There have been one or two estate agents shut their doors for good in Cognac but by & large they're mostly still there (although with noticeably less staff).
I've just read this report in todays Daily Telegraph with the headline "Estate agencies shut 150 branches a week".
Debtwire, an organisation that monitors the health of companies, said the number of estate agency branches had fallen from about 13,000 at the start of the year to about 12,000. The rate of closures is accelerating and presently stands at 150 a week.
Kirsty Allsopp, the founder of the Kirmir property search company and the presenter of related television programmes, said: "If Tesco suddenly sold 26 per cent less food tears would be shed.
"That's what is happening in the housing market and it is starting to have an impact on DIY shops, on removal men and estate agents.
"I know not many people will sympathise with estate agents losing their jobs, but the economy needs a housing market that is ticking over steadily."
2009 has seen absolute carnage in the property industry....it's been as bad as I have known it in twenty plus years.
Let's hope that 2010 brings a tad more cheer. I won't be asking Santa for rising property prices but I will be asking him for sensible lending criteria and an increase in the number of transactions.
www.cognacproperty.com
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