Bungalow Bill - an estate agent's perspective on the Property Market and life in general

My Favourite Films of all time...

I have to admit at the outset that my wife and are film fanatics.
Kim and I would seldom prefer to do anything more extravagant than to load ourselves down with popcorn and ice cream on a Saturday night and see a really good film at our favourite Empire Cinema, at Tower Park in Poole. I hear the cries of 'get a life') but going to the cinema, visiting garden centres and watching our daughter,Katy,perform in her musical theatre group give us most of the pleasure we need in life.
Our tastes, though cosmopolitan, do not extend to horror or extremely violent films...
Our preferences range from 'Ice Age' to the 'Indiana Jones' films to Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'.
Harrison Ford being one of our favourite actors and having starred in 4 of the top 10 grossing films ever made.
I find it laughable that a film like 'No Country for Old Men' which, though well acted had very little else to offer and was a deeply depressing story with not a single moment of light relief or upliftment, could conceivably win the Oscar for Best Film and Best Director. Surely Joe Wright's 'Atonement' though not our favourite film was a far more worthy contender for the Best Film title.
Anyway, the 2 winners of the John and Kim Nixon Bungalow Bill Best Film Awards are...

Pride and Prejudice 2005
I am surprised to say that I have see this film 6 times and never tire of it's near perfection in nearly every field, including the inspired casting,particularly Donald Sutherland,the photography with its long gliding camera work and complex long takes (the ball scene near the start).  It makes you believe in true love, the union of soul mates, happily-ever-after and all the other stuff a romantic comedy promises but so seldom delivers. I have no doubt that Jane Austen would be immensely proud of this truly wonderful film.
Keira Knightley's radiant performance and Joe Wright's spirited direction have contributed towards this being a truly wonderful film.

Love Actually 2003
This film could only have been made by a British studio. For one, this is an ensemble cast. Instead of relying on a single star attraction, the movie is carried along by a terrific cast, much like Sense and Sensibility, or Four Weddings and a Funeral. The acting from these theatre trained actors is sublime. From Emma Thompson's marital woes, Liam Neeson's relationship with his step-son, to Bill Nighy's fading rock star...
The cinematography is great and the storyline,though complex, is immensely rewarding.
Not only is this movie genuine and heartfelt, it shows the many forms love does take, from heartache, to grief, elation, disappointment, lasting friendships.
The "bit" about 9-11 is crucial. It is meant as the ultimate statement about our existence. It suggests that when the world appears to end, people do not lash out with hate. No one called from the towers saying "Hey, Joe, I have always hated you." People were sending messages of love.
The footage taken at Heathrow in the beginning and end was unscripted, the directors simply filmed dull normals greeting one another at the airport.
With a touch of cynicism, but a great deal of optimism, this is a terrific little movie, with an excellent cast and lovely stories which we found incredibly uplifting and enjoyable.  If for some reason you have not seen this unique film then I suggest you beg, borrow or steal it...tonight!

Funnily enough both of our chosen films are produced by Working Title, as of course is 'Atonement' British film making at its best. again, that chemistry and comedic timing are far more important than special effects or extravagant scenes.

I would be really interested to hear which are your favourite 2 films,and what made them so special for you?

It's just my opinion...

Junior Hospital Doctors
She may not be smiling for much longer...
I have read in 'The Independent' yesterday that junior hospital doctors are to suffer a dramatic reduction in their income.
Apparently, our beloved government has decided to do away with a system of 'banding' wich governs their pay structure as a result of which their average income will fall from £31,000 to just £21,000 per annum.  In addition to which the junior doctors are to lose the right to free accommodation in their hospital.
What is this all about... the salary paid to our MPs is currently £61,820, in addition to the world's most generous pension and generous expense allowances...the total probably being worth at least £100,000. How would our esteemed MPs like to have a 33% reduction in their income. How can they justify such generosity to GPs but such meanness to our junior hospital doctors?
What do you think?

Can you complete this Crossword Puzzle without phoning a friend...

Download CompletePuzzle2.jpg

To complete this crossword,follow these simple steps:-

1.Right click Download complete puzzle.jpg (above)with the mouse
2.select 'open Link in New Window' option
3.Click 'File' then 'Print'

Have fun completing the puzzle;the answers to which are all terms commonly used in estate agency or conveyancing circles.

Please send me your winning entries and I will be happy to publish your names on my blog as being super intelligent 'estate agency wannabes' (that was a joke or,'nearly a joke' as my wife says to me... very often!   too often in fact to be remotely amusing... in fact, I find it bloody annoying.

John Nixon
The Bungalow Centre
1286 Wimborne Road
Bournemouth
BH10 7AJ

 

I would love to hear your opinion of Home Information Packs

Naturally, I have my own opinion  regarding the introduction of the infamous Home Information Packs.
But my lips are sealed, at least for the time being, so let's hear your opinion...
What has been your experience of HIPs as either a buyer or a seller?

How can an agent help find your ideal Bungalow?

Well as BungalowBill's partner (and a partner in The Bungalow Centre) I have always found that the key to finding the right Bungalow for a client is to ask the right questions.
I give the client my undivided attention, listening carefully to their answers, taking notes and asking them to expand and clarify where necessary.
This enables me to build up a comprehensive picture of their likes and dislikes, preferences and 'must haves.' From this we can make accurate and informed suggestions as to which Bungalows would seem to suit their needs and desires.

why this can be such a rewarding job...

On this Saturday we were asked by a lady from Bearwood in Bournemouth to come and value her bungalow. My colleague Nick visited the property in question and rather surprised the owner with what she felt was a rather optimistic valuation.
However, she agreed terms with us and said we could go ahead and market her bungalow.
Yesterday, Sunday, we showed the bungalow (and 2 others) to a lovely couple from Southall who instantly fell in love with the property.
By the following morning we had negotiated a sale at the full asking price and both seller and buyer are 'over the moon', as they both needed a quick sale/purchase.
If you could have experienced the happiness and gratitude expressed by both our buyer and seller you would appreciate why I say that this can be such a very satisfying job. Mind you if we hadn't been open for business on a Sunday we might well have missed this opportunity...

Should estate agents have to be licensed?

In most countries Estate Agents or Realtors have to be licensed and have had to achieve a minimum level of competency... but not in this country... Why?
What possible justification can there be for our legislators to allow a situation where a dishonest individual can leave prison on a Monday and on the Tuesday set himself up in business as 'Suckers Welcome Property Services'

Surely this is an unacceptable conflict of interest?

The prime rule in Uk estate agency is that the agent's first and foremost responsibility is to protect his vendor clients' interests.  Then how can an agent in all honesty argue that earning commissions for mortgage introductions does not run the risk of breaking this cardinal rule. 
He may have 2 buyers bidding for the same property but one applicant may require a mortgage, earning the agent a hefty commission, whereas the other bidder is a cash buyer. The only temptation some agents can't resist is temptation itself...

Don't sell it, find it...

Basically staff employed by estate agents in the UK are trained to operate in one of 2 ways when dealing with prospective buyers (applicants).

1. Pressure Selling
2. Question Based Selling

Pressure Selling
The vast majority of negotiators are trained and encouraged to use crude techniques to 'pressurise' applicants in to agreeing to see certain properties and then further 'pressure' is applied to persuade the applicant to commit to a given property; regardless of whether or not this happens to be the right property for him or her.
These Pressure Selling Techniques were developed in the United States, decades ago, by companies such as Rank Zerox and IBM and were used to considerable effect.

However, buyers in the UK have in recent years become far more sophisticated and understandably do not respond well to being 'pushed' this way and that, at the whim of the sales negotiator.  He might as well be holding up a large banner which proclaims to the world... 'I couldn't care less whether this property is what you are looking for, just so long as you commit to buying it.

Question Based Selling
This system employs the truly remarkable strategy of actually asking the applicant a series of carefully constructed questions, designed to ascertain their likes and dislikes, features that are 'must haves' as opposed to preferences, reasons for moving etc.

We then actually 'listen' to your answers which enables us to build up a comprehensive picture of just the type of Bungalow which would best suit your needs and desires. We will then use our intimate knowledge of our current register of bungalows to find a 'match' with the 'details' of your ideal bungalow.   In most cases this results in a 'match' of 2 or 3 bungalows, which we can then arrange for you to see.

Surely this more sophisticated but straightforward approach is vastly preferable to the 'scatter gun' approach adopted by most estate agents eg just keep showing the applicant as many properties as possible and perhaps eventually we might trip over one that she likes. Hardly a professional approach is it?

What fee would you pay to your estate agent?