Barely a week goes by without another online entity emerging to take on the traditional model of estate agency.
This week it is the turn of Compare Online Agents which has just launched its new website application.
According to the firm, it will "save the public thousands and challenges high street agents' expensive outdated commission charges".
Compare Online Agents Co-Founder Robert Ashley said: "Having sold many properties over the years, I always feeI I am paying too much for high street agents who vaguely justify why my house was not selling. However, even those agents who allowed me access to figures failed to convince me they had earned their commission payment at the end.
"Ultimately, if agents cannot guarantee results - then their charges must drop, and people should be allowed greater clarity to make more informed choices about products they can control and measure. So we created an online website to do just that."
The comparison website guides users "through the important questions required to reduce the eventual cost of selling your home".
The firm said: "It puts the public firmly in the driving seat and reduces confusion in minutes. This is the first time you can see clearly what you're paying for, based on the choices you make. It blows the market wide open with comparable nuggets of information taken from across the UK, rather than limiting your choices to your local high street. Such as offering a PAYG (Pay As You Go) payment method to sell your house."
Is Pay As You Go the way forward for house sellers Tell us what you think using the comment section below - or take the conversation further on EAT's social network
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Comments
Ahhh.... the Yorkshire agent - once upon a time you and I disagreed on this very site and for a while it got a bit messy - now we are of one mind (at least on this particular subject...).
EAT have had a bigger Ratner moment than Gerald himself could manage, given the same circumstances again. Mr Daniels, however, seems pleased as punch with this (you know what they say - ANY publicity is good publicity...), and will no doubt be 'Liking', 'Sharing' and reTw@tting away like a demented Duracell bunny to spread the word of this monumental male erectile moment.
I think this site is now going to go the same way as all those online agents it loves writing about. It's not user freindly anymore (or not to me a reasonably 'ok with it 40 year old') I'm off unless EAT goes back to the 'it aint broke' thinking
Irony (from Ancient Greek (eirnea), meaning "dissimulation, feigned ignorance"[1]), in its broadest sense, is a rhetorical device, literary technique, [b]or event characterized by an incongruity, or contrast, between what the expectations of a situation are and what is really the case,[/b] with a third element, that defines that what is really the case is ironic because of the situation that led to it. ;)
You need to look up what irony is smartar5e, then look up the law in respect of unsubscribe. After that you might understand why it isn't down to me to install anything to filter out crudd marketing.
If I were an advertiser I would seriously be questioning why I am funding a comment stream that largely consists of people who think the new format is shocking and the journalism worse.
Hi, sorry to hear you are having trouble. please email your issue to supportteam@angelsmedia.co.uk if you can provide as much information as possible so we can verify it is your account, I will help you out with this.
Furthermore, what kind of idiot tries to unsubscribe 10 times when one press of the junk filter button would make the issue go away. :)
I was being sarcastic...The irony of you posting on a site you were so desperately trying to be rid of was too much for me. Sorry.
What kind of idiot asks have I tried unsubscribing Yes, as the post stated 10 times in a month.
This truly is the most distructive implosion of any site I have ever come across and even eclipses Lou Turnbull's reign with Propertylive for awfulness
Ahhh... at last, EAT - you've managed to recover all of the comments that went AWOL earlier and we can now post again.
Wouldn't have happened in the days of the "old, dull" site.
THAT'S progress for you!
Hmmm... not ONE comment from any of the Online chaps that usually pipe up whenever the 'O' word appears on EAT.
Speaks volumes...
Have you tried unsubscribing
I'm not so sure about the Warhorse bit. Mountain Goat might be better, clambering over the voluminous deposits of b######t deposited by a number of the irritants that plague our industry and funnily enough, post on EAT!
Oooh! I have a username now. Can I put that on my business card
It seems 10 days to unsubscribe means absolutely nothing to Angels media.
I have now requested removal from this blinking organisation 10 times since Jan 2nd. Who knows who to complain to when an organisation ignores unsubscribe requests:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
'Hear Hear' - I'm not sure, to be honest.
IF your posting name was 'That old chestnut....', and you are the warhorse with 24 years of providing excellent customer service to those that pay your wages day in, day out - then yes, I was your seconder. And happy to be so.
And as for ruining your life forever with the rantlets of Mr Realising Reality - well... sorry but it just had to be done, didn't it!
Didn't want you missing out on what we've all been exposed to... ;o)
I cant see that the consumer will ever really take to on-line agents - they want to come into the shop and see the agent who is working for them .
I wont hold my breath that they will take my business away
Were you 'hear hearing' my rant about lazy sods PeeBee Gets a bit confuddling on her doesn't it
(And I still haven't forgotten the lost moments of my life you owe me for putting me on to 'Realising Realitys' pointless blog.)
Now here's the thing - this 'new, improved' layout is doing my chuff in!
'Back in the day', comments were in time order. No-one seemed to have any issues with it, even if you were responding to one made several comments down the screen. NOW, trying to be clever and current, we have this snazzy 'Reply' button so you can link straight to the relevant post.
BUT IT'S NOT WORKING, I would suggest, EAT. Folks are so used to reading from the top down, that they don't revisit posts. I lose my own, most of the time.
In future, I'll be doing things the old, BETTER way.
Such a pity you won't, EAT. Seems your public liked it that way.
Another "amateur" trotting out the same old justification for replacing the estate agent with a brand new (20 year old at least) house selling wheeze.
I'll give him three months!
PS a bit of free advice - Don't give up the day job, and next time round, do a bit of research on your new venture and make sure its not one that been tried and failed many times previously.
Hear, hear!
[b]In my experience the MAJORITY of agents will go for the quickest sale possible[/b][i][/i]
Why do people who are trying to make a point roughly as valid as the reason for the space race, drag out this tired, dog eared cliche when referring to estate agents.
Now I can't vouch for all agents, only the four I've worked for, but unless I am utterly naive, this is absolute twaddle. I and all of the colleagues I have had throughout the 24 years I've been selling houses have always worked hard to get as much money for our employer (the client) as is possible. Agents create a rapport with the client from first meeting and this continues throughout marketing and eventual sale of the property. I have afternoon chats with all my previous customers when I see them in the High Street where I'm based, the rapport carries on long after the sale and hopefully on to their next move. I have never had any desire to rip them off by going for 'the quickest sale possible'.
It's a lazy, cheap shot fired by witless fools looking for fireworks.
Double plank!
"...the MAJORITY of agents will go for the quickest sale possible, an extra few thousand pounds doesn't make a huge difference to the commission fee they work on."
Oh, dear - what a shortsighted view.
It makes a MASSIVE difference. NOT if you do it once in a blue moon - but if EVERY sale you complete in a year earns you . say. an extra 50, then the resultant figure will be enough to pay your office heating and lighting bill for the year.
MORE TO THE POINT - and ALL the vendors want to know - every extra thousand you negotiate for them is a large chunk towards your own bill being paid.
"You could argue that 'online' agents are in a stronger position to negotiate a higher offer."
COULD YOU Not when they've already had their money up front and have no incentive to do so, I strongly suggest...
"Compare Online Agents Co-Founder Robert Ashley said: "...even those agents who allowed me access to figures failed to convince me they had earned their commission payment at the end."
REALLY, Mr Ashley
Define "earned their commission", please.
@Guest (Just an opinion)
Can you trust that a 'high street' agent are working for their client and have their best interest at heart In my experience the [u]MAJORITY[/u] of agents will go for the quickest sale possible, an extra few thousand pounds doesn't make a huge difference to the commission fee they work on. You could argue that 'online' agents are in a stronger position to negotiate a higher offer.
Also, the corporate's of this world and indeed many independent agents in my neck of the woods will charge (or try to) a flat fee dependent on the value of the property from a set fee scale, and I know this for a fact through contacts, where I have worked previously and mystery shopping the competition with valuations etc. If it sells for less (or more) their fee doesn't change. How does this motivate them to negotiate the highest price possible for their vendor And what price should be put on a face to face relationship What if some people just don't care about that I am also yet to see any tangible evidence that marketing anywhere bar Rightmove and Zoopla (on a traditional home) equates to selling for a higher price. Do you market your properties in the paper/through branches at a higher price you advertise them online
Also, why can't there be trust in an online agent There is enough info about them for people to make their own decision - many of the big guys in this market are established enough for people to make their own decision.
You could argue the benefits of either model until the cows come home.
Like it or lump it both models are here - I was always told to worry about what you are doing yourself, and if you do...what's the problem
Guest Just Do It, no independent travel agents left on the High Street in our part of the world, whereas 10 years ago there were several! Thomas Cook and Thompson on the High Street, and some niche operators working from off high street/out of town locations. So you are correct, the travel industry has not died, but it sure as hell has changed!
Guest Just an opinion, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that online agents have lower professional standards than any agent on the High Street. In fact, your opening statement sounds more like a description of Spicerhaart to me!
[b]As with most things in life... you get what you pay for![/b]
Online agents may be able to sell your house for 500... but can you trust that they are working for the vendors best interests and not just for their own stats.
You may pay more for the high street agent, but the benefits are considerable. You have a face to face relationship with someone you can trust is working for you.
And what is the saving of 1000 or 2000 on agent fees. When the likely hood is a high street agent who uses all marketing avenues available (not just Rightmove and Zoopla) will gain you a higher selling price, which will outstrip the saving you make on fees anyway.
Ultimately for me, when it comes to selling property the key is to hire an agent you can trust. If you are comfortable with an online agent, that's fine. However don't just assume you are saving money... because you are probably not!
The end of the travel industry was alos forcast long ago, just not happened has it Smart business people rather than those on here without a clue, are expanding high street agencies, now who would you put your money on And thats the point, they put there money where their mouth is, posts on any website will not chnage a thing, as all the HPC crew who tried, like nutters, to talk the market into a collapse!
Robert Ashley has a great idea. Create a website that allows agents to potentially drop their prices when he rakes in millions from advertising revenue, as do all the other comparison websites. What will this do for the house mover -NOTHING but he will become stinky rich. Why does he not do something that would help everyone in the country create a website that will tell you where the cheapest petrol prices are in your area. The major oil companies and supermarkets are making billions in profits, show me one estate agent that makes this kind of money.
"...just have a look at the retail figures for the Christmas period, why should agency be any different"
Erm... maybe - just maybe - because Estate Agency is not 'RETAIL' in the sense that you are comparing it with
"...surely charges related to costs is a fundamental of any business"
Depends on the business. Corporates look on it entirely different to Independents; multi-branch organisations take a different view to those of single outlets.
Uncle Same, Wrong! Running scared = currently High Street agent who is watching high street trends with concern and thinking hard about where the future of agency might go!
Running Scared = Dick Ashley
Well at least bringing out the old 'online agency' story got some comments, i was fearing the whole weeks stories were going to be 0 comments.
Richard Morris, what if you do own your office, ok, you might not be paying rent, but it's probably a fair assumption that you regard the profit that office generates as a return on your investment for buying the office in the first place And I would dispute your statement that your charges are not related to your costs, surely charges related to costs is a fundamental of any business
Is this news....., one day the public will realise that you charge them for all the marketing costs of the properties you don't sell!
In every other industry online sales are increasing and high street sales diminishing, just have a look at the retail figures for the Christmas period, why should agency be any different
Great, where next Could Robert Ashley pop with me to Sainsburys and let me know what the mark up is on the baked beans, smoked kippers and loo roll I purchase please. Oh and when I visit TGI's on Friday could he tell me how much over the top I'm paying on my beer battered cod & chips!
If he'd asked me to break down my costs to justify my fee to him I would have politely told him to take a long walk off a short pier.
Last time I looked everything in the UK was overpriced.
Plank!
Public will one day realise internet agents = Lazy Agents! - "Hello mr / mrs vendor, let me take 400 upfront from you and you will never hear from me again"
Internet agaent " We are not lazy agants we sold X amount of properties last year!"
"Okay Internet Agent well done sounds very impressive, could you now tell me the percentage of stock you sold compared to listings, oh and please do not fudge the figures and add in the multi listings you had on the books that another agent sold!"
"Err umm well........ we are cheaper and better!"
"Okay internet agent, i look forward to receiving your CV when you cease trading like so many others"
Estate Agents with high overheads eh! Expensive office!
What if I said I own my office. What if my charges aren't related to our costs What if they are related to my experience and ability to negotiate the very best price for my client.
May I sugest these types of services get themselves a new 'pitch'. The 'high overheads' line doesnt work anymore I'd say!
Obviously the cheapest agent is going to be the best!!! what a completely stupid concept. Must drop our fees immediately!!!!
I have been using a performance based equation. We charge 1% upto a figure that is mutually agreed with the client and then take 100 + vat for every 1000 we achieve above that figure. It is far more transparent that way and at least the client can truly understand that their agent is not only putting their money where their mouth is but also that they are trying to get the highest price possible.
Unfortunately, there are not many web based estate agents that hang around for too long. There will always be a need for the high street agent.
Nice to see that Mr Ashley jumps on the bandwagon and blames the agent for a slow selling property. It will have no relation to a property being poorly presented, restricted access for viewings or even the vendors being unrealistic with their asking price.
Every seller has a choice of agent at the beginning of the process. Every seller should satisfy themselves of the T&C's of their agent of choice before signing up. The public are firmly in the driving seat already.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz............................