The good ones are the exception that proves how bad most of them are.
My wife began working for the estate agency voted best in France for the last 2 years - I knew she would be a success because she is a "people person", totally honest so tells it how it is on the basis that no house is perfect, gives feedback to the vendors after every viewing, gets offered houses to sell on the basis of recomendation after doing the job for less than 2 years,negotiates her fees if it helps to clinch the deal and works 7 days a week - often until about 10.00pm each evening!
Yes the fees are high compared to Uk but after deduction of TVA her share is relatively small and she has to run her own car, mobile & house phone, computer, printer & cartridges etc etc.
Today 2 of her properties are being filmed for the "Place in the Sun" TV programme!
I think she earns every euro of her commission!