Property Matters of General Interest

Latest Property Market Updates by Osbornes Limited MD John Osborne.

15th December, 2007. We have reached an interesting period in the history of the UK property market. Northern Rock has made history as the first run on a UK bank for many years and will be included in future Economics books. In a challenging market, the estate agents who will survive and thrive will be those who are trusted and provide an efficient and personal service. There is a growing population in the UK and not enough land to build on. Developers and planners have resorted to unwisely building on flood plains with inevitable consequences. There is certainly room in the marketplace for those wishing to take up a career in Estate Agency. Osbornes franchisees will have the benefit of support from the Managing Director of Osbornes Limited who has survived many previous challenging markets. The number of UK Estate Agents may decline - but commissions and quality of service will certainly increase as a result.

26th November 2007. In the UK we are currently in an interesting phase in the property market. Estate Agents up until now have experienced a fantastic run of sales. The population in the UK is constantly on the move. That is great news for Estate Agents. Have you ever wondered why there are so many Estate Agents in any UK town or city? Perhaps this should be the topic of a blog! There have been rumours that a major chain of Estate Agents are considering closing branches. The phrase "Fine weather friends" springs to mind. In the past I admit to being one of them. In 1978, the start of one of the worst property slumps, after 10 years I left Estate Agency to try many other careers - here's the list - Travel Agent, Travel Agent Manager, Tutor in Travel & Tourism and the practical aspects of running a Travel Agency, Accountant, Student Teacher on a BEd degree course, IT Student, Computer Programmer, College IT Support, College IT Support Manager, Tutor in IT & Computing. (My claim to fame - I was the first tutor in the UK to teach the European Computer Driving Licence Course and the first to successfully pass one of the modules).  I believe in life long learning and have studied with the OU in subjects including Psychology, Sociology and the Social implications of IT. I am currently studying on a distance learning course with Reading University on the "Diploma in Surveying Course" and am now studying on Year 2. I am a student member of the RICS.

How the Internet has changed Estate Agency in the UK. The Internet was originally developed jointly between the US Military and American Academic Institutions as a battlefield communications system. The basic idea was that packets of data could be sent along different routes and re-assembled at the destination. This allowed for a breakdown in a certain line of communication due to enemy action. Subsequent data would be resent and re-routed along alternative lines of communication. Later other academic establishments worldwide became connected using email and ftp (file transfer protocol) to download useful programs. The commercial world eventually saw the enormous benefits and possibilities the internet had to offer. UK Estate Agents were very slow off the mark to acquire websites and use email. Now every Estate Agent worth their salt has a website. Osbornes.co.uk was a pioneer in the marketing of property on the Internet. Brightmove.co.uk is an offshoot of Osbornes Limited, which is soon to be a major Global Internet Property portal. Having the skills and expertise in Estate Agency combined with experience and qualifications in IT is an excellent marriage.

This page last updated on 16 December 2007

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