Hybrid franchise agency EstatesDirect appears to be well on its way to securing another tranche of investment cash through crowdfunding, to top up £660,000 it raised this way last year.
The agency is this time seeking £1.25m via Crowdcube, and has currently achieved over 70 per cent with just under six weeks of the investment period remaining. The largest single pledge from the 145 investors this time has been £150,000.
EstatesDirect first launched online in some parts of the UK in 2012 and now aims to become a nationwide service with a fixed fee. It says it will bridge the gap between online and high street agents.
It operates with a website as its shop window but then has what it describes as qualified regional agents to value property, prepare details, and handle appointments, valuations and viewings.
EstatesDirect owner and former Poundland founder Steve Smith says: "We have a number of franchised businesses, licensees and employed local agents, who provide the expertise and personalised service of a high-street estate agent, which we know is still very important to customers when buying, selling or letting their property."
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Comments
Agreed to the below it is a load of cobblers from a load of chancers!
Where do I sign my agency up to crowdfund!
Preferred package 900 in lots of areas average fee is only 1200 for a traditional estate agent with offices and lots of staff and accompanied viewings with more than a man with a phone to contact. Etc these companies crack me up. They assume agents are millionaires with easy jobs. Keep trying guys good luck to you. #flawedbusinessmodel
Somebody care to look at the pricing structure on their site - https://www.estatesdirect.com/selling-packages/ - then click through to choose the packages, and then tell me exactly which Laws, Regulations and Rules are being smashed to pieces by this company, please