Twitter

, you're not on that are you?!!

Yes, and these are my reasons why:

I was first aware of twitter through the press and other media and my first opinion was; why do I want to be sociable on the internet?, "Billy no mates" and all that, but always in the back of my mind was; "There has got to be something in this, because it just wont go away", and after all my intended business is all about connections. Let's give it a go!

It takes a while to "bed" yourself in by understanding the do's and don't's of Twitter especially a business based account, which is greatly covered by Tracey from The Buying Agent. In the process of building up your followers and those that you follow, you start to gain a great insight and learn a lot from your contemporaries.

Here is my list of "Tweeters" that I have found helpful, and that I have learned a lot from, with all things to do with internet estate agency.
Sarah Beeny (Will!) of Tepilo
Danny Williams of 1 London Property
Sally Asling of Surrey Sales
Tom Williams of Blog Find a Home
The above mentioned are a sample of people and business's that proves to me that the estate agency business is changing for the better, both for the vendor and the buyer.

Twitter has surprised me with the people that connect with you that are both pleasant and beneficial to your business. I have had the pleasure of meeting Don who tweets and blogs about people, business's and all things to do with Thanet. Through his blog about my business there have been many click throughs to my site, and increased my SEO for my site. It has been refreshing to come across such a person as Don, for he is always helpful, positive and friendly. Thanks Don.

I was recently tweeted by Tom Betts of Kent News a group of local newspapers that covers Kent. This encounter resulted in a personal interview that was going to be featured in their papers throughout Kent for free! But alas it was not to be. See: Protectionism as to why. Although it did not end as I wished, it proves that twitter reaches to the audience that is specific to your requirements.

Then there are of course your "mates" or should I say "followers" these are people that are doing exactly as you, getting out of Twitter what it is specific to them. There will be good and there will be bad, there will be those that you get on with and those that you don't. Ultimately I have found Twitter to be a positive experience, although be careful it can be addictive!

Protectionism

So, there I am happily "Tweeting" away when I get a direct message: Hi this is --- from KOS News, do you want to do a Question and Answers interview for the paper on who you are, and what you do? Blimey, yes please that seems like a "no brainer". So the questions were emailed over and I supplied the answers. (Q&As) The immediate reaction was that it reads well and the piece will go in 2-3 weeks time. Great, that sounds encouraging I thought. Time went by and it was beginning to seem that something was not going as planned. A few emails later, and I eventually get to the bottom of what was going on:

The piece was about to be finalized and ready to go to press when a "Boss" saw the article. The reaction, put in a simplistic way; was to stop the article from going to press, because when a similar article was printed in the past, high street estate agents boycotted the paper. Therefore we cannot be seen to be promoting the "other way" of selling houses. Which begs the question, who runs their paper? Not only that, but can the high street agents really be that scared of a small operation like mine? if so, then it only encourages me further to continue on the road that I have started.

It would seem that local papers have become high street estate agents magazines. What ever happened to the freedom of the press?

Q&As

Listed below is a draft that will hopefully come out in the local papers of Kent News courtesy of Tom

It is of course awaiting Toms journalistic brush up!

What do you think?!

How did your business come about and what does it do?

My business first started out by providing the Energy Performance Certificate directly to the home owner, but it soon became apparent that what they wanted; sorry needed! was the Home Information Pack, hence the name Thanet HIPs. I then decided to list properties for sale in conjunction with their Home Information Pack on my website. The government have since abolished the Home Information Pack leaving me with my business name, which for now will stay.

What is your role?

As the owner of a local independent online estate agent, all listings are managed by my self, which includes arranging viewings and all negotiations on behalf of the vendor until there is a satisfactory completion.

Where are you based?

My office is based at home in Shakespeare Road, Birchington, Kent.

What are your long term goals for the project/site

It is my aim to establish the business as an alternative online version of your local independent estate agent, providing everything a high street agent provides, but with one extra provision: value for money! I hope to develop the site not just as a property listing site, but to also provide useful local information that is recommended by my self.

How has the internet influenced the way you work?

The internet has made it possible to develop an estate agent business that is solely based online because people now turn to it when they first look for properties. When you consider that you can list your property for free with Sarah Beenys’ site “Tepilo” which in turn automatically lists your property onto Google Maps and Globrix which is backed by a major news organization which is also free to list properties to “property professionals” then you realise that marketing your property is no longer a cost issue. Therefore by basing the business online and working within the local area, huge savings can be made without detriment to the vendor or the buyer. The hardest part will be to gain the confidence of the local market, but then I like challenges.

Do you think people are more interested in property and development than they used to be? If so what has fuelled this?

Let’s face it: It all comes down to money and a natural desire to make a home, and; linked into that, most world economies are intrinsically linked to the property market, a toxic mix in the best of times. It has of course been left to run wild, causing the mess that we now find ourselves in.

What do you think of the property market in Thanet in general - in a good or bad state currently?

The market in Thanet, as in the rest of the country is in a transitional period, the best word I can come up with is “uncertain” up, down or stagnate? If you were to push me for a more definitive answer, I would have to say down, when you look at the affordability of homes linked to wages, the massive debt burden we are under, and future cuts to come from the government, it can only mean one thing: “Down”. In recent times we have been living under the myth that money is easy to come by; the tide has turned.

What drives you?

I have lived in Thanet for 32 years and worked in Thanet for 28 years, and in that time I have developed many properties. Each time that I have moved, the question that keeps on arising is: Where is the value for money that I have paid to the estate agent? It is not until now with the help of the internet and the OFT Chief Executive, John Fingleton referring to estate agents, saying: ’In the present economic climate it is more important than ever that people get a good deal when buying or selling a home.” that I truly believe now is the time for a more efficient way of selling properties.

What other interests do you have?

Internet browsing is certainly up there as an interest for obvious business reasons, but I also enjoy social networking on Twitter. Café culture is also a passionate past time that I enjoy, could it be the people watching, the cakes, the conversation or the caffeine?, probably all four. After indulging at the café I like to enjoy the outdoors, and what an outdoors we have right here on our door step.

What do you think of Thanet as a place to live in?

Having lived here now for 32 years, I have experienced the good and bad that Thanet has to offer. Starting with the good; at the top of the list is of course, the geographic position which Thanet benefits from. Sitting on the extreme South East coast, and surrounded by a north and south coastline that brings with it a natural light that Turner himself was once drawn to, it is easy to see why the people of Thanet tend to stay. With dual carriageway from Thanet to London, the high speed rail link to London, and Flybe now operating from Manston airport to Endinburgh, Manchester and Jersey, transportation links are great, and continuously being added to.

There are of course run down areas of Thanet which have lost their way in reinventing themselves, of which Margate and Cliftonville are having trouble. I and others in Thanet hope that the Turner centre being built next to the Margate harbour, is a start to the rejuvenation of Margate and the surrounding areas.

So come on, help us rebuild and enjoy it with us.

Change: It's here.

There have been two significant changes that have happened since my last posts, they are:

• A home information pack is no longer needed.
• Tepilo has now linked into Google maps for all their listings. Take a look here
  

Hooray, no more home information packs! (Yes, I do agree!) The only trouble is I am going to have to change my business name, but not yet, that can wait.

Online estate agents

"Online estate agent" The problem with this heading is that it paints a picture of a faceless business that is unanswerable to complaints, and a non personal service that is non interactive. It is not if you choose your online agent carefully, therefore it is important to choose an online agent that is living and working within the community that it serves, thus providing an in depth knowledge of the local market and is directly answerable. The best way to imagine this service is to think of your local independent high street agent moving away from the high street, and basing themselves working from home, this way overheads are cut to a minimum and a personable and answerable service is still provided.

Surely a high street presence is still important. No; it is no longer necessary to present your property for sale in a high street window to prospective buyers. The internet is your high street window, and as explained in "Estate agency is changing" this window is free which benefits everyone.

How can I be interactive and personal with an online agent? It only takes a phone call to arrange a personal meeting, and don't forget, throughout the selling and buying process communication is via the phone or the internet. Online agents are now tweeting about their latest business activities, so as to allow you to keep up to date with the latest local market news, and to gain an understanding of the person behind the business. This activity allows a more transparent, interactive, and answerable business.

Here is a good example of an online agent serving their local market: Surrey Sales

Estate agency is changing.

Estate agency is changing. Haven't I heard all of that before? yes; but now the Internet has taken this subject to a whole new level. There are sites on the Internet that are free to list your property on, actually hundreds, but until now these sites have been poorly constructed and poorly presented. The new players in this market are: Tepilo and Globrix whom have perfected construction and presentation.

With reference to Tepilo, anyone can list their property for free, and Globrix lists properties for free to "property professionals". There is another big boy coming soon to the free property listing market, and that is of course; Google. Google will be utilizing their maps, which will look something like this: Australian listings by Google. Tepilo have stated via Twitter that their intentions are to link their listings into the Google map listing system, all for free.

When Google announced that they were bringing this system to Great Britain, Rightmoves share price plunged by 20%. This is because it's all free, whereas Rightmove charges estate agents to list properties. Now that these Internet facilities are available to all for free, the question arises, why are estate agents still charging disproportionate fees? I suggest you ask the high street agent that one.

Tesco are also entering the fray due to the OFT report that has relaxed laws referring to the property misdescriptions act 1991 It is suggested they will charge £200 to sell through their site. These sites now mean that advertising your property is no longer a cost issue or how do I get my property seen to prospective buyers. The main question now is: Do I want to sell my property myself, or do I still want an agent to act on my behalf?, if I choose the agent option, the issues are cost and trusting my agent, and lets face it when it comes to high street agents, cost and trust don't exactly spring to mind. Therefore the opportunity has now arisen for an agency business to be based on the Internet, but still working directly with the vendor providing expertise of the local market and professional negotiating on their behalf.

Also added to the mix has been the introduction of the home information pack which is still trying to establish itself in the market. This particular product was where Thanet HIPs first came about and at first specialized in. It soon became apparent that there was an opportunity to develop into what it is now, where the home information pack can be incorporated on the same website as your property listing and utilizes these amazing free facilities.

With all this change going on and still much more to happen, Thanet HIPs has been set up to take advantage of these changes for the benefit of the vendor, without detriment to the buyer.