Madam, - I was surprised to hear that one of the country's leading estate agents had raised its commission on residential sales by 50 per cent. Only 50 per cent? Surely, with the massive and long-running downturn in the Irish housing market, estate agents must be experiencing extreme hardship. Is an extra 50 per cent really enough?
For the past decade, estate agents have worked tirelessly to persuade a sceptical Irish public that having shelter is more than just a lifestyle choice, and have received scant remuneration. Imagine how unrewarding it must be to show up at a new development and wait, hand extended, to receive only 1 per cent of the €350,000 that miserly people have queued for days to pay for their new luxury bedsits.
I myself am not yet a home-owner. But I hope, 40 years from now, when I may be able to afford a cosy, mature property in a rural setting only four hours from Dublin, that I will be able to throw a few coppers their way in appreciation of the trojan work they do.
Chins up, estate agents, you are all heroes. - Yours, etc,
JOHN HEALY, North Brunswick street, Dublin 7.
Madam, - I am interested in the contrasting responses of two of our nation's businesses to tougher times.
When Ryanair's load factors decreased the airline responded by slashing prices to shore up trade and continue making money from ancillary activities.
When leading estate agency Sherry FitzGerald felt the market was slowing, it raised its fee by 50 per cent, hardly helping confidence or turnover at an uncertain time. I know which tactic I think has the greater chance of success. - Yours, etc,
DENIS BEARY, Naas, Co Kildare.