"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
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Monday, 22 February 2010
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.
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.
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