Neanderthals Do Still Exist!

April 2010: Looking for a Letting Agent to handle your Christchurch property rental?

You might want to avoid Iron Bridge Real Estate!

I am still uncannily unsettled when I come across people who, for no apparent reason, throw away opportunities. Perhaps they don't have enough grey matter to enable them to make the imaginative link to some possible future state that may benefit the organization they work for? Or, perhaps, they are from a yet undiscovered evolutionary line, masquerading as human, but totally devoid of an ability to plan and think ahead and they choose to live entirely in the moment of now with complete disregard for the future.

Whatever the cause, let me detail below the emails that passed between a supposed letting agent in Christchurch, New Zealand, and myself. The letting agent, Sue Wallis, 'works' for a company called Iron Bridge Real Estate Ltd

Here are the emails that passed between us in sequence.

Hi, 

I'm a retired Brit living in the UK with a daughter and grandchild in
CHCH. This summer I visited for 5 months and would like to do the
same from Nov 1st 2010 to March 31st 2011. 

Hence I am seeking a 1 bedroom property for long-term rent. Ideally I would
like somewhere furnished but accept that is unlikely. I also accept
that I would need to rent for a minimum of 1 year. That is OK too as
I would like to continually visit CHCH each and every Summer for
the next few years so look forward to a continuous long-term rental.

I know it early to start looking but I may be amenable to taking a
property early if it meets what I need. I'm sure my daughter could
look it over for me.

So, ideally, I want a single bedroom property with garage, and with a
target price of sub $200/wk. An apartment with balcony in an area
close to Hagley park would be good; but I'm flexible and like to
think - realistic.

I need to know how I can best meet the requirements for the checks you
carry out when vetting applicants - so perhaps you can give me an
idea of the information I may need to bring with me in November. 

If you prefer to call please bear in mind you are 13 hours ahead of the
UK. My fixed line number is +44132XXXX22. 

I look forward to your reply. 

Angela  

The reply was staggeringly dismissive and in direct contrast to the eager manner which letting agents in Europe operate. What's going on here; just laziness, total lack of ability; is it jealously of my ablilty to travel or perhaps ageism or racism even? I am dismayed by the following response.

 Sorry but we don`t have any 1 bedroom units and our 2 bedroom units usually
range in the $280 to $3400 per week range

Cheers

Sue   

Now, what Sue says may be the case currently. And perhaps you are thinking, dear reader that my request for a sub $200 property was totally off the wall. Let me show you property that is currently on offer in Christchurch in the price bracket I suggested.

plus others...

So I responded to Sue's lethargy with the following...

  Sorry Sue, I find your dismissive reply simply unacceptable. 

 It is not surprising you have no 1-bedroom units at the moment. That is 
why I am making enquiries early. I want to be notified when one becomes     
available. Do you have a problem with that? Or did you simply not     
understand?  

However, despite a miserable first effort, I still look forward to you     
grasping an offered business opportunity and a more considered response     
from you. Or I may find myself shining the light of publicity on your     
apparent lazy business practice when return in November. I will need a     
project!  

At the moment I'm just putting your grumpy response down as Tuesday     
morning blues. So please will you re-read my earlier email and make a     
more considered reply this time.

Regards, 

Angela   

Good old battling Sue, never one to be outdone by a Brit, now had her hackles up and fired this back.

I also find your response quite unacceptable. We simply do NOT manage or HAVE 
any 1 bedroom units and WON`T be getting any in the future. 

Sue Wallis  
Letting Agent  
Iron Bridge Real Estate Ltd  
Phone: (03) 961 5333   
Fax: (03) 961 5324    
Mobile:021 477 368   
  www.ironbridge.co.nz   

Well she is some cutie – she can read the future too - but she can't do humble nor sorry. So, and you've probably guessed it, miffed, I responded yet again.

Well Sue, don't ever think of coming to England looking for work. With     
your lack of customer facing skills you are simply unemployable by our     
standards.
 

Angela 

And I got this back –

Further to my last email to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At lest it`s given us all a really good
laugh 

Luv  S
xxxxoooo  
 
SueWallis 
Letting Agent 

'Plus ca change'! The over-familiarity with the 'luv' bit further amplifies what I had already begun to suspect. Sue is a bit lacking in understanding in how to conduct herself properly when dealing with a customer.

I do hope she manages to grow up and realize she has a job with responsibilities to do whilst at work and she needs to do more than simply bat customers away. Anyhow I'll make sure her boss gets to see this.

The Iron Bridge web site says this:-

"Our Mission is to become the most highly regarded Real Estate Company in New Zealand by providing the very best service, based on the highest standards of ethics, values and client care."

I think there is a severe disconnect between policy on paper and policy in action, don't you? I hope the boss can correct it before the power of this inter-web thingy destroys the company reputation he has painstakingly built.

And, finally to you, dear potential client of Iron Bridge Real Estate Ltd, do you really want an apparent wally like Sue Wallis handling your property?