In this day and age of uber consumerism people expect to be able to contact those that they want to do business with.

Sunday shopping is common place and, indeed, can be the only opportunity that some get to buy what they need.

Insurance companies and banks operate around the clock. The days of petrol stations closing at 10pm are long gone.

Supermarkets are open seven days a week and until late into the night, some are even 24 hour.

eMoov are available at least 8am to 8pm, longer if we are really busy. And that’s every day.

So it was with interest that we noticed that many High Street estate agents, often closed on a Sunday and after 6pm weekdays in any case, were also shut today and will be during the holiday weekend.

You only need one buyer for your home. If your estate agent isn’t there to speak to them when THEY want them, you will simply lose out to another that is.

We were asked to market a flat in London NW7 two weeks ago because the owner was unhappy with her expensive High Street estate agent, none other than Martyn Gerrard of Mary Portas Secret Shopper fame.

We listed the property on our 26 partner websites as reqested but notice that Martyn Gerrard, despite being formally disinstructed by the owner, still insist on displaying the flat on their website and on Rightmove.

Our client has asked them to remove the ad TWICE. They have told her that it takes ’several weeks to do so’…. which is of course, no true.

It is an offence under the Estate Agents Act 1979 to market a property without having formal instructions from the owner.

It appears that Martyn Gerrard and Co have learned nothing of customer service from Mary Portas.

Quite the opposite in fact.

The owner of this property is now having to lodge a formal complaint with Trading Standards.

Shameful…

This week has been one of our busiest to date…

New properties listed, viewings offers and several sales.

Despite what the High Street sector of the estate agency industry may try to cling on to, online estate agents truly works.

We’ve had an offer on one of our Hampshire properties already this morning! (and it’s not even 9am!)

At different ends of the country and indeed, different types of property, we’ve had offers this morning already (it’s just gone 10am) on TWO of our properties.

We’re hopeful that with a bit of enthusiastic negotaition we can achieve sales for both clients today.

Fingers crossed.

By the way, the combined estate agents fee saving will be £6652.oo.