In the Ipswich area alone I know of at least 5 agents to have shut their doors permanently since September last year. If there's any indication the market's changed, surely this is it.

If you're thinking of selling I thought I'd share this recent conversation I had dealing with an offer I received on one of our properties.

The buyer had offered almost 10% off what, in my opinion, was an already realistic asking price.

I agreed a sale on a property for one of our sellers yesterday and as I looked out of my kitchen window I thought to myself how much this business has changed since I got into estate agency in 1986.

The 14th of December is looming large and all 1 and 2 bedroom properties marketed after this date will require a Home information pack.

Although most agents agree that the majority of buyers are showing very little interest in HIP's  they do, at least, show some financial commitment from anyone looking to sell their home.

Estate Agency News has just reported on a survey conducted by Hotproperty.co.uk where the majority of estate agents who took part agreed their future is not in the high street.

62% said the business would either be online or in serviced offices within 10 years.