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The family-owned publishing firm Archant, Britain's fifth-largest regional newspaper group, is entering into a deal with OnTheMarket while continuing to run its own Zoopla-powered portal.

In addition to newspapers, Archant publishes a number of lifestyle county' magazines and runs its own property portal, www.homes24.co.uk, which is powered by Zoopla.

Archant's announcement, which says Agents' Mutual will have properties from more than 4,000 estate and letting agent offices at launch, reinforces the publishing group's desire to have a high degree of local content.

Estate and letting agents hold the key to some of the most valuable content in the form of the details of the properties they are marketing. Agents have fantastic content. We reach property-searchers who are actively in the market. There's clearly a win-win opportunity says an Archant spokesman.

The initiative will include advertising space across all Archant newspapers and magazines to promote OnTheMarket.com. There will also be an incentive to existing agents which advertise to run incremental co-branded advertising.'

Archant will continue to partner with Zoopla to provide its own property search facilities through www.homes24.co.uk, which can be accessed via all its newspaper websites.

Agents' Mutual chief executive Ian Springett says there are strong ties between Archant titles and our members and it makes sound commercial and strategic sense to build on these ties.

Comments

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    Richard, have you been on the apprentice at all, it's just, when I read your comments, it just sounds like I'm watching an episode..... "I'm better than you, I can sell more than you, I'm the best at everything" etc etc

    • 18 December 2014 17:10 PM
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    You are right....and I apologise, I give a lot better service. I Advertise EVERY property EVERY week(apart from December) in the local newspaper - No local gent does that.

    I do ALL the viewings.

    Everyone deals with the director of the company ie me...

    The fee is 0.75% +Vat the same for everyone unlike you high st agents.

    I don't have a pointless high st office because its not needed.....

    I would say that's proof. If you can offer abetter service and fee I will hold my hands up.

    • 17 December 2014 12:19 PM
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    "giving the same service but saving clients potentially thousands of pounds."...You cannot prove that and you know it.

    • 17 December 2014 10:51 AM
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    High st agents have their heads in the sand so I don't think would take in anything I say...if they did they would be using the hybrid model, giving the same service but saving clients potentially thousands of pounds.

    • 17 December 2014 08:16 AM
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    If it makes you stronger by High Street agents going on to Zoopla than why come on here and make a big song and dance about!

    Surely better to say nothing and let more sign up so you can cash in big time

    • 16 December 2014 20:13 PM
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    and the funniest things is by OTM market not allowing online agents, that is full proof that high st agents are scared of us!

    • 16 December 2014 18:15 PM
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    @The Other Side

    In the area my online agency covers, I have OUTSOLD All high street agents over the last 9 years...so my market share is not your concern. Likewise my number valuations is more than ok, thanks. I sell 90 to 110 properties per year working from my study, if the local high st agents choose to bin zoopla for OTM market fine by me...makes me stronger....:-)

    • 16 December 2014 18:12 PM
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    Lets just wait a few weeks and see.
    Archant Newspapers are no small fry and are on board with AM/OTM.
    There could be quite a big surprise in store for the knockers

    • 16 December 2014 16:09 PM
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    Exactly this. A bit like a certain political party that has got a lot of coverage in recent times, AM/OTM insist that they are offering something different from the norm, a genuine alternative, when really they're exactly the same (in some cases literally) as the people they are trying to belittle. If they're hiring Zoopla and Rightmove people, how are they differing from the status quo.

    As usual, a lot of hot air from AM/OTM, with little substance to back it up.

    • 16 December 2014 15:00 PM
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    Has anyone seen how many people AM have hired They're all Zoopla and mostly Rightmove people anyway!!!

    They've got a massive army and all these ppl are sales people / telemarketing ppl. Most of the budget is going to be blown on this massive infrastructure before the thing gets going. I just don't see the value in this. Agents are going to be having the same reps but now batting for the other side and singing a different song!!

    Supporting this is gonna cost big cash!!

    • 16 December 2014 14:46 PM
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    Richard, I think you over-estimate the influence online agents have. They currently account for between 2-5% of properties on rightmove. If the agents that hold 95% of the stock are shouting from the roofs about onthemarket and your online agency (who probably has a very small market share and is invited to a limited amount of valuations) is the only one championing Zoopla, rightmove or whatever - I think you will be fighting a losing battle.

    • 16 December 2014 13:15 PM
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    100% of the agents in our city are on Rightmove.

    • 16 December 2014 11:18 AM
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    Are they on Rightmove instead

    • 16 December 2014 11:09 AM
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    50% of the agents in our town are not on Zoopla. They do not seem to be losing out.

    • 16 December 2014 11:06 AM
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    Whilst I agree with Richard Spillers comments I do think this could go either way, a hit-or-miss situation.

    • 16 December 2014 10:54 AM
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    OTM will not work. by not allowing online agents they will not get the whole market, it will strengthen rightmoves position if anything.

    The public have heard of rightmove and zoopla, so when I go into valuations as an online agent I will promote these, the high st agent who is not on both RM and Zoopla will lose out.

    For it to work as EVERY agent wants.....OTM needs to allow ALL agents and EVERY agent needs to bin rightmove....it really is that simple.

    • 16 December 2014 10:36 AM
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    Whilst the conspiracy theory angle is interesting, it just seems like Archant are covering every base. As Jennings says, they're not stupid. I think they know exactly what they're doing.

    • 16 December 2014 10:20 AM
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    Interesting. Maybe the start of a bid by Zoopla and OTM to work together to bring down the mighty Rightmove This could get the conspiracy theorists all hot under the collar.

    Or, alternatively, as Jennings says, Archant are being very pragmatic. They see that Zoopla are on the downward spiral and are transferring their support to the new kids on the block.

    • 16 December 2014 10:02 AM
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    Archant are not stupid, why have your hands tied to a company in decline when you can build a relationship with the future of estate agency portals. Apparently they're offering 2-4-1 deals on advertising to all OnTheMarket advertisers.

    • 16 December 2014 00:09 AM
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