Agents' Mutual's new portal OnTheMarket is reportedly asking agents to hold back from submitting instructions to existing portals until the launch of the new service - even though this will mean delaying exposure of sellers' properties.
The revelation came in an emailed statement to clients from niche agency software company Expert Agent.
It reads: OnTheMarket are very keen on persuading their members to hold back instructions for a while from whichever other portal is used (one of OnTheMarket's rules is that their members can only use Rightmove or Zoopla - not both).
The Expert Agent statement goes on to say: Our Users Group have debated this - many members see merit in deferring new listings everywhere except their own websites. If you want to do this now, you can. In the Portals page tab on a property record, there's an edit button next to each portal's name and you can change the send after' date.
Agents' Mutual is about to start testing feeds from member agents although these will only be executed overnight - a shame according to Expert Agent, which compares the system unfavourably with what it calls Rightmove's fantastic optional live feed.
Expert Agent software is used in around 2,000 agency offices.
Comments
Expert agent is advising that there is now a tab on their software that enables a property to be listed on only one portal FROM launch. Not that OnThe Market are telling agents to differ listing a property until OnTheMarket January.
I think the writer of this piece has misunderstood the email sent by expert agent.