The ongoing battle between Rightmove, Zoopla and Agents' Mutual has taken a new turn after a story in a national newspaper.
The Daily Telegraph ran an article entitled Estate agent wars could make it harder to sell your home.
The article claimed that Agents' Mutual, which will launch OntheMarket on 26 January, is trying to persuade its members to hold back housing stock from its rivals.
Agents report receiving an email from a software provider that delivers the listing tools for agents. It said:
"OnTheMarket are very keen on persuading their members to hold back instructions for a while from whichever other portal is used (one of OnTheMarket's rules is that their members can only use Rightmove or Zoopla - not both).
"...Many members see merit in deferring new listings everywhere except their own websites," and then directed the branch manager to a button next to each portal's name where they can change the "send after" date.
Agents' Mutual chief executive Ian Springett told the Telegraph: "Many of our estate and letting agent members have indicated a wish to prioritise our portal when they bring new properties to market and we have been exploring ways to facilitate this.
"It is up to our members when they begin advertising a property with each of their chosen media and we have no contractual arrangements with them about this.
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Comments
EAT shows a zoopla banner. PIE shows the AM banner. Its not rocket science.
But Z and RM bith allow passive budget models in. Theyve chosen to take funds from lower grade agents so many traditionals will see the hand being bit that feeds the portals.
You cant let Dracula into the blood bank and not expect others to keep donating
At least we agree this is journalism. The other site is an AM propaganda site. We need to have difficult questions asked and answered and that is not their goal.
@Rob Davies In reply.
So, drawing attention to 'lazy reporting' is picking holes
'I think we all know what was meant' Not so, you and I may know but many will not and will take it word for word.
In my opinion EAT indulge in much lazy reporting and is biased on many things, not just AM.
Picking holes again, Ray. I think we all know what was meant. People are getting too paranoid and are looking for bias in any EAT article about Agents' Mutual.
I still reserve my judgement on them. As many people say OTM will fail as those who say it will succeed, so it's very hard to know who's going to be proved right. We'll just have to see how it plays out - should be fascinating.
'......(one of OnTheMarket's rules is that their members can only use Rightmove or Zoopla - not both)......'
Yet more lazy and biased reporting from EAT OTM rule states only one other portal, it does not specify a choice
BOY... sure took your time catching up with this story, didn't you