From another agent's point of view

I have worked in the property business all my life, first in Estate Agency in the West Country for 8 years then abroad, in Timeshare and for a blue chip UK developer. I returned to the UK just over a year ago and pitched up in London to work for a fairly well known National chain. Whilst quite a lot has changed over the 15 years I have been away the business remains more or less how I left it although working in London is faster and predictably more aggressive.

Having only heard of Foxtons by way of an extremely damaging TV documentary a few years ago and of course by their very distictinctive marketing (cars, offices etc) I was prepared to keep an open mind on my new found "competition".

On a day to day basis I get to meet many members of the public who have dealt with other agents and hardly a day goes by without Foxtons coming into the conversation - not I hasten to add prompted by me.

And guess what...? Every - and I mean EVERY - conversation I have had (and there have been far too many) has been everything from just extremely negative to incandescent rage from members of the public who have had bad experiences or more often just been plain screwed over. Not one person has EVER - NOT ONCE - said even the remotest thing in their favour.

At this point I have to say a great big WTF!!!???? Why do the corporate bosses at the top carry on like this. What IS the point? Surely a company like this has to take note of public opinion - this site for one thing - and realise that everything they stand for is quite literally hated. A lot of people, too many, really do "HATE" Foxtons. So many people when I meet them for the first time will visibly relax when I say "It's ok I don't work for Foxtons" How crap can that be for the poor sods that have to work there.

My working run ins with Foxtons have been  bad. Three times in the thirteen months I have been in the business I have been screwed over by them. The sad thing is on each occasion they have fucked up my sale just for the sake of doing it and also deprived the vendor and buyer of a much needed result. Again, what IS the point guys? Lose a sale, lose an instruction just move on, get over it. Stop behaving like the snotty playground bullies that you appear to model yourselves on. You've got the grown up professional suits, try behaving like grown up professionals - you never know, someone might get to like you and recommend you to their friends. Won't that just be a first?

All I can say on a positive note is that their marketing concept is beyond good - it's fantastic. As much as I hate logo'd cars, I know I would be quite happy driving around in one of those funky Minis. Their systems, IT stuff are truly inspirational. Take away the appalling business ethics, the organised "customer harrassment" and the atrocious brainwashing of employees that counts for sales training and you would be left with a real real estate contender that could properly be the uncontested leader in the business!

 That is if Foxtons last long enough which is looking less likely by the week.