The end of High Street Estate Agents?

movilogo

I sold my house via online EA which was a painless process and far cheaper than if I had used High St EAs.


I think they are still surviving because of market inertia. As more and more sellers become internet savvy, less will depend on high st EAs for a listing.

mwpt

My viewing experiences matched PasturesNew. Almost every EA was not aware of the finer points of the properties I viewed, they were just marching a stream of people through the door on the Saturday, collecting the highest over asking price bid the Monday and then doing some chasing to manage the chain. I'd say that was the only value the EA provided for me, the chasing. And I don't see why this part couldn't be done by an online EA for a fixed fee.

System

PasturesNew wrote: »

It's clearly marked, without any doubt whatsoever, on the deeds, as entirely owned by this house and with no rights of way whatsoever either.

.

Estate agents don't search deeds, that's why buyers have a solicitor.

masterwilde

your all ignoring the other avenue, that is auction houses....

westernpromise

Auction houses aren't new, however, so if they were going to spell the end of high street estate agents, you'd think they'd have done so by now.

oliver1950

If only... they are the most useless people in the world. I have had 3 failed purchase now, incurring legal costs and surveyor costs, not to count the sleepless nights etc. The problem with estate agents is that, to date, I've not come across any who know anything about the house they are selling. When you come across legal issues , they say they know nothing ( which of course is true but should not be), the information they publish on the properties is next to worthless and often seriously inaccurate. I have pointed this out to many agents but they ignore that. I am afraid to say that they are largely fairly disinterested and disho.....