More details emerge on Countrywide’s closure programme

So Countrywide's strategy - 'we have no strategy' - continues; let the whole property industry watch as we unravel. Time for vision and action, but with the share price likely to be 100th of what it was 5-years ago, there is likely to be a major fire sale of any 'profit making' components of the brand. In some ways Countrywide echoes Woolworths and other companies that woke up to find that the world had moved on and they had become a relic of the past. Just because the way business is conducted is ever changing, this should be seen as an opportunity, rather than an annoyance. Burying ones corporate head collectively in the sand, rather than confronting change and planning future growth is the top sin of many companies. Many will be watching Countrywide's demise with shock, but, the real shock may be that their own businesses are also more like Woolworths than businesses ready for trading in 2020, where clear vision - no pun intended - will separate profit and loss making concerns.

I am an ex estate agent who worked for Your Move for 30 years and left about 2 years ago as senior management decisions became more and more erratic and things started to unravel. I can only wish staff at Countrywide the best over the next few months. You are not the problem, there are some excellent estate agents working for the various brands and you will be welcomed with open arms to many of your competitors, well respected for the training you have received and not doubted for your work ethic. Its a big world out there.

John D Wood rebranded to a Bairstow Eves? - Chalk and Cheese springs to mind.

Bairstow Eves office in Westcliff on Sea closed 31st April and "moved to" their Southend on Sea branch. That means their Leigh on Sea, Shoeburyness and now Westcliff on Sea offices have closed over recent times. Shame for a business that I started my career with - They are another Woolworths - a great name once but no more - Why would anybody use them?

Well I'm in Southend and tbh you don't need two offices in the locale.
Apparently I'm in a Westcliff council ward yet I'm only 5 mins walk to Southend High St.
There are simply too many LA.
I've noticed properties up for sale when once they would be To Let.
Peak Student Lettings has moved or amalgamated from Queens St.
I was only in there a few months ago chewing the fat..Apparently everything was going swimmingly. ...................Apparently NOT!!!

When a company gets too big by acquiring a mass of existing companies then, rather than the benefit of economies of scale and best practice processes as you might hope, instead you get a huge admin and managerial overhead, a cost that has to be paid for by the agencies. They simply have far too many managers being managed by area managers, managed by regional managers, managed by national managers, being managed by international managers. All know best, all have a big staff, all have to be paid for on top of the usually tight structure that a small business has. They are huge but, in my opinion, they are also a hugely flawed model always seeking additional income streams.

You'll soon be able to buy the company for the same price as a mars bar. Embarrassing.
I feel for the hard working staff, I imagine there's been no bonuses for years.

Looks like a good number of Clive Watkin branches have closed. A great independent agent that countrywide recently purchased and run into the ground. It’s all very well talking about share price etc but how many peoples lives have been destroyed by Countrywide poor management. Job loses, job security not to many mention many people I know who were sold the dream on fantastic employee share save schemes who have nothing to show and struggling to support their families. The company should be ashamed of what they have become. I worked there many of years ago and whilst the culture may have been wrong people staff were paid well if performed, had career profession and job security. I know for a fact everyone working there now have no loyalty to the company and have a very short term outlook on their job. If you treat employees bad they will treat their customers the same.