Experience with online agents (eMoov, HouseSimple etc.)

pinkteapot

Does anyone have any experience of working with companies like eMoov, HouseSimple, etc?

We're going on the market soon and I've got three normal high street agents coming round this week for valuations. Aside from our music-loving neighbours mentioned on my other thread, it's an easy sale. Things on my estate sell fast due to its location and our particular house is stuck under the £250k stamp duty threshold. Ones like it sell almost straight away, so long as people aren't trying to get £270k. Given that it's such a bog standard property that should sell fairly easily to a young family market, I'm attracted by paying £500 instead of £3,000+!

On the other hand, we want to get sold so I don't want to waste a few months trying one of these agents and getting nowhere.

Any experiences, either when buying or selling? If you saw a house on Rightmove listed with one of these companies, would it put you off viewing?

I wouldn't use them for a quirky property, or a more upmarket one, but I'm wondering if it might work for us. I feel like they're still a relatively new thing so my concern is it'll put buyers off.... I'm almost feeling put off by just how cheap they are...

richardw

If it'll look good in photos online and the price is right, you'll probably get viewings.
You'll have to do all the viewings though and all the chasing up to get the sale through.
So you need to be a bit of a salesperson and understand the sale process.
You might get a good fee quote from a traditional estate agent if they can see a swift sale at £250k.

Moonraker71

I recently accepted an offer on my flat via House Network. Was on the market for just over 2 wks and the offer was from the 4th person to view, at 2% under asking price. I opted for the pay everything upfront option, which was possibly a bit risky but worked out well in the end. Saved around £3,400 in EA fees.

I had some initial valuations done with local EAs (when I thought I'd be going down that route) and I did a ton of my own research on pricing - monitoring similar properties for months beforehand - and because I work from home was able to do all the viewings without any hassle.

Because I live in an area of sharply rising prices and high demand (Brighton) and the target market is basically busy young professionals and London commuters, I didn't really feel these people would look anywhere other than the internet as their first port of call. So was an easy decision for me.

I'd also add that the quality of House Network's photos and the listing in general is so far above that of some of my local agents, it makes you wonder how they stay in business. I'm constantly amazed at the listings I see where there are no floorplans, photos are out of focus or ineptly taken and there are no room sizes. And people hand over thousands of pounds for this!

Anyway, feel free to ask if you'd like any more info. I think there are also loads of threads on here about similar companies if you do a search.

pinkteapot

Thanks! We'll definitely consider it. I assumed we'd have to handle offers etc. ourselves but I like the fact you can pay a couple of hundred quid extra and have them do that.

I always do the viewings when I sell, even with a normal agent.

nzmegs

We are in exactly the same position - an easy to sell property which will be snapped up pretty much as soon as it hits the market (according to the estate agents). We are also considering going along the online agent route. it just makes good sense.

I also work from home and will take care of all viewings, my husband has project management experience, I used to work for new homes company and basically we have the knowledge and time to carry it off ourselves.

I suppose estate agents are good for people without the time - but otherwise they really are too expensive.

Moonraker71

I didn't have to handle the offer side of things, House Network did all that for me (standard part of service included in fee) even getting me a slightly higher price than what I said I'd be prepared to accept, so was very happy with that. They also handle the sale right through until completion - keeping me up to date with my buyers' mortgage situation, liaising with me re: arranging their survey, that kind of thing. Other than viewings, I haven't had to do anything really.

WebGuru

I found https://www.cheapmove.co.uk which explains Online Estate Agents. You can also find a discount with House Network, Hatched and Emoov.

The common myth is you have to do negotiations yourself -you DO NOT. They do this, the only thing you do have to do is viewings.

googler

WebGuru wrote: »

I found https://www.cheapmove.co.uk which explains Online Estate Agents.

... back to promote your own website, I see?

RedfordML

I have recently sold, usual high street agent who where excellent.

My brother has just sold, via an online agent. Not many viewings intially which worried them but after viewing 2 got a full asking price of £340k, so saved ££££!!

Depends what you are comfortable with, you happy doing viewings etc?

WebGuru

Forgive googler, he is a high street agent. He thinks it's acceptable to charge on average £3600 for something that can be gone for £395.

Hoof_Hearted

+1 for Housenetwork. Good service at a reasonable price. Huge savings over high street agents if you are prepared to do the viewings. Others may be just as good.