Is the end nigh for traditional high street estate agents?
Attracting nearly 36,000 views in less than two weeks, the viral film, Under Offer, depicting daily life in a fictional high street estate agency, has certainly proved an internet hit but is it really a spoof mockumentary or is this type of ruthless, greedy, sales-at-all-costs mentality still alive and well in high street estate agencies across the UK?
Peter Joseph, Founder of Think Online Property, the award-winning online estate agent, comments,
“Despite Douglas & Gordon’s (the agent that created this film) good intentions, I have to say that this film was a pretty accurate portrayal of the lack of professionalism and low level of service that both my clients and I have encountered personally when using traditional high street estate agents.
“With such a sluggish UK property market, many existing home owners are asking “what’s the easiest way to sell my house?” With this in mind, agents should be upping their game, doing everything in their powers to make the process as simple as possible, whilst keeping a client centric approach at their heart. Today over 90% of buyers start their search online so it does make me wonder if the day is nigh for the traditional high street estate agency.”
Indeed this observation from Joseph seems to becoming reality with one of the country’s best known estate agents, Winkworth, recently reporting that growing numbers of high street operations are selling up due to a slow market with activity expected to remain stagnant into 2012.
Up there with traffic wardens, tele-sales reps and politicians, estate agents remain one of the most hated professions by the general public with lack of qualifications, aggressive sales patter, bending of the truth and high fees some of the most disagreeable qualities. The embellishment of a property’s details has often been a bone of contention for buyers so much so that the Office of Fair Trading has now warned estate agents against making misleading claims about the characteristics of a property.
Joseph from Think Online Property continues,
“Of course there are exceptions to the rule but in most cases, I think what people find most galling is the complete lack of customer service throughout the buying and selling process and then the substantial fee, on average £3,500 to sell a property, that clients are expected to pay – and for what?”
And it is these issues that Joseph of Think Online Property is addressing as an online estate agent. Looking to the future of the property sales process, Think Online Property in effect removes the middle-man, the high street estate agent, and markets individuals’ properties for sale directly, using the same online tools as traditional estate agents.
Vendors can select from three fantastic value Price Options starting from just £345 (without VAT!) depending on how much they wish to pay upfront. Vendors submit their property details to Think Online Property whose NAEA qualified team ensure the property is marketed on all major UK property portals including Rightmove, Primelocation, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Globrix, Nestoria and Fish4homes in addition to many more.
Utilizing the popular Gold package of £345 paid up front with 12 months of flexible marketing and no other selling costs payable upon completion, vendors can save up to £4,150 in fees on the sale of a typical £250,000 home. In addition each client is assigned a qualified Think Online Agent, a free “value my home” report, professional and unlimited photography, bespoke floorplans, arrangement of viewings, handling and negotiating of offers, full buyer check including verification of financial position and a weekly sales progression report once a sale has been agreed.
So if you are looking to sell your home and want an alternative to the traditional high street estate agent and wish to save thousands of pounds in fees then visit www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk today or call 0844 381 4787 to speak to your dedicated Think Online Agent.