Back in the mid-60's when I was living in London, everyone had a favourite Estate Agent; Roy Brooks. His business was just down the road from where I lived off Chelsea's Kings Road.
Brooks was a rarity in the world of house selling; he was HONEST, and often insulting.
I wasn't a house buyer in my London days; I had no money or even intent. But looking at Brooks' adverts was always amusing.
I can't imagine when this one (below) was published, but a 3/4 bed house in Battersea for £5,995 sounds like a bargain, even if it was a tip.
Many Estate Agency's adverts changed after Brooks' honest approach, but no-one that I know of has ever followed his example 100%. It's not surprising that he became London's most popular, and probably richest, Estate Agent.
18 comments:
Wimps of today do not like an honest approach in anything. This post is sad in that it is the perfect example of this. It is in every area of life, honesty not allowed.
You knew what you were going to visit, having read a Brooks description. Some of his ad's even tried to put people off buying!
That's a glorious advert. Full of cheeky humour. I'd go and look at it!!
Wonder what the price is now and how it would be described.
A Victorian 3/4 bed house in Battersea must be at least £1.5 Million these days. Even as Brooks described it; it was a bargain!
I like it!
Yes, but would you have bought it?
£1.5 million? I think that's probably a slight underestimate! My favourite phrase is 'in need of some refurbishment'...usually means the place is falling down!
It very much depends on the street. In a 'good area' it could be double that, in a 'rough area' it could be less. I like his description of the garden (above).
I remember the Roy Brooks adverts-
- they were hilarious! If only Estate Agents today were as honest.
And today it would sell for how many millions?
Sewage worker, mortician, abattoir cleaner, Tory MP, estate agent - surely the most undesirable jobs in the job centre and equally off-putting.
They were great fun, I can actually remember looking forward to them appearing.
Yes, well..... I'm amazed it was only £6k when it was for sale. How times have changed.
Yes, all of those and a few more I can think of.
Next to most car salesmen/women are real estate agents for promoting and making whizzy deals.
One local agent drums up business by promoting free paper shredding services. While you shred, she promotes her home selling services. It must be working because she continues to offer the service.
Why would anyone take all their paper shredding stuff to an estate agent? Still, one gimmick is as good as another!
Just a thought Cro, if that's the address of the property they are selling at the bottom of the advert - I wonder if it's still standing and what state it's in. Worth Googling?
Yes, that's the address. They used to get people to meet at the house and have a collective viewing.
I've just found a photo of No 15 (6 houses away), which is a lovely Victorian house. In August 2023 it was for sale for £1,725,000.
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