One industry, in need of slight refurbishment

US magazine Fast Company has declared that estate agents are its Most Endangered Profession:

Real-estate agents have been on the endangered-profession list for a while (thanks, Internet and 2% brokers), but Home Depot may make them extinct. In seven southern states, the DIY store will be testing home-selling kits aimed at the growing for-sale-by-owner market. For $12.95, you get a sign to put in your yard, but more important, you get a listing and photos on Owners.com, which claims to be the largest for-sale-by-owner site, with 5 million customers

Funnily enough, I’m running a piece in Saturday’s EG that shows some early moves in this direction in the UK, too.

[via Ben Hammersley]