Agents' Mutual has been described as the “industry’s lifeboat” by its latest recruit.
Curchods, which has 18 branches in Surrey trading under the Burns & Webber and Curchods brands, says it strongly supports Agents’ Mutual’s plans to create a new agent-owned property portal to challenge the domination of Rightmove and Zoopla.
Curchods joint senior partner Andrew Dewar said: “The Agents’ Mutual proposition is well thought-out, costed, workable and without doubt will succeed.
“It is a credible and, we feel, essential, alternative to break the grip the two giant portals have on our industry.
“We see Agents’ Mutual somewhat as the industry’s lifeboat as the waters get stormier over the next few years.”
Ian Springett of Agents’ Mutual said: “Curchods is a highly respected firm and I hope their support for our plans will encourage many other firms to consider them and come on board.”
See also today’s blog which tackles the big question: is dislike of Rightmove’s prices enough to make Agents’ Mutual succeed? Or is there an elephant in the room?
Agents who have not already done so can register to find out more about the project at this link:
https://www.agentsmutual.co.uk/
Comments
Why dont all these so called supporters just come off rightmove and grow a pair...then rightmove might actually listen. i dont want more outlay to my business i just want rightmoves head chopped off....
'........* cThe NAEA is the National Association of Estate Agents, they used to be quite big and well known in the industry but along came NFOPP and stuffed all that up......'
So true. ARLA too!
It is a big crack in the Surrey Agents backing for PropertyLive.
Led by James Wyatt all other Agent owned offerings in Surrey get dismissed in favour of PropertyLive.
For those who can't remember or for that matter were still in infant school at the time PropertyLive is the NAEA* portal that is currently on a life support machine.
* cThe NAEA is the National Association of Estate Agents, they used to be quite big and well known in the industry but along came NFOPP and stuffed all that up.
It only requires good men to do nothing for evil to prosper
A few thoughts:
If Agents' Mutual (a website) is a lifeboat to estate agency, do agents jump into the sea to sink when portals open up to landlords/vendors?
I would be more afraid of Rightmove flicking a switch and letting landlords and vendors in directly. It's already possible through less reputable brands. Rightmove is widely recognised.
Rightmove costs an agency less than hiring an additional member of staff. Most agencies could not function or provide a viable service to landlords/vendors without Rightmove.
So in a sense Agents' Mutual is a life-saver against the scourge of Rightmove's price hikes. However, and think about this carefully: are Rightmove's fees the worst thing for estate agency?
There's an old Japanese saying: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."
@steve
Bang on.
Yawn is right to a small degree though, (10 offices and more) this new site will require the help and membership of the small and smaller agents as well otherwise this site will just become another of those led by the bigger and richer agents and I am a little wary of certain agents getting their fingers into another pie so they can wangle one membership fee for them and another for the rest of us.
I want to hear more from agents mutual about the founding members and what this means, are we all going to be owners or are there agent owners above all else?
you are at you desk early Yawn! Funny how you don't comment on the equally repetitive PR stories from RM and Zoopla.
How about we have an informed comment from you on the Zoopla story about prices?
Which one do you work for?
Boring now. Can we have some fresh news, rather than when the next group with more than 10 offices joins.
Maybe let us know when its launched. And as for lifeboat, is this a play on Rightmove or Zoopla are TITANICS?
Yawn.