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Written by rosalind renshaw

A new, or relaunched, property portal that is owned by agents for agents must set out its stall for consumers, an expert has said.

Charlie Wright, of software firm thebu2iness.com, warns that even though Rightmove “isn’t even that good”, it has succeeded simply because all the other portals were so bad.

He warns that it will not be enough merely for agents to use a site of their own merely to try to cap portal fees.

It is, he says, a laudable aim – but not one that will get consumers to visit a site.

What consumers want from a site, he says, is a focus on them and their own needs. That, he says, is something that none of the portals gets.

As for independents worrying that there will not be enough properties listed, that should not be a concern.

A portal could succeed in becoming mainstream if it is the voice of all credible and professional independent agents promoting personal service.

Wright is one of a large number of IT and portal experts offering their services to help get any new owned-by-agents portal off the ground.

Nick Salmon, the estate agent leading the initiative, has already said that there have been so many offers that it will be vital to get a third-party independent expert to assess the various offers and claims.

Wright’s blog makes interesting reading, though – even if you don’t agree with what he says.

https://tinyurl.com/bz88wr3

Comments

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    As the guy said, any 'new' portal needs to help agents cut costs or tangibly get more business (possibly at the expense of other agents).

    Why would an agent use a new portal? Are they saving masses of time? Able to give their landlords a truly better service?

    It's disheartening to see so little innovative thought. Most of the comments are:

    "Rightmove isn't owned by us."
    "They're raising their fees."
    "So let's copy them."

    Idiocy!

    There are 10s of thousands of agents. These are business people. Give them business reasons to use a new portal.

    Cheaper does not equal better.

    Doing it yourself certainly doesn't equal better. You just have to look at every single agency website, with the exception of the evil Foxtons empire, to be convinced agents know little about marketing.

    Innovate, analyse the current status quo and look to the future.

    As Wayne Gretzky said: "Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it is now."

    And yes, I have some clear thoughts on a solution. My email's here if you'd like to chat.

    • 28 January 2013 16:26 PM
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    The problem is that new ideas are needed based upon the needs of agents not just the customer.

    • 28 January 2013 13:34 PM
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    Don't agree with everything he says , try almost any of it.

    The first obvious bit of pandering to the masses was the exclude the 'corporates' rabble rouser as if RightMove's success had nothing to do with them either.

    Yes lets leave out between 10-20% of the listings currently on the market place and hope to have the critical mass to succeed. Another groundbreaking idea and perfect recipe for another of Charlies failed businesses.

    • 28 January 2013 08:57 AM
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    Watch out for the "techies"
    They have their place and expertise but it is your business.
    You want what you want - not what they want!

    • 28 January 2013 08:31 AM
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