Online estate agent or not

antilles

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Did you list it at the same price as the agents did?

Hi - no, I lowered the asking price by 5k in order to sell it. But both local high street agents had already suggested the same price drop as it hadn't sold at the listed price and had become stagnant, with no viewings.

So I gave them both notice (I was dual listed), and just relisted with the online agent once I was completely clear of their notice periods.

As I was already doing the viewings myself anyway, I saved £1,400 simply by switching agents.

There was no part of House Network's service that was inferior to that given by the high street agents.

Hoof_Hearted

It's the future. Nobody should pay the outrageous fees of traditional agents. In the end, they will have to compete or die.

nubbins

Slightly different but I thought I would give Tepilo a try on a property I rent out at £1295 pcm. I had it on with them for 2 months with very little interest, I then put it on with the main agent in my area and it went within a week for £1400. I must admit I was scratching my head as it was on Rightmove, similar photos etc.
If selling a property I would probably give an onliner a try for the sake of 5-10k but with a no upfront fee option.

googler

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Nobody should pay the outrageous fees of traditional agents. In the end, they will have to compete or die.

Of course, nobody should pay the outrageous cost of (say) a Rolls-Royce when there's Vauxhalls on the market.

Nobody should pay the outrageous cost of (say) a Gibson Les Paul when there's Chinese copies to be had

Rolls-Royce and Gibson need to compete or die.

Hoof_Hearted

Touched a nerve, by any chance?

googler

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Touched a nerve, by any chance?

If you say so. You'll never know for sure.

Surrey_EA

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

It's the future. Nobody should pay the outrageous fees of traditional agents. In the end, they will have to compete or die.

Nobody has to. Whether EA fees are outrageous is a subject on which I suspect we will disagree!

There is no doubt that online-only EAs will account for more property sales in the years to come, and the result will be fewer 'traditional' EAs. However, there will remain people prepared to pay for what they consider to be a useful service.

Martin_Haywood

An agent who is qualified must be bound by the rules imposed upon them. Look for an agent who is both recognised by his/her own professional body, like the RICS or NAEA and who have voluntarily committed to subscribe to the TPO (the property ombudsman).
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with either the hybrid or the online agent , provided you know what you are getting and are not comparing apples with pears. Beware of signing credit agreements with online agents for their deferred fees (they will not let you off if your house does not sell) or restrictive contracts for conventional agents binding you to them for months. There are now models allowing you to pay as you go on a monthly subscription, for as long (or short) as you want.....worth a try, nothing (very little) to lose