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Written by rosalind renshaw

Internet start-up FindsYou has today announced that it has signed up more than 1,000 estate and letting agents across the country.

Up to 50 agents, in both sales and lettings, have been joining per day. Currently the site is free to agents to use.

Boss Guy Walker was the former European and UK chief executive of Ask Jeeves.

He said the site, which launched three months ago, allows agents to reach the maximum number of potential homebuyers without incurring heavy costs.

The site allows searchers to specify property criteria such as location and size. This information is then sent direct to all relevant agents, allowing those with matching properties to make direct contact with the applicant.

Walker said the site allows all agents to use it, irrespective of their size, brand or the scope of their marketing budget. 

“Equally, agents are not required to spend time uploading and amending property details, and we do not allow any advertising. This means that all agents get to compete for business on a level playing field, thus exposing the homebuyer to far more potential properties than traditionally available on the web.

“Many suppliers of online services still ask too much of their clients, given that agents don’t have cash to burn and need to justify every investment. 

“They’re saying ‘pay us for the service and trust that it will work’ when really they should be looking to prove their worth before they start demanding money,” said Walker. “Ultimately, the latter approach could prove key to building profitable long-term relationships that will help both parties weather the storm, and aid further marketing activity once it has passed.”

Comments

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    I've used findsyou.com and actually had some pretty interesting leads from it (we're based in North London).

    The poster of a wanted advert was somewhat surprised, but pleased to hear from us as he had one or two properties that [she] liked

    Still negotiating and you never know!!

    Not sure what the comment about email4property is about as it's nothing like that at all.... anyway...

    • 09 October 2008 03:32 AM
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    I think this site is just a copy paste of Email 4 Property. Where is the innovation here? And why do services like this continue to ride the free-mium model when it's clear that there are big questions behind a free model and it's longevity in a tough financial climate.

    • 09 October 2008 12:27 PM
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    I have to agree with Lou as this portal will sort out most of the chaff

    • 08 October 2008 09:20 AM
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    There is a lot of free sites out there but i always worry about the quality of the information supplied to our business. If its good quality homemovers i don't mind paying a finders fee. The fairest i've found is a site called propertyindex, we advertise our full lisitngs for free but pay £1 for unique qualified homemovers that are interested in our properties. Worth a look.

    • 08 October 2008 07:15 AM
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    Home.co.uk also offer free property advertising to agents and is the most established of all the property search engines.

    • 08 October 2008 05:22 AM
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    How about a property web site that pays agents to join. Now that would be cool!

    • 08 October 2008 01:15 AM
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    Or of course you could join the NFOPP and get PropertyLive.co.uk for free (and always free!). The only property search site that's regulated, protected and run by a professional body of fully accredited agents.

    • 08 October 2008 12:47 PM
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    Why not join a TRULY FREE property portal such as PropertyFoyer.com? We did and are getting business from them. It is FREE to advertise and FREE to receive responses via phone or email directly from prospective buyers abnd tenants.

    • 08 October 2008 12:08 PM
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    Have you seen what they are offering. A fixed fee of £999 plus VAT. That looks a nice simple route to ruine!!

    No doubt they will provide a cut price service to follow.

    • 08 October 2008 11:38 AM
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