us to STAY HOME?

Steve Taylor ● 2105d

Yep and that is why estate agents are so despised

Steve Taylor ● 2104d

Government ministers have been repeatedly asked to explain why the UK has one of the worst coronavirus death rates in the world.  Is it because conservative Cllrs are encouraging people to swan around buying lunch and coffees and attend unnecessary Farmers Markets instead of following the instruction to STAY AT HOME?

Steve Taylor ● 2101d

Employees probably only too delighted to get out of the house and see other faces even if half hidden behind masks!  Danger zones though unless lots of fresh air swooping through open doors and windows.

Jennifer Selig ● 2101d

I meant to add - can't believe the supposedly staid, law abiding Dutch rioting so violently in the streets!!!  Whatever next?

Jennifer Selig ● 2101d

I think the term is borrowed from car dealers, referring to "customers" who aren't really interested in buying, but make a show of pretending they are by kicking the tyes of a couple of cars, or opening the bonnet for a quick "inspection".

Richard Cathcart ● 2100d