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I have spent some time looking through the websites recommended in the last article in the times (november) and have been quite unimpressed.
I am talking specifically about Lighthouse, Spanish Property Discount, Vender Direct & also Direct Auctions.
The spanish property market is an anomaly and the regular spanish estate agents need shaking up, however these new agents are offering only a gimmick and not real competition.
The implication that the new agents will offer realistic prices is far from evident on their websites and while I agree with much of what Mark Stucklin has to say, I would suggest he be more cautious in endorsing these agents. -
Forestfire,
It depends what you mean by endorse. For me, endorsing means recommending, explicitly giving a thumbs up. I have mentioned some of these companies by way of illustrating an article, that is all. I kept the language very neutral.
Nevertheless, I take the point that readers might assume that any mention is a positive thing unless otherwise stated. I’ll keep this in mind in future.
If you know of anyone, any idea, any company, anything, that represents a real challenge to the excessive commissions that many estate agents in Spain charge, then don’t hesitate to let me know by PM.
Regards
Mark
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Hello Mark,
First of all let me say that I found your latest article in the Sunday Times refreshingly honest. It seems to me that newspapers so often paint a rose tinted view of the property markets in order to pander to their advertising clients, ie the estate agents.
Also, I can see that in your article you did not emphatically endorse any of the aforementioned websites, but you obviously did give them some publicity.
I wish that I could tell you about some challenges to the status quo, but after three years of renting and searching for a place to buy I am left fatigued and pessimistic. Part of the reason for this I am sure is my location -the Costa del Sol.
It seems to me that excessive commissions are a smaller part of the equation while the bigger part is unrealistic asking prices. Sellers dream up a price and the estate agent just goes along with them. Thats why in Sotogrande for example, almost all the properties I looked at two/three years ago are still on the market.
Well if I do come up with anything positive, I will get in touch.
Cheers,
Forestfire. -
@forestfire wrote:
I have spent some time looking through the websites recommended in the last article in the times (november) and have been quite unimpressed.
I am talking specifically about Lighthouse, Spanish Property Discount, Vender Direct & also Direct Auctions.
The spanish property market is an anomaly and the regular spanish estate agents need shaking up, however these new agents are offering only a gimmick and not real competition.
The implication that the new agents will offer realistic prices is far from evident on their websites and while I agree with much of what Mark Stucklin has to say, I would suggest he be more cautious in endorsing these agents.I do not usually use this forum however I must say we found one of the sites mentioned, Vender Direct to be very good and they managed to move on our CDS porperty quicker than any Agent. (that was last year though!)
The auciton companies want an upfront fee AND commission AND they then recomend a reserve ridiculously low.
We found, if you need to sell fast best thing is to be proactive in marketing and put with as many agents as possible, see who comes up trumps first!
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