For David Goldsmith, a broker at DG Neary Realty in Chelsea, a sign that the ranks of Manhattan’s real estate agents are swelling with inexperienced newcomers is the number of phone calls the 20-year veteran calls silly and redundant.
“I get more calls from untrained new agents where every question they ask is already on the web site,” Goldsmith said. “Or they call on a six-unit building in Soho and ask if there is a doorman.”
As part of an in-depth survey of Manhattan residential real estate agents this month, The Real Deal found that nearly 50 percent of brokers interviewed said the number of new agents – which creates more competition for business – was the most significant negative trend in the industry in the last five years.
The survey, which drew responses from about 45 brokers, nearly all of whom are in senior positions, found that the number one positive trend over the last five years has been – perhaps unsurprisingly – technology and listings systems for brokers.
“What might take a buyer a couple of hours on the web to search can take a few minutes for us,” said John Sheets, a director at Brown Harris Stevens.
In the seven-question survey, agents were also asked about the perceived real estate bubble. Ninety-five percent of agents said there wasn’t one, but gave different reasons.
“I don’t think it’s a bubble, but I don’t think it can go much higher,” said Marillyn Abrams, a senior vice president at Douglas Elliman.
Interviews also weighed in on new developments — with a near majority noting that finishes were the number one improvement in the last few years.
Many had more specific answers.
“The overtaxing of new conversions is a negative trend. You could have 80 cents per square foot being just your taxes,” said Steven Ganz, a vice president at Douglas Elliman. “Taxes are maybe 40 percent higher than five years ago.”