PropertyLive, the NFoPP portal which faced abrupt closure early this year before an outcry led to a stay of execution, could have a viable future.
It could re-emerge in a completely new guise, says Mark Hayward, the NAEA’s managing director and current president. However, there will be no inkling of its fate until at least next month while an un-named industry expert continues to examine possibilities.
Hayward said: “Since our announcement in February that we have been reviewing proposals for the future of the Property Live site, we have received much interest from a variety of parties.
“The site has been hosted and managed externally in that time while we appointed an independent portal industry expert to assess the proposals. That assessment has been positive, but extensive, and as such we do not expect it to conclude before June.
“However, we are hopeful to have a preferred direction soon and are confident that a viable future for the site – possibly in an entirely new guise – will be agreed, that will benefit our members and the whole of the industry and breathe some life into the portal market.
“An external party will continue to maintain the site while we conclude our assessment, ensuring it still functions as a property portal for the industry. In the meantime, we are now no longer accepting any further submissions for the long-term management of the site apart from those who have already approached us.”
Comments
Hayward claimed
"PropertyLive, the NFoPP portal which faced abrupt closure early this year before an outcry led to a stay of execution, could have a viable future"
That is naive and wrong. Any portal that tries to follow the commercial might of Rightmove and Zoopla will fail.
The fact that this assesment is taking 6 months is an indication that those involved do not have the knowledge or understanding to achieve any sort of viability.
In the same way as Captain Mainwaring and the Home Guard probably thought they had the drive and spunk to recapture occupied Europe, any rational thought of establishing a viable NFOPP portal is simply wishful thinking.
Great, they fluffed it when they had a clear run, then shut it and now if we are all very lucky indeed they will drag the old hound back from the dead
Too late, the partys moved on, it’s going to be the portal that never was because [ADD REASON HERE DEPENDING ON YOUR VIEW]
Jonnie
Not an agent but work in IT for agents ....apologies if any of this is inaccurate but its my perception
If I was held over a barrel by the local Rightmove Acct Mgr regarding pricing. I would be looking to Property Live as a viable tool to break /soften that grip. It doesnt matter if its RM or Zoopla ; whoever is dominant will maximise (abuse) position while they can.
However a viable alternative only comes with support.
From what Ive seen this industry is so divided by local self interest that youd better get comfortable on that barrel.....
If PropertyLive was hosted commercially with revenue from light advertising how difficult or expensive is it to feed it from your estate agent software and place adverts next to your RM ones on the door. If it was open to all estate agents it may work out in the long run...
Compared to what RM are screwing you for Id take a chance personally....
I resigned along with many other very experienced members some time ago. The NAEA needs people like me and many others i know back to enhance the association. I suggest the NAEA writes to all past Members who have resigned to ask them back
Pre PBK may who ended up with an FNAEA had passed written and practical examination along with 10 years experience.
You are exactly the sort of person Mark Hayward needs to address. By demonstrating to people like you there is a pride in the profession and NAEA are proud of its members and their professionalism, the NAEA membership will rise. Till he does that we are all indistinguishable from people like you save the plastic shoes, manners and decorum.
Remind me what meaningful examination has to be passed to become a Member of Parliament or a magistrate. Presumably a cycling proficiency certificate is a the meaningingful examination to get a Knighthood.
Define professionals? You need a meaningful exam for that.
If NAEA was the strength in the industry it was prior to Peter Bolton King's reign over it, you would be onto something. Sadly Mark Hayward has yet to reach out to all the experienced Ex -NAEA members and say "PBK has gone, this is a new chapter, please come back. We have scrapped all daft notions of granduer. If you do rejoin in volume we will return to our roots and do away with all the commercial ambitions to sell this that and the other. I promise to rationalise staffing levels at Arbon House and run a professional organisation that stands up for the professionals that supports it"
I agree that in its current format there is no way that Propertylive can br successful. It needs money to enable them to advertise to compete with the likes or Rightmove etc.. That said, it is my opinion that if, as an industry, we could back Propertylive and come up with a viable financial proposal it could be worth it just to release us all from the stranglehold that the two major portals have on us.
@ Nice work if you can get it! on 2013-05-20 10:09:51
'...Ian Potter needs to extricate ARLA from NFOPP and rebuild the reputation , respect and credibility it use to enjoy
Mark Hayward needs to rebuild NAEA for Estate agents, get membership numbers up and take a scythe to administration costs and portal expenses....'
'...Turn off Propertylive, build two credible trade bodies, one for each discipline...'
Spot on!
Apparently the Emperor is having a cloak made of the very finest threads.
Other than a bit of support from a few agents who had tried to get behind PropertyLive pre February not a thing has changed and it won’t.
The feeling once the decision came out in February was one of relief and many congratulated Hayward for making a tough but sensible decision. Surely he is making himself look a right Charlie by taking advice after announcing he had decided to close the thing down.
I think 6 months consultancy advising about the fate of Propertylive must rank as one of the easiest job in the Country .
NFOPP membership numbers are falling towards unsustainable levels.
NFOPP is overburdened with fixed costs that means its days are numbered without a re-worked strategy
There is no compelling reason to join NFOPP now government have said no-one has to.
The Selling Public do not have a clue what Propertylive is.
The buying Public don’t know of its existence and would only ever be directed to Propertylive after they have found a PL supporting Agents after their initial search via Rightmove, Zoopla or Primelocation.
Even with 100% support from all NFOPP members it will only have a minority of the properties available through RM Zoopla and PL who do not require NFOPP membership to list.
Any informed consultant with even the smallest scrap of integrity should have told Mark Hayward that his portal had failed to gain support in its 12 year lifespan, it was poor legacy code and a re-write would just be pouring good money after bad that would require huge wads of cash to Optimise it into existence.
Ian Potter needs to extricate ARLA from NFOPP and rebuild the reputation , respect and credibility it use to enjoy
Mark Hayward needs to rebuild NAEA for Estate agents, get membership numbers up and take a scythe to administration costs and portal expenses.
Option 1
Turn off Propertylive, build two credible trade bodies, one for each discipline and in 3 or 5 years time stick “Portal discussion” on the minutes of a board meeting for review.
Agent portal presence is well enough catered for to see that no-one will go out of business not by not having Propertylive. Turn the damn thing off and concentrate on keeping the two trade bodies alive.
Option 2
Outsource the thing to a commercial organisation but for goodness sake stop it being a burden on NFOPP.
"What do we want - Indecision. When do we want it - errrr"
"What do we want - Procrastination. When do we want it - tomorrow"