In October I wrote a post about the Jenman System [read it here] and in particular the man himself. Apart from a smattering of press in the past few years he seems to have faded into insignificance.
For a system that basically told us it was bad for vendors to advertise in newspapers and online and that the only ones to benefit were agencies themselves, it seems many have now distanced themselves from this mantra.
Most have now embraced the Internet and newspapers again and recently I saw one advertising listings in a newspaper guide. Now like the Old testament, we are not supposed to have taken all that was written literally, still the core beliefs are the same.
So why did it fail? Well for one he introduced the system where even blind freddy could sell properties and so potential buyers were cueing around the corner to get their hands on a anything that hit the market and agents were begging for listings.
As soon as the market cooled and turned to a buyers market, the vendors also left these agencies in droves. Where most city offices have 30+ listings, I researched 5 firms and found a total of 50 listings for sale between them, hardly a way to run a successful real estate company.
So now the majority are back marketing listings…….a good thing too I say!
So can anyone tell me what has happened to the ‘Whispering sledgehammer’? Or some other reasons why it failed?
PS: I just made that up!
5 Comments
Elizabeth
Someone has to go first … so here I go.
Jenman – everytime I saw him on Television – it looked like he was channelling John Howard. The bottom lip came out, the “Real estate agents are ripping off the Aussie Battler” lines were almost scripted (and repeated), and generally, his karma reached out from the television screen and left most people unsettled, whether you were an agent, vendor or buyer.
Why did he fail?
Well he was full of contradictions:
Don’t promote – don’t use Print nor online.
But Jenman himself wrote a Book (s) – which is PRINT
He publicised himself on TV and radio (which is media, just as online is)
My favourite – “Don’t become a member of a franchise” – (I admit when I first heard this I praised the lord – for he has come again)
But when you looked into his ‘system’ – it was a quasi franchise again.
So really why did he fail?
He had nothing but doomsday things to say – and with Jenman agents now using print and online – and getting out there promoting – I think that his ‘system’ has obviously reached its expiry date.
Ah men.
Peter
Very true, I hope you are not getting to religious on me Elizabeth…..
I wrote in my article that agents will be left holding the baby so to speak when it fails, but it seems many of them have just squirmed into reality.
Robert Simeon
Where is he today ? Eating humble pie I would suggest !!
I believe he peaked in 1993/1994 – he did play a pivotal role in Richardson & Wrench franchise offices dispensing with franchise fees based on turn -over.
Not sure how many offices he has on the lower and upper North Shore today – I suspect that they could be counted on fingers, not hands.
Tune into Channel 7 – and watch ” Where are they now”.
Have no idea where he is today – maybe Jenny Craig after an overdose of humble pie !
Robert Simeon
Looks like the Jenman Approved may not be doing as well as it was. I see he has a new website where he recommends an agency to a prospective vendor and, once the property is sold the agent pays him a referral fee. Here is the link.
http://www.realestatemonitors.com.au/index.php
CRaig Pontey
No one should under estimate the talent that Mr Jenman has.
Some of his systems and CRM bases are very good.
I am a major fan of Auctions (it is about 85% of our business) when used correctly and followed as a process.
Mr Jenman has cleverly offered an alternative to those agents that dont have confidence or enough knowledge on the Auction system for their business.
We all need to press on and concern ourselves with what we can control………….US
Regards
Craig