Agent says Rightmove bosses must have sold shares 'to make ends meet'

Wednesday 14th September 2011

An agent reacting to Rightmove’s latest increases has expressed his sympathy for the directors of Rightmove after two of its bosses sold shares at a huge profit, whilst saying that he may have to give up buying food.

He is among agents who have been told that Rightmove is putting up its prices to £700 per branch plus VAT – £585 for sales plus £115 for rentals. He says he has been told that he has until September 28 to respond, and if not, his silence will be taken as automatic acceptance.

But the agent told EAT: “Frankly, I’m relieved they are increasing charges as I was beginning to worry that they might be running a little short. There’s nothing worse than senior employees having to sell shares to make ends meet.

“If only I had shares (in anything) to sell to help them out. Maybe I can go without food to help pay their subs. This way everybody benefits: I diet and Miles Shipside can eat again – a Goodmove if not necessarily a Rightone.”

An agent in these straitened times needing to diet? A well-honed Miles Shipside pausing for refreshment outside the gym? Whatever next?

EAT would like to suggest that if you can possibly guess who the agent in question is, please post below.

However, maverick Glastonbury agent Jules Bending – banned by Rightmove, which didn’t like his double entendre property adverts – said that most agents could come off Rightmove and not know the difference.

Bending said: “The fact is that most people move within a 7-mile radius of where they already live.

“It’s also a fact that if you are moving to a new village/town/country, you will go there and look in the local estate agents’ windows to find your new house.

“Why, then is everybody terrified of not being on Rightmove?

“A lady came into our office a month ago after looking on Rightmove for properties to buy in Glastonbury, even though we’re not on the site.

“Nor do we sell many houses now as we’re mainly a lettings agency, but in she came anyway. She came in anyway – just as all serious buyers will.

“Most agents tout Rightmove to their clients as the essential sales tool. But how many have sold, actually sold, a house just by using Rightmove, where the buyer hasn’t been to the area, looked in your window or phoned you to go on a mailing list?

“I’d be amazed if there were any.”