Agents’ Mutual has announced another big win as it garners support for its agent-owned property portal – the 42 offices of Jackson-Stops & Staff have confirmed their support for the venture.
Jackson-Stops & Staff has offices across the UK, with further expansion planned.
Chairman Andrew Froude, who has led the business over the last 20 years, said: “There is a clear need to create a new competitor in the portals market which is owned and controlled by agents.
“Agents’ Mutual’s plans gained unanimous support from our board members. They look forward to the benefits in costs and increased control which the new portal can deliver for their businesses in the coming years.”
Ian Springett of Agents’ Mutual said: “We are delighted to have this support from Jackson-Stops & Staff.
“It adds further to the strong momentum we are developing and will help us gain the support we need from all independent agents in all areas of the country.”
See also today’s Q & A session with Ian Springett in which he answers some leading questions and promises that Agents' Mutual will serve all agents right across the UK. It’s in the blog section.
Comments
I was skeptical at first, but having been to see Ian pitch Agents' Mutual, it is easy to see why this initiative is different: he has credibility and has clearly thought through what will make this work.
The key for me is the one vote per agency, regardless of size. A secondary consideration that makes this egalitarian venture work is an asset for sale isn't being built.
However, I can't help but this that another online classified is missing the point. Property is the only thing that cannot be transacted online.
Here's a quote from Jeff Bezos in 2011. Make of it what you will, but eventually property will be transacted online, with agents providing added value for those who need more than the basic transaction:
“Even well-meaning gatekeepers slow innovation. When a platform is self service, even the improbable ideas can get tried because there’s no expert gatekeeper ready to say "that will never work!”
Everyone seems to be forgetting that the evil which is Rightmove, make over 73% net margin.
This market dominance & margin is unsustainable. Any ORGANISED mutual competitor, should be able to get agents to dump RM, build a brand through consumer ads, and operate on a non-profit basis.
Indies must have at least three seats on the board though. The slime-ball bullshitters heading the corporates may kill this whole concept at birth I fear.
I'm not sure who this chap is commenting using my name but he really does make me sound like an idiot.
Please ignore everything.
The obvious result is that Zoopla will protect themselves and just buy Agents Mutual and that's that....back to where we were.
As the last chap said i'm not sure this is the answer. We need another Zoopla to come into the market and actually stick to their word this time. The original concept of Zoopla which was pay per lead was fantastic, but they soon forced fees up just like Rightmove.
Maybe Google will come back and save the day again, problem is that opens the way for private sale sites.
Oh well I can't see any great solution unfortunately there's just too much greed in this world - we're all screwed!
Or you could just look at it that maybe Rightmove offer a good service? They effectively sell all of your properties, have you worked out how much it costs per property? Do you really feel that cost is that high considering they do more than your office and your staff to sell your stock!
The key points that have been made so far and need addressing by Agents Mutual are as follows:
- When/if members of Agents Mutual drop Zoopla and all Zoopla's 'unique' users flock to Rightmove, how is that going to help us? Doesn't it just give Rightmove even more dominance. (Agents Mutual won't be able to compete without charging the same as Rightmove!)
- Why no 'fixed fee' agents, this bothers me also, this will be seen by the OFT as anti-competitive, Rightmove and Zoopla can't get away with this so what makes you think you can?
- How will they stop member agents (faced with losing 50% of their leads) cross sharing to still get their listings on both RM and Zoopla via one another? Surely this renders the concept pointless.
What's this, all the big independents now pulling together to form a portal. Isn't this how rightmove was formed??
All that's going to happen is the small independents would be feel obliged to go on and be forced to pay the silly monthly fees that rightmove have and the big boys take a share of the the profits and cash in on their shareholding.
Small independents need to stick together on this one and NOT follow suit.
We seen it happen with rightmove so we know what is round the corner.
What we need is a site that benefits small independents more than large ones
Remember the old saying
Fool me once , shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me
What we need is a site that has features that benefit small independents more than large ones. If someone can come up with model like this then we have a chance
Keep up Trevor. Have you forgotten Asserta and Think Property? In a master stroke of genius having bought Vebra Core and CFP to control the desktop to feed Think property., someone decided to get rid of Think.
SO WHICH WILL THE FOUNDERS OF AGENTS MUTUAL DROP - RIGHTMOVE OR ZOOPLA
So if the rules are that AM members have to drop RM or Z will they all be dropping RM, or all be dropping Z.
Will they be cross sharing to still get listings on both RM and Zoopla via one another?
@XML2U.com - this is supposed to be a place for discussion, not a place for brazen adverts for your company. If there weren't a large choice of portals would your business even exist?
Estate Agents Act past, present and future
Some agents work together so I could see agents dropping rightmove or zoopla and a buddy agent providing coverage on the dropped portal. But some agents won't work together.
If agents had to agree to drop either rightmove or zoopla the main two advertising outlets couldnt that be seen as agents doing less for their clients.
Im all for agents harnessing portal fees back down, but if agents get like levels of enquiries from both main portals and have to drop one. Doesnt that push agents against CPRs and statute to do the best for their clients?
At the risk of pouring cold water on the whole idea, aren't there enough portals out there already? With an XML2U feed agents properties can be auto-posted to hundreds of portals at home and abroad, many of which are either free or charge by results.
Check out the portal selection at www.xml2u.com/portalsearch
I agree with George. It would seem that this theory of Agents Mutual won't work. It's such a risk for us to drop half of all our leads in the hope that they might go to Agents Mutual. The problem seems they won't know about the website and will therefore just flock to Rightmove, this seems like a win-win for Rightmove, no wonder they've been so quiet and Zoopla have been hopping up and down.
P.s. didn't Springett work for Rightmove?
What is Allagents got to do with this story? Are they going to be powering their portal ???
When I read the terms you state no 'fixed fee' agents. This was concerning as we are looking at many new approaches and fixed fee is one of them. It seems very anti-competitive and dictatorial - can you explain this?
Another concern is the term of only being allowed to advertise on one other portal. The effect of this would almost certainly that all agents would drop Zoopla and keep Rightmove. Whilst AM will never have the funds to drive traffic to the site like Rightmove, surely this just hands back absolute domination to Rightmove.
Can you reassure me on these points please?
Charlie - hope your keeping well.
What if?? All the software companies got together and created a new portal. Would TheBu2iness be game?
Interested to hear from all agents softwares in the interest of agents.
Can't see Countrywide, LSL or Connells coming in which means a lot of SEO will still be with rightmove and zoopla. We wouldnt look at joining our offices until all the bigger players were on board.
So far it sounds like the big agencies that near border being small corporates. So were stick to rightmove and zoopla
Dear Mr Springett,
What is the new portal's point of difference to the consumer which will make them change their behaviour and stop using Rightmove and Zoopla?
Without a change in their behaviour, how can you provide leads to your members?
Is there not a risk to your members that, far from controlling costs, you will be creating a new cost, reducing existing leads if your members are forced to come off another portal and damaging their businesses?
I have no allegiance to any portal but many of our clients are asking our advice.
Charlie Wright
thebu2iness.com