I worked in a comedy club as a barman for a few years and the one thing that was sure to have the crowd baying for blood, booing and hissing, more than anything else was when someone in the front row admitted to the comper that they were an estate agent. As far as crowd turners it was akin to admitting that you perform confidence scams on pensioners in the middle of winter.
Generations of estate agents have grown up with the stigma of being probably the most despised of God’s fair creatures. I sometimes imagine them drunkenly ranting in a darkened bar after work, slurringly shouting that "the whole world can go to hell", to the clamorous support of some traffic wardens and a community support officer.
I am not here to pass judgement. I mean neither to stick up for them or to put the boot in. What I offer to you here is just an insight into how much hurt some of these people are feeling and to let you know that if you cut them they do indeed bleed (use of metaphorical paraphrase not to be construed in any way as either instruction or recommendation)
The following are extracts from a certain group, on a certain social net site that shall remain nameless. Members identities have been cunningly consealed so as to protect their privacy.
“Nice to see there's a site for estate agents. There are some really vicious groups on here. Have you seen the 'I hate Foxtons' one? Very harsh. I'm a manager for an agents in Essex and we aren't all bad.” – Mr A
I am the manager of an estate agent in Cheltenham. Some sites are really rude about us guys and gals - so glad this one exists! – Mr X
It's like we should be ashamed. And after they make the noise they force their expert opinion on market conditions on you! Like I care. Or "how much is my house worth then?" and they live in a completely different town. the job would be excellent without the general public sometimes! - Mr Z
I'm proud to be an Estate Agent but you always get people make(sic) that stupid noise when you tell them what you do for a living, as though we really shouldn’t be breathing! - Mrs B
There is obviously a lot of hate out there and in the web the agents have found sanctuary, a place where they are not scorned for their job, a place where they can have a chat and swap anecdotes from their busy office lives. Here they can hide from the world, a world of jibes and sneers, where people say stuff that is unrepeatable in polite society, things like this (from another group on said social networking site):
“Hello Ladies! Well what can I say...nothing because I am tired of arguing my point, the fact is you try and defend yourselves but deep down you know what I say is correct. No one needs an estate agent. You lie to both parties, you interfere when you really haven’t got a clue what you are talking about, you wear dodgy pink ties to make your self feel better, you steal from people's homes, you think that your opinion is the only one, you like to hear the sound of your own voice...need I say anymore, oh yes you get a major fee for bugger all...you do not sell the house/flat it sells its self...if there was more option for people to sell for themselves then they would...go home and don’t bother going to work tomorrow you are not wanted ! Ha-ha” Ms H
So next time you are sitting in your rustic house, wedged into your cosy living room, too afraid to venture into your vibrant neighbourhood, spare a thought for your agent they are hurting too. |
