Online estate agent Comparison Site. Benchmark the price

MSE_Martin

What’s the deal?

There's a new free web based comparison site for estate agents Agentquote.co.uk that's been launched. It claims to be the new easy revolutionary way to get an agent cheaply and successfulll.

This isn't a recommendation... more a try it

The site is untested, and if you're looking to sell a property. I would love your feedback on it. Is it helpful, did it work for you, please click reply below to let me know.

How to use it

To get quotes, log on and register details of the property you want to sell (or rent).

This will then be sent to agents registered with Agentquote in your area who can let you know how many buyers they have that could be interested in your property (sounds like that should be taken with a pinch of salt) and how much their typical fees for your kind of property would be.

Your contact details won't be sent to any of the agents you do not want to contact you and you get to choose which agents you'd like to come round and see your house for a more detailed quote.

The website also includes law firm ratings, where past customers rate their experiences (think eBay feedback).

Please feedback below on what you think...

simonjfisher

This site is doomed to fail because the unscrupulous agents will just put down that they have loads of suitable people registered on their mailing list.

Genuine agents who don't promise the earth and deliver what they actually promise will lose out. The best way for anyone to choose an agent is get a recommendation from a friend/colleague/family member.

PasturesNew

You can't tell before you fill in the form if/how many agents in your area are registered. So you won't bother.

silvercar

Sounds like they would all quote low "typical fees" to get their foot through your door.

Once through the door the value they put on your property and the impression they give will be deciding factors. So all this site is telling you is the likely EA charge, but you can get that by reading the local property papers.

jayne_just_learning

I visited the site and input my details, you have to give a specific address and contact details. I then had to validate my email address to create the account. Having done that it does not then show you which agents it will approach. For me it just said they will contact 20 local agents who will respond with a quotation. Although it assures me that no one will contact me if I don't wish to hear from them I am sceptical! I'll let you know how things go in due course . . .

TheBeagle_2

There is another disadvantage to the website.

The site actually charges agents to advertise with them - so only big agents who charge clients the most money for selling / renting a house will be on there. You wont see many of the smaller agents who are cheaper yet just as good on the site.

Also when you request an appraisal from an estate / letting agent - the site then charges the agent more money to release any property details to them. The agent may not be willing to pay these fees as agents get a lot people who are just testing the water and are not really interested in selling or renting their property out. It also doesnt tell the clients that the agents are being charged therefore it makes the agent look bad if they dont pay money to reply. I think this is disgusting as its not a fair comparison site - its a site that shows clients which agents will pay most for new business and not a comparison site for agents in an area.

nobetterboy

I am an estate agent, and I regularly get these "leads" arriving in my inbox. They get deleted straight away. We do not have a set fee so we would never be able to send that question answered back. I also do not feel just by looking at words on a screen that you are able to choose which agent is right for you. Through AgentQuote the agent never receives your contact information but must pass it to the company themselves, and we are not in the business of dealing with companies that sit in the middle of us and clients. I completely agree with TheBeagle regarding not wanting to pay for the service.

TheBeagle_2

I have found another disadvantage of the site.

When you get a quote back for example on letting fees they dont tell you if you will be paying VAT on top of the quote. Some of the smaller agents are not VAT registered so you dont have to pay it with them but the larger agents do charge it.

So for example if you get a quote back on a letting fee of 10% there may be VAT to add on top - but you will never know. So one agent that quotes 10% and he doesnt charge VAT will be cheaper than an agent who charges 9% but you would have to pay VAT on top - again some agents quote set up fees for example of £250 - You may have to pay VAT on top of that fee to. Its totally inaccurate.

dptowers

Please don't forget that agent ratings are based on CONSUMER FEEDBACK. Those agents that are dishonest, to get their foot in the door are going to receive poor ratings.

simonjfisher wrote: »

This site is doomed to fail because the unscrupulous agents will just put down that they have loads of suitable people registered on their mailing list.

Genuine agents who don't promise the earth and deliver what they actually promise will lose out. The best way for anyone to choose an agent is get a recommendation from a friend/colleague/family member.

PasturesNew

Still pants.
The world needs VALUE ADDED sites and services.
Not just more sites.

dptowers

TheBeagle, thank you for your constructive feedback. This is a good point, which we have overlooked. We will add the VAT field to the agent's profile shortly.

TheBeagle wrote: »

I have found another disadvantage of the site.

When you get a quote back for example on letting fees they dont tell you if you will be paying VAT on top of the quote. Some of the smaller agents are not VAT registered so you dont have to pay it with them but the larger agents do charge it.

So for example if you get a quote back on a letting fee of 10% there may be VAT to add on top - but you will never know. So one agent that quotes 10% and he doesnt charge VAT will be cheaper than an agent who charges 9% but you would have to pay VAT on top - again some agents quote set up fees for example of £250 - You may have to pay VAT on top of that fee to. Its totally inaccurate.