housenetwork - a review

Dan-Dan

googler wrote: »

Largely due to the fact that the EAs do the most unpaid work

How is it `unpaid` ?

Contessa

Mathmotaz wrote: »

Hi all,

Just want to add my experience to the forum to help others who, like I was, are wary of using an online HN.

The gist is that we have found them to be great. The photos the took are off a very high quality (tried to post a link but can't, if you want to see them search on Rightmove for a 1 bed flat on Anne street, york, for 130k - 140k which is under offer), and they made a floorplan which is more than what other local EAs do. The listing went live on Rightmove etc less than 24hrs after the photos were taken, we had two viewings that same day and had an offer by the next morning. So, can't complain at all, and would definitely recommend them as they are so cheap. Going to try their conveyancing too, will report back on how that goes.

M

I'm thinking of using HN so I'm always interested to read of others' experiences. Photos and floorplan are good. Only two local EA's offer floorplans so that restricts my choice a lot. Can't understand why they don't. I hope your sale continues smoothly and quickly.

googler

Dan-Dan wrote: »

How is it `unpaid` ?

In comparison with others involved in a house sale, such as solicitors, surveyors (as per Hoof's statement above that of all those involved, EAs get 'paid the most'), the EA's spend the most time doing unpaid work.

It's unpaid because most of the EA's time is spent with people or organisations that don't pay them directly. These categories include, from the public, viewers, prospect buyers, casual enquirers, and in terms of other organisations, solicitors, mortgage advisors, surveyors, other agents etc.

EA's are paid by sellers at the conclusion of a sale. If, for any reason, a sale doesn't complete, the EA doesn't get paid. This could well be entirely due to circumstances outwith the EA's control, and could also be after a long period of marketing. Everything that the EA has done with regard to these listings is by definition unpaid work. In the case of solicitors, surveyors and the like, they bill clients for the work they do, and still get paid even if a sale doesn't go through.

EA's are routinely expected to gain business from the 'valuation', where they visit a prospective client's home, and compete with other EA's for business, or, as is routinely encouraged here, provide one of a number of valuations so that the owner can engage an online agent with a firm idea of what they want to get for their house, rather than relying on the online EA to 'value' it. Any work done in valuations which don't lead to listings is therefore unpaid. Solicitors, mortage advisors, surveyors etc. don't do this.
When was the last time you heard of a homeowner asking three or four surveyors to their house in order to pick one to do a survey? Or three or four solicitors?

As a side issue, from another thread here, EAs are the only ones out of the organisations involved in a sale who are expected to provide a 7-day and evening service for viewings and the like. Solicitors work Mo-Fri 9-5, as do surveyors. Mortgage advisors may do evenings by appt, possibly weekends, but I get the impression that's rare. I'd therefore suggest that a lot of the EA's unpaid work is carried out in unsociable hours.

Hoof_Hearted

The simple solution is for EA's to charge for valuations. Start the ball rolling Googler.

googler

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

The simple solution is for EA's to charge for valuations. Start the ball rolling Googler.

Solution to what?

The first EA to do this in any town, city or county will be the first to go out of business when the others don't follow suit. They'll go to all the owners who want a free valuation and first agent won't go to any.

Smudger78

Hi,

We've been on the market with HN since March and can't complain about the service offered for the price. Was impressed with the photos they took and speed at which our ads went live and they are pretty good in terms of chasing feedback etc.. We haven't sold yet but have had plenty of viewings and had our first 2nd viewing today so fingers crossed. We had the local EA's round before deciding to go with HN and some seemed better than others but at the end of the day we decided that for £500 it was worth a punt with HN. The way I see it we've got 6 months of HN marketing left so in 6 months time we'll either be £500 down and no further on or will have saved around £2500.

I'll happily post an update if and when we sell and yes a link to our property is below so judge the pics for yourself. Also I will put my code, it may not get used but this is a moneysaving site and every little helps when you are trying to move house! So here it is... FYEHQYLCJA

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26208720.html?premiumA=true


Finally, I will hopefully be needing a solicitor/conveyance service soon so anyone with any recommendations either of the HN service or other services please let me know.

Cheers


Smudger

Fraise

Great pictures. Good luck with your sale.

Contessa

Smudger,
Good photos and floorplan. Nice house. Just wondered why some were numbered and some named the room?
Good luck with the sale.

Smudger78

Fraise wrote: »

Great pictures. Good luck with your sale.

Hi,

Oh so they are, well spotted I hadn't noticed that myself. Mind you I have been accused of missing minor details before by my DW - like the fact she'd redecorated a room weeks ago! I think it might be because the ones which are numbered are the ones which are featured and on rotation on the HN site...seem to be the same pics that are numbered.

Patr100

Obviously the final decision and judgement is yours as the seller, but do HN advise somehow on what they would recommend as an initial asking price or do you have to do the homework there all yourself?