Best online estate agent
Discussion
Bandit said:
LFB531 said:
I've only been an agent for 30 years so maybe I know nothing but I agree totally with your summary providing;
1. You manage to persuade people to stop letting emotions get involved with buying a house.
2. You insist on the buyer and seller making a commitment within 7 days
3. You remove EVERY bit of red tape involved in the process
Can you provide any information on what each of the 3 points actually entails?1. You manage to persuade people to stop letting emotions get involved with buying a house.
2. You insist on the buyer and seller making a commitment within 7 days
3. You remove EVERY bit of red tape involved in the process
It looks like common sense, good communication and a little intelligence are whats needed - so again, why would you need an estate agent?
What makes me smile is estate agents thinking they are doing something skilled/complicated for the extortionate fees they charge.
Not sure I've ever suggested to anyone that the job is complicated although some of the muppet agents I come across seem to want to make it that way, I do it every day so it's just what comes borne of experience. As for the fees, it's a daft system and always has been but that's the one we've got. No one is forced to pay them and the only way to change it would be for ALL agents to agree but I think the word Cartel springs to mind at that point.
LFB531 said:
As for the fees, it's a daft system and always has been but that's the one we've got. No one is forced to pay them and the only way to change it would be for ALL agents to agree but I think the word Cartel springs to mind at that point.
I think you've just made my point. The online agents charge a flat fee of approx £500 regardless of the size of the house they are selling.This provides a service outside of "the Cartel".
Its a game changer and one which makes traditional estate agent models expensive and obsolete.
Blimey, this does vex you Bandit!
Traditionally, the 'cheap deal' agents (and I mean from long before the Internet) used to take their fees up front, is that still the case? It's common sense that if all sellers paid something up front for the listing, the final fee could be much less. At present, the ones that sell pay for the ones that don't.
Not taken much notice in my patch as they have come and gone fairly rapidly and frequently over the years. Maybe there's a gap in the market for you to come and exploit!
Traditionally, the 'cheap deal' agents (and I mean from long before the Internet) used to take their fees up front, is that still the case? It's common sense that if all sellers paid something up front for the listing, the final fee could be much less. At present, the ones that sell pay for the ones that don't.
Not taken much notice in my patch as they have come and gone fairly rapidly and frequently over the years. Maybe there's a gap in the market for you to come and exploit!
Bandit said:
What makes me smile is estate agents thinking they are doing something skilled/complicated for the extortionate fees they charge.
I sold my house this year and the Agent had upped their game since the last time i used them. I could log onto my own account and see who the interested parties were and what follow-up actions they had undertaken, plus a load of other stuff.Every viewer of my house found the property on-line (I had 22 viewings in the first week, sold in two weeks)
I suspect the solution lies somewhere in the middle, where Estate Agents have to adapt to the changing climate like any other business. My commission was 0.75% this year, which is heading the right direction compared to previous years.
Guffy said:
I suspect the solution lies somewhere in the middle, where Estate Agents have to adapt to the changing climate like any other business. My commission was 0.75% this year, which is heading the right direction compared to previous years.
Agreed - Estate Agents need to change if they are to survive. If someone can provide a good service at a reasonable price then why not use them. Today however you often get bad service with terrible prices which is a surefire way to a redundant operating model, even more so when there's good alternatives available now. LFB531 said:
Blimey, this does vex you Bandit!
Traditionally, the 'cheap deal' agents (and I mean from long before the Internet) used to take their fees up front, is that still the case? It's common sense that if all sellers paid something up front for the listing, the final fee could be much less. At present, the ones that sell pay for the ones that don't.
Not taken much notice in my patch as they have come and gone fairly rapidly and frequently over the years. Maybe there's a gap in the market for you to come and exploit!
It does vex me yes and I'm surprised you can't see whats going to happen to traditional estate agencies.Traditionally, the 'cheap deal' agents (and I mean from long before the Internet) used to take their fees up front, is that still the case? It's common sense that if all sellers paid something up front for the listing, the final fee could be much less. At present, the ones that sell pay for the ones that don't.
Not taken much notice in my patch as they have come and gone fairly rapidly and frequently over the years. Maybe there's a gap in the market for you to come and exploit!
This is often the case though where industries can't see the woods for the trees and some disruptive technology appears which makes the old model of working obsolete (Look at what just happened to Kodak when the completely missed the transition to digital film market!)
Looking at this site http://www.housenetwork.co.uk/low_cost_estate_agen... they appear to have a range of product options.
Pay less up front or pay more after the sale.
They say they have sold £1.3trillion pounds worth of properties so not too shabby a business.
To put in in context, I would be looking at paying 20 times more in fees selling my house through an agent.
I might consider paying two or three times as much for a professional to handle a sale..... but not 20 times.
Bandit said:
I might consider paying two or three times as much for a professional to handle a sale..... but not 20 times.
Are you not convinced that on-line agency is professional then? I looked at the site you mentioned and it's all bright and jazzy so can seriously appreciate the attraction to some.Right....off to Le Mans (and not in an estate agents mini!)
LFB531 said:
Are you not convinced that on-line agency is professional then? I looked at the site you mentioned and it's all bright and jazzy so can seriously appreciate the attraction to some.
Right....off to Le Mans (and not in an estate agents mini!)
I wouldn't expect it to provide the same level of service as a local estate agent.Right....off to Le Mans (and not in an estate agents mini!)
I'd accept that the small fee they charge is for advertisement of the property on Rightmove.
I would be responsible from then on for the sale of my property (although the website does indicate that they do handle inquiries etc as part of their service)
Have fun in Le Mans !
:jealous!:
Bandit said:
I wouldn't expect it to provide the same level of service as a local estate agent.
I'd accept that the small fee they charge is for advertisement of the property on Rightmove.
I would be responsible from then on for the sale of my property (although the website does indicate that they do handle inquiries etc as part of their service)
Have fun in Le Mans ! :jealous!:
Their service has been above and beyond any estate agent I have previously used, chasing feedback creating 3d tours, arranging appointments handling negotiations if required all for the up front fee of £500.00 iirc.I'd accept that the small fee they charge is for advertisement of the property on Rightmove.
I would be responsible from then on for the sale of my property (although the website does indicate that they do handle inquiries etc as part of their service)
Have fun in Le Mans !
:jealous!:I would def use house network again they offer a truly top service and value for money.
Ps don't work for them.....
Setting aside the arguments for and against the online only agency model (as it stands), good practice from a bricks and mortar agency (as that stands), the culture of the buying and selling public in 2012 and any legalities as that would end up as a post a bit long and probably no-one would bother reading - even if I had the time to write it.
(This bit might be misinterpreted as terribly arrogant but genuinely isn't intended to be read as such)
I have never valued a property that has decided at first attempts to go on the market with an online only agency that has subsequently sold through that agency. That said, the number of times I have valued a property that has gone on the market with an online agency at all is in single figures so maybe some or no conclusions can be drawn from that.
Regardless, the only sold boards I can ever remember encountering from online only agencies were from thehousenetwork. It is possible I have seen others and forgotten the brand but housenetwork is the only one I can remember. That must say something for them. The sample size is very small, however, but that might not be the case outside of Greater London/neighbouring counties.
On top of all the other advice to the OP I hope it all sorts itself out for him and he gets the move he's after - however he achieves it.
(This bit might be misinterpreted as terribly arrogant but genuinely isn't intended to be read as such)
I have never valued a property that has decided at first attempts to go on the market with an online only agency that has subsequently sold through that agency. That said, the number of times I have valued a property that has gone on the market with an online agency at all is in single figures so maybe some or no conclusions can be drawn from that.
Regardless, the only sold boards I can ever remember encountering from online only agencies were from thehousenetwork. It is possible I have seen others and forgotten the brand but housenetwork is the only one I can remember. That must say something for them. The sample size is very small, however, but that might not be the case outside of Greater London/neighbouring counties.
On top of all the other advice to the OP I hope it all sorts itself out for him and he gets the move he's after - however he achieves it.
Can't understand why more people don't sell their own property, if you go through urbansalesandlettings, they will advertise it for you on rightmove, primelocation, findaproperty etc. I don't think you need a "for sale" sign if your house is desirable, everyone looks at the internet now, when they looking to buy and rent
chimster said:
Bump.... Is it fair to say that the online market has progressed significantly over the last couple of years? I am seriously thinking of using the online service. Anyone with thoughts to the contrary?
IMHO it depends on what you're selling.A flat being sold to a 20 something internet savvy buyer just needs rightmove, whereas a pensioner's retirement bungalow is the opposite.
I've just been reading my rantings from earlier in this thread 
Well you'll be please to know I did put my money where my mouth is when I sold my house in Oct 2013
I used HouseNetwork. I think it cost £599 at the time. Great service, very easy to manage the bookings and organize/refresh the on-line presence (Rightmove).
I sold withing 4 weeks. Saved £8750 in estate agent fees.
Well you'll be please to know I did put my money where my mouth is when I sold my house in Oct 2013
I used HouseNetwork. I think it cost £599 at the time. Great service, very easy to manage the bookings and organize/refresh the on-line presence (Rightmove).
I sold withing 4 weeks. Saved £8750 in estate agent fees.
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