It’s billed as the video estate agents don’t want you to see.
And Beware of the Estate Agent – rather confusingly set against a familiar-looking purple – certainly does make agents out to be a dastardly lot.
It has already had some 33,000 views since being posted up only a couple of weeks ago, but comments are disabled.
So who actually put it together?
OkayLah.co.uk turns out to be a private sale-by-owner website which sets out its stall as encouraging people to “break free from estate agents”.
Claiming to be the first portal for people to sell or rent their property without an estate agent (really?), sellers can even try out the service for free.
For those wishing to upgrade, there is the choice between a £35 and a £65 package.
OkayLah, which launched last November, does have property experts for those that need them. There is a fixed call-out fee of £25.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOKCJi13F4&feature=player_embedded
Comments (20)
Have you ever been an estate agent Paul? You are aware that most agents no matter how good they are, do not find that they quote a valuation and the vendor snap decides they are right. A vendor lead price is a big part of what we have to put up with in order to win business.
Obviously. all estate agents commenting on here really do think they provide a service. Let me give you an example. I am looking to sell my house so got a couple of ‘professionals’ to come round a give a ‘free valuation’. Both asked ‘how much do you want for the property?’ – that’s not a free valuation, I can use a tape measure and count rooms so why on earth would I use someone (at a cost of some £4500) who doesn’t know my house, didn’t ask about its’ USP (there’s an alleyway down the side which leads to 400 acres of open, common lad – a haven for dog walkers, horsey folk, families etc..). All they would do is put rubbish pics oh rightmove when the BEST WAY to sell a house is to have a Sale Board up. I look forward to OkayLah.co.uk (whoever they are) preventing ‘Estate Agents’ from earning money for doing Jack Shit.
Hello,
My name is Paul Telford and i developed OkayLah.co.co.uk so homeowners have a viable alternative to selling or renting their properties online as opposed to selling via Online Estate Agents. The business model is inspired by the deregulation implemented in 2012 by Sir Vince Cable, hence the Yellow feather on the Knight.
We created the video to inform potential home owners of the sales tactics and strategy used currently by Online Estate Agents to sell a 10 months Finance Agreements by advertising their property via third party websites and unwittingly agreeing to conveyancing agreements, the reality is the the majority of home owners relocate within a nine mile radius so we will always support the home owner to promote, and negotiate the sale of their property by giving them the tools and access to specific property experts so they can promote their property with a For Sale Board and receive direct communication.
The majority of home buyers move within a nine mile radius so by removing the emphasis of the third party websites who will become the high streets main competitor in the future, in reality this is already happening with the entry level “Estate Agents” advertising access to the likes of Rightmove and Zoopla when they have not visited the property so essentially acting as a Private Sales Portal whilst undercutting the Local Estate Agent.
We do not promote our clients properties on third party websites, we have sophisticated technology and have a fantastic team of dedicated IT specialists who promote via SEO.
We would Never Support Estate Agents who fail to meet their expectations, the contract signed by the home owners is based on the “Free Valuation” so if the valuation figure is not achieved then it is unrealistic to assume the percentage or fee agreed would remain the same? The vast majority of conveyancing solicitors work on a No-Sale No-Fee so those Estate Agents who “Do As They Say” should receive full remuneration, those who fail to meets the “Free Valuation Figure” should not.
As a company we whole hardheartedly disagree with the contractual obligations implied by Estate Agents. In business you have to “Do What You Say” otherwise any contract should be null and void or at least a reduction in fees to compensate the home owner for the Estate Agents overzealous “Free Estimation”.
With regards to the video, we have enabled the comments function so you can express you views both positive and negative.
Sir – with (absolutely no) respect – B0LL0CKS.
’nuff said, methinks. No explanation required. You know precisely what I mean – and why.
Search for “Beware Of The Estate Agent” in Google / Video or on YouTube if the following link is disabled https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOKCJi13F4
Ouch, that is poor!
Think the video is a joke?
You should see who the jokers have Tweeted it to!
Thank goodness they state clearly that they aren’t Estate Agents – we have enough to be terminally ashamed of at the minute to count them as one of the problems blighting our profession.
Can you post the link to them on my twitter? could do with a laugh!
DONE!
But it would be rude not to share it with our EYE pals here as well…
twitter.com/Okay_Lah/with_replies
Looks like the video has been disabled, really do not want us to see it!
This is going to sound like a euphemism – but it isn’t…
That knight has a tiny sword.
Who would trust a knight with a hilt longer than his blade? (Also, this kind of serves an analogy for why I will never use this company.)
OK it’s mine, I decided I didn’t want to be an estate agent anymore and thought I would try my hand a skulduggery.
Also I stopped taking the pills the doctor said would stop the voices in my head.
EYE covered the birth of this outfit in November:
propertyindustryeye.com/new-diy-online-agency-sets-up-charging-65-and-with-over-300-experts/
Doubt it will cover its’ first birthday.
If you have so little respect for your own property and its sale for the very best price you only plough in that fee, then good luck.
Whenever I see a house for sale with a cheap charging agent, I always think “blimey, where else has the owner been cheap in their maintenance of the property – next!”
This does rather show the current state of the “industry” doesn’t it!
There is a definite”bubble” feel at the moment whereby anyone can do anything – agency, legal work, mortgages – it’s the self service generation on speed.
The mere amateurish quality of this video highlights a lack of respect of consumers who will be taken in by such a trite approach.
That said, the red tape cutting (somewhat remiscent of when Kirsty cut that red tape off that house when they thought suspending HIPS would re-energise the property market) is quite cute.
What a very brave Sir Knight here to save us all …
Terrified. Better get myself down the job centre now.
‘No contract’s’ …. I think they mean ‘No contracts’ – no thanks!
Plum Tree England Ltd
Company started in 2001.
Look closer, PPITE.
The real devil is in the detail.
PIE could have had real fun with the “Emotional Bliss” “Product Development” connection.