A high street agent is calling on Rightmove and Zoopla to ensure that customers of online firms are prominently warned in listings that “your agency fee may be at risk if you do not sell your property”.
David Brevitt, of midlands high street firm My Personal Estate Agent, said online agents should also include the same ‘wealth warning’ in all their own marketing.
Brevitt said: “After all, traditional ‘no sale, no reward’ estate agents have to promote a dual fee warning.
“I cannot see why these upfront or deferred payment models should not have to carry a prominent TV, fee and risk warning, as they could cost unsuccessful users a lot of money.
“I feel sure that those users who pay for a service that does not complete, feel miserable when they still have to pay for or end up paying two agency fees.
“Online agents that demand the same fee whether they succeed or fail in selling a property should make this perfectly clear to vendors from the outset.”
Brevitt said that the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team, property ombudsmen and the Advertising Standards Authority should also insist on it.
He also suggests that the NAEA, the Guild of Property Professionals and Agents’ Mutual could express their support.
He is suggesting that the wording could be: “Warning – this £x fee and any additional viewing service cost of £x is at risk, as it is payable whether a successful sale is agreed or not.”
Brevitt wants agents who work on a ‘no sale, no fee’ basis to call on Rightmove and Zoopla to insist that a fees warning is prominently displayed.
He is suggesting an ‘independence day’ – July 4 – when agents should encourage all their staff to separately email both the major portals to insist on what he calls “fairer advertising”.
All no sale – no fee agents should put a line in every piece of communications and publicity, in adverts and on boards, on social media and their websites etc to the effect that:
‘Always use a no sale – no fee estate agency. If you pay up front you risk losing your money’
And if you feel like add: #conmisery
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I like it!
When we stop reacting to the alleged ‘threats’ and start engaging our cumulative brains, we get some really good ideas… 😉
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Revilo,
That is so true. Why don’t you join IN, our ‘ideas network’ for finding, creating and winning new business. Just email us at hiphip@agentv.co.uk or tell us how to contact you.
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hiphip@ AgentV?
Is there something you need to tell us??
LOL…
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yes hip….hip…. hooray for independents!
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This is the exact message we have gone with on our upcoming ad campaign. I will post a video shortly which highlights that the fee is non refundable should your house not sell. Again we have produced a generic one for agents to use if they wish.
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Great news! Look forward to seeing it.
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Great idea David!
Most people I speak to are under the misleading impression that PB will sell their home for free! Anything that attempts to inform them of the truth….so that they can make an ‘informed judgement’ ….has to be most welcome.
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Yet again this is the incompetence of the ASA. PB for example whole business model is primarily based on fee’s, that “Commissary” about other business’s has been misleading in their marketing from day one, not only about other agents but the wealth warning to the public. Yet those that are supposed to champion consumer rights and business protection fail miserably.
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Can I suggest as many people as possible register and complain on the ASAs website since the PB advertising is completely, cynically, misleading. No commission would imply to any member of the public as being FREE……
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dkt-C6kD9E&feature=em-upload_owner
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Just excellent!
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Well done Guys I like it.
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