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Graham Smith

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my expertise in the industry

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When are we going to realise that any extension to the SDLT holiday will only prolong the problem? The holiday ends March 31st. Extend it to September (as the article suggests) will create the same problems then. The only solution is to phase the scheme out - typically by setting a (past) deadline by which time a certain point must have been reached in the sale process and then the benefits of the holiday will apply to that transaction (Much like the furlough scheme last march - Announced in March, but you had to be employed on 28th Feb to qualify). I totally agree something MUST be done, or it will be a bloodbath and undo all the good work the scheme has achieved so far.

From: Graham Smith 27 January 2021 07:52 AM

I still don't think they will have gained enough traction with the general public - many of my clients are still unaware of OTM. A float may provide (much) needed capital, but to elevate OTM into serious competition (and public recognition) with existing portals will still take a long time and be (very) expensive.

From: Graham Smith 09 August 2017 09:11 AM

A client had a "Local Property Expert" value at £350,000. Two weeks of marketing, we achieved £510,000. That's a 160,000 potential loss to the client. Ombudsman not interested as no personal interest shown and "Lack of Local Knowledge" is not, apparently, against their rules. It's incumbent upon traditional estate agents to educate their own markets before PB gets a foothold in the door with cheap fees and this can happen again

From: Graham Smith 08 August 2017 07:54 AM

Simon. I am 7 miles from you. Meet up?

From: Graham Smith 29 October 2015 15:22 PM

Point made, let me ask this - Would you, today, buy a Volkswagen based on its emissions? Intention and fact are far apart. Class action? Really? Speak to me, I am a lawyer.

From: Graham Smith 29 October 2015 15:13 PM

This is a New Post in reply to Jon Tarry (Not replied to his post to emphasise the point I wish to make). Jon - You said [Quote] "In fairness, if the only news coming out about OTM is negative, then what can they do? If Zoopla or Rightmove was struggling, there would be stories about it here. We've seen many articles where Springett has been claiming that they will have overtaken Zoopla by the end of the year" We are all entitled to our opinions, but and this is a BIG BUT - since launch of AM / OTM this portal has had nothing but negative comments about OTM / AM. I have crossed swords with Simon here many a time (And being down the rod from him, would welcome the chance to meet up face to face). If you (Jon) had a new instruction, would not this be "The best thing since....." to those you were advertising to? Springett has done nothing wrong. Capitalism works. Never have I seen EA in any way, shape, or form give any "Support" to OTM / AM. Never have I seen any "Positive news" reported here. No wonder therefore that there is disenfranchisement. Fact - The business model is solid - A mutual membership portal that aims (aimed?) to compete with those who have next to a monopoly. Fact - Far lower fees and generous (expected) ROI for those who invested. Fact - Far, far lower costs to members than either of the two main portals. What more can any agent wish for than that?? The last fact - Since OTM / AM Launch this portal (EAT) has allowed / published / written editorial that is derogatory to OTM. Show me otherwise please (I would like to see some (even if historic) positive reporting here). I have taken a decision to go back to the two main portals. This is for reasons that are two-fold. (1). OTM had less than 1m visits in September. RM 15m and Zoopla 8m. (All approx and please ask me where I get these stats from if you need them). 2. I do not see that now that the initial investment capital has (May have been) been used, that OTM / AM can even begin to compete with the marketing spend of the other two main portals. There are many "Bronze" members who will be up for renewal in January. How many will remain is uncertain, but I have had (since I left OTM) a lengthy discussion with one local agent who will not be renewing (and nor will he be going with another portal, staying with just a single one). Can I just say this? Rather than berating OTM / AM, should we (all with High-Street premises) not be looking to protect our market and combat the Online Only agencies, rather than attacking a portal that is attempting to free us from the cost-prohibitive and nearly monopolisation of the other portals? Your choice. Comments welcome.

From: Graham Smith 29 October 2015 14:59 PM

Ok, Points (both) well made. However, the fact of the matter is that RM (and to a far lessor extent, Zoopla) are the only two controlling portals. I have had a meeting with the RM Account Manager just this week and the prices (and pricing structure) makes me weep. I am a Gold Member of Rightmove. I get a discount for the additional services I subscribe to (which, BTW, are not producing any leads). If I drop those additional series, I fall down to silver or even bronze membership. Fine I say, Lets drop them and when I decide to add more services we revert to Gold Membership. "Oh no - Once your core membership rate increases, it stays at that level, we will add a discount for additional services, but you "Loyalty" reward will go" I have little or no option. My market demands RM. I may as well pass the tub of petroleum jelly. However, as I say, if OTM (AM) gains traction (eventually) and can demonstrate lead generation and page views, then I will certainly be swapping back - I challenge anyone to say they will not do the same if a portal can deliver results at a lower cost.

From: Graham Smith 29 October 2015 09:53 AM

Ok, I understand and sympathise with Nicholas's comments. However, until and unless AM are given time to gain "Traction" then we still do not know where it will go and how successful it will be. It does little to help that EAT has such an obvious bias against AM and OTM. Not once have I seen a positive feature on the portal. No wonder therefore that there is a growing disconcertion over the portal - it is fuelled by bias and scaremongering. And Simon, before you jump in, a word of warning - I have a similar situation to Nicholas. I have looked at the stats and the ROI and made a decision. OTM have taken me off as well. This does not mean I do not support their business model and, if (perhaps a growing "If") their fortunes should reverse, I will be one of the first to sign up again.

From: Graham Smith 29 October 2015 07:57 AM

There are other portals mentioned in this thread; Netaproperty being one. While there business model is different to AM, what of it? AM have set out to launch a portal that, for me at least, is proving to be far more profitable in creating sales leads than Zoopla has been (on average) in the last few years. The entire discussion sourrounds an employyee who is no longer working for a firm. If anyone working for me cited such a poor excuse for lack of performace (or he would surely have stayed with Spicerheart), as poor portal performance, I would be asking why his own efforts at working his registered purchasers were proving so futile? I am an AM agent. It works for me and continues to do so. I work in the South East with some 17 other agents in my town, the ONLY agents who are not with AM are those who are large corporates. The rest of us seem to be doing just fine - thank you!

From: Graham Smith 27 July 2015 09:01 AM

Eileen, Your professionalism is commendable; in any debate, the one that has to resort to a slanging match and throwing offensive comments has, by definition, run out of arguments to make. You have proven yourself to fall into that category. You are obviously a corporate (if not, then I apoligise for that assumption), but I work in a large area where every other agent who is not a corporate is, almost without exception, with OTM and doing very well from it. By your reckoning, you have just stated that over 25 agents are "Dumb" - When I started in this industry over 30 years ago, Conells used to have a teaining course where Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" was mandatory reading. I suggest you add that to your library.

From: Graham Smith 09 July 2015 09:20 AM

What on earth are you on? If (and there is no indication yet, in fact quite the contrary), OTM "Backfires" then I will be in EXACTLY the same position as any of the Corporates and take up other portals as necessay; I am committed to OTM as a business model, not to give them my first-born. Secondly, I appreciate that you a tarring a huge number of agents as being [Quote] "Crooked" - I bet you have a lot of fans for that little snippet. I just love this agument (and wonder if you are Simons alter ego), it goes round and round and is always the same, those with a view (to which they are entitled to) are thrown abuse while if I (polietly) point out that there is a slant on this report that quotes independent figures to make one point, and then takes a Portals own numbers to make (or support another), that is wrong also? You people make me laugh.

From: Graham Smith 09 July 2015 09:07 AM

Eileen; I respect you view and opinion, but then I am in possibly the only location in the UK where OTM does indeed have traction and the only agents who are not with OTM (Several dozen) are the Corporates with vested interests. If it is working for us, I am sure it is working for others, but then perhaps we are just all "Freaks"!

From: Graham Smith 09 July 2015 08:31 AM

Can someone plase answer one simple question for me? Did Pendleton take advantage of the recent share sale by Zoopla (at a discount) and therefore has a vested interest in that particular portal? Genuine quesiton.

From: Graham Smith 09 July 2015 08:21 AM

While this article uses statistics to support the story from "Hitwise" a known independant web monitoring Co, when it then tries to "Support" Zoopla, it is happy to use figures that are unsubstantiated and provided by the Portal itself - not exactly a level playing field for comparison is it? We are currently getting more enquiries from OTM than we ever did from Zoopla and this is rising (Both from Vendors and Purchasers), Market share is shifting (for us at least) and to be totally frank, OTM has outstripped Primelocation (Who?) by far already. And no, I do not have independant statictics to back this up, but then nor does Zoopla apparantly....

From: Graham Smith 09 July 2015 08:17 AM

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