Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.
Concerns Over Estate Agents' Work Ethic and Customer Service
A recent report by Property Industry Eye has raised concerns about the current work ethic among some estate agents, suggesting that the industry may not be meeting customer expectations, especially in terms of availability during weekends.
The report discusses the commonly used phrase “work smarter not harder” and questions whether some estate agents are using this as an excuse to reduce their working hours. It highlights that while there are now more restrictions on employee working hours and a greater focus on work-life balance, this may have led to a decline in the level of service provided to customers.
Reflecting on past decades, the report notes that estate agency offices once commonly stayed open until 8pm and operated seven days a week. In contrast, it observes that many estate agent offices today are closed on Sundays and often close early on Saturdays, sometimes relying on part-time staff for weekend viewings. The report suggests that this reduced availability may not align with the expectations of prospective buyers and sellers, many of whom are only available to view properties or arrange appraisals at weekends.
The report concludes by questioning whether agency owners should consider increasing weekend staffing or extending working hours to better serve customers in what is now a seven-day-a-week economy.
Source: Property Industry Eye