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Interior Life of an Estate Agent - part 26

Okay. Another interest rate rise. The market has ground to a halt here.

The smart people had put their properties on the market in May, to avoid having to have the HIP. If they accepted offers then, they’re alright now.

The market has become saturated with properties. Overpriced, unattractive properties down here. So, it’s a buyer’s market. There’s so much to choose from that no-one’s choosing.

However, in an auction I attended last week, a 3.8 acre parcel of pasture land sold for 60K. Buy land, they ain't makin' it anymore. In fifty years you could maybe get planning permission for your grandchildren.

I’ve only been in this job for nine months and, in that time, we’ve gone from being rushed off our feet and selling houses before we’ve had a chance to get them advertised in the paper, to being stuck with hundreds of them.

My own job, doing all the Saturday viewings, has changed from racing about like a headless chicken to try and fit in all the appointments, missing lunch etc, whining about that quite a lot, trying to fit 13 viewings into a seven hour day to only having 3 appointments today, one of which was cancelled.

I noticed a month or two ago that landlords are beginning to sell off their rental properties here. Now, the houses we’re selling are starting to come down in price. Not much; between 3-5K. Sellers are nervous; buyers are being cautious. At the end of last month we had seven properties fall through. One or two is usual. This looks like last minute doubts because of increased mortgage repayments.

Not good. I wonder what Chancellor Gordon will do to prevent freefall.

I have a feeling I may be let go at the end of my contract. Could be a whole new life up ahead.
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