Phil Spencer set to become TV 'estate agent'

Could Phil Spencer be about to take an instruction off you – and if so, would you mind?

The genial Phil (what, no Kirstie?) is joining Channel 4’s daytime line-up in a new programme, ‘Phil Spencer: Secret Agent’, in which he comes to the aid of home owners trapped in properties that refuse to sell.

Says the C4 blurb: “After years of property boom, the housing market across the country has been stagnant and estate agents have seen the biggest rise in unsold houses since 2007.

“With deposit requirements up and mortgage approvals down, it’s harder than ever to sell a house.

“Enter Phil Spencer, who will take on the role of secret agent and work with sellers and buyers to help get the market moving again.

“In Phil Spencer: Secret Agent he will attempt to sell houses stuck on the market. But before he meets the struggling home owners he will don his surveyor’s hat to assess the property, looking at it through the eyes of a buyer, as well as researching the local area and housing market.

“Armed with all the information he needs to make a realistic judgement on why the house isn’t selling, he’ll surprise the owners as their new agent and outline his opinions – all the good and the bad – before recommending what needs to be done to get their home sold.”

Apparently, he’ll seek out potential buyers, create shiny new details and arrange an open house viewing.

Phil doesn’t seem to be under too many illusions as to what he’s taking on: “By working right across the country advising both buyers and sellers, I’ll be trying to broker as many deals as possible.

“It’s a big challenge, but my aim is to make a real difference in the market. And just to up the ante, I’m always going to be focusing on one particularly hard home to shift.”

Hmm.

Three thoughts spring to mind. First, what happens if he does a deal with a buyer introduced by a previous agent? And second, will he finally manage to convince the Great British Public that, actually, being an estate agent really isn’t money for old rope.

Oh, and third, what will he be charging?