OnTheMarket drops wording after complaint about TV advert

| Rosalind Renshaw

A complaint against an estate agent has been rejected by the advertising watchdog.

At the same time a complaint about OnTheMarket has been informally resolved, meaning that the Advertising Standards Authority will not be opening a formal investigation.

A spokesperson for the ASA told Eye: “We received complaints about a TV ad and claims on the advertiser’s website.

“The ads stated: ‘… More and more leading agents are moving all their properties from other sites to OnTheMarket.com, and are advertising them exclusively with us first, so to see properties you won’t find anywhere else…’

“The complainants challenged whether the claims ‘exclusively with us first’ and ‘properties you won’t find anywhere else’ were misleading.

“We approached the advertiser with the concerns that had been raised. The advertiser gave its assurance that they would remove the claim ‘properties you won’t find anywhere else’ from their advertising. On that basis we considered that there were no grounds for further action and closed the case informally.”

OnTheMarket chief executive Ian Springett said: “The ASA informed us two or three months ago that it had received a competitor complaint challenging a wide range of claims within our TV commercial.

“The complaint was not upheld by the ASA.

“In close consultation with the ASA, we have worked on some revisions to the detail of our voice-over in order to be more explicit about our “new and exclusive” properties and the revised version will be released in due course.”

Separately, the agent where the complaint was not upheld is Henderson Connellan of Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

It distributed promotional leaflets claiming that it had agreed the most sales, received the most instructions, had the most stock available, in various postcodes, according to Rightmove.

A competitor, Cooper Estate Agents Harborough, challenged whether the claim “most sales agreed throughout 2014 on Rightmove.co.uk in our area” was misleading.

Henderson Connellan said that Rightmove had authorised the use of the data for external marketing purposes, and its compliance team had approved the advert.

The ASA ruled that the advert gave consumers sufficient context to understand the claims, and noted that Henderson Connellan was able to supply full data to support these.

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108 Comments

  1. Ric
    June 11, 2015 at 07:02

    OhTheMarket – I like it.

    Report
    1. Ric
      June 11, 2015 at 07:02

      Argh, you changed that far too quickly 😉

      Report
  2. Paul H
    June 11, 2015 at 07:09

    http://www.onthemarket.com….causing disruption to the property portal market since January 2015.

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    1. Gecko estate agents Ltd
      June 11, 2015 at 08:54

      Did you mean “losing traction since January 2015”

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      1. PeeBee
        June 11, 2015 at 09:07

        Ahhh… the lizard has crawled out from under the stone thinking it’s time to do some basking.

        Nothing here for you but an icy reception, Sir…

        …we don’t like the toner your posts.

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        1. Gecko estate agents Ltd
          June 11, 2015 at 09:28

          Doesn’t Toner go in a printer? The reason you don’t like the tone of my posts is purely to with the fact that you all moved over to this great new property portal and its not working for you, Zoopla and Rightmove are hardly quaking in their boots.

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          1. wardy
            June 11, 2015 at 09:33

            ….and how would you know?

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          2. PeeBee
            June 11, 2015 at 10:23

            ‘Gecko estate agents Ltd’ said “Doesn’t Toner go in a printer?”

            You speak like a man in the know, Sir.

            I will therefore have to bow to your apparent expertise in that particular field of industry and commerce.

            I will simply stick to what I know best – which, among other ‘talents’, is poking and prodding under stones.

            It’s amazing what you get coming out from under them if you Rummage4 the right places to poke…

            Oh… by the way – according to Rummage4, toner goes in a cartridge, not a printer.  The cartridge (complete with toner…) then goes into the printer.

            Just a slight correction to your statement – but as we are debating a situation which has become ‘news’ owing to the use of particular wording  I would argue it is highly relevant to be precise.

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      2. PeeBee
        June 11, 2015 at 09:20

        Lizards inhabiting glass terrariums shouldn’t throw stones…

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        1. Gecko estate agents Ltd
          June 11, 2015 at 09:32

          Thats brilliant lol, when are you going to stop throwing money at OTM?

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          1. IndAgent
            June 11, 2015 at 09:52

            I see you have stopped ‘throwing money’ at Rightmove too…. How is that working for you?

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      3. Property Ear
        June 11, 2015 at 11:43

        With respect Gecko – ‘credibility’ is surely nearer the mark than ‘traction’? OTM will go down the pan just like HIPs. As was predicted at the outset, its demise will be akin to that of Animal Farm – give it a few months and we’ll see some unholy squabbles!

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  3. IndAgent
    June 11, 2015 at 08:40

    well. that’s the USP gone……

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    1. smile please
      June 11, 2015 at 08:44

      W

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    2. smile please
      June 11, 2015 at 08:45

      Well pointed out. It may seem insignificant but how do you now encourage the public to view? it now is just another portal to the public.

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      1. IndAgent
        June 11, 2015 at 08:53

        Exactly…My non-agent friend even pointed out how misleading the claim was on the TV advert…. has the TV advertising stopped now anyway?

        Also, slightly off topic…but a point to demonstrate OTMs inability to market their selves correctly is the OTM Facebook page only appears to have 2858 likes….. How many members? How many employees of these firms? Friends, family let alone getting the public involved?

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        1. Ric
          June 11, 2015 at 10:52

          oh please lets keep it sensible…… FB likes really…….. I have over 9,000 likes with just 4 offices – I paid for about 8,000 of them not realising the company I used simply asked part of Poland to like my page! Worst £199 I ever spent but I feel liked!

          I shall pass on the company I used to AM and increase their likes just for you IndAgent!

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          1. Ric
            June 11, 2015 at 10:53

            and I liked my own comment – it felt appropriate!

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            1. PeeBee
              June 11, 2015 at 11:12

              Dinna worry, Ric – I’ve doubled the ‘Likes’ for you matey! 😉

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          2. IndAgent
            June 11, 2015 at 14:56

            With respect you’ve got it wrong. Yes I know you can pay for page likes but anyone who knows how facebook works can see right through paid for page likes – click on the number of likes and you can see how many people are ‘talking about you’. I bet your ratio of page likes to ‘talking’ is poor. I have one office and about 700 likes and all page likes have been naturally grown, not paid for, by posting interesting posts that the public engage with. What social media is all about. OTM’s FB page is a failure in my opinion as it’s boring and gets very little engagement from anyone, let alone its 5000 members…posting your blogs that no one likes, or reads is semi pointless. My point was that there must be a ‘social media manager’ at OTM who can’t even get their members to like the page. Not a huge point, but just one that demonstrates OTM doesn’t know what it’s doing.

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            1. Ric
              June 11, 2015 at 16:41

              Hi IndAgent – in fairness you purely mentioned “Likes” and therefore I purely jumped on that.

              I myself commented on how I wasted £199 on likes, as I was sold they would be relevant local likes through a marketing campaign. (I got my money back!)

              I agree, content and engagement is key! and social media is a great place to spread the word on the street/couch/tube/car/coffee shop or wherever you have you FB account logged in.

              So with respect I was and am right! Likes “give over” as I said……. now content and engagement well if you had said that I would have agreed, but I can’t see you talk about their engagement levels on their facebook page, just “they only have so many likes”

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            2. Ric
              June 11, 2015 at 16:51

              Quick look at OTM FB page and 240 Talking against 2862 likes isn’t too bad is it?

              I was under the impression anything above a 1% conversion of likes to engagement was considered good when you have “up to 10k likes” so just over 8% isn’t bad then hey?

              Anyway I have put myself forward for their Social Media Campaign – Ric Head of Social Media OnTheMarket – I shall give myself another like for that.

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              1. Ric
                June 11, 2015 at 16:53

                I liked it and talked about it…. see what I did there 100% engagement rate FACT!

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                1. IndAgent
                  June 11, 2015 at 18:11

                  I think the engagement isn’t hugely bad % wise, but it’s quite likely the same agents hitting like just trying to support OTM rather than actually engaging with the public…. compare the content and engagement with Zoopla… totally different approach. OTM’s FB page is more like AgentsMutual FB page….

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                  1. Ric
                    June 11, 2015 at 18:19

                    Steady now IndAgent – You wouldn’t be expecting OTM to be competing with Z and RM for brand awareness in social media just yet would you?

                    Content – I agree the page could should be better, even with the facility to search for all their property on there! in addition to a fresh funky inviting look,

                    Engagement – erm… give em a chance lets not compare the figures with RM/Z just yet, slightly unfair I think to expect a site 5 months old to be competing in social media terms with the engagement of 2 brands so well known – Rome was not built in a day!

                    I agree though – could be better – Poor banner image low res but then I would rather them be concentrating on getting membership up at the minute than become a hit on FB.

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                  2. Ric
                    June 11, 2015 at 18:26

                    Just looked (what are you doing to me IndAgent)

                    Z wins hands down on the FB content and look.

                    But then Z loses hands down on a decent property portal which agents need.

                    So perhaps more proof that if your FB page is “adequate” then that is enough, as RM’s ain’t much better than OTM’s and only at 5% conversion for engagement. #stoppress lower than RM!!

                    See that’s my first job done as official (well non official) social media Director for OTM…. My first headline – Our (OTM) ratio for engaging with people on social media is better than RM’s.

                    I am a true stat spinner already.

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                    1. IndAgent
                      June 11, 2015 at 18:33

                      I like it… glad you agree.. They haven’t tried… Social media would massively increase hit to site… even OTM agents are still posting Rightmove links on their own FB pages.. I have competitors who constantly post links from the Guardian with no interaction at all, then we come along with something that interests the public, the consumer and surprise surprise 20-50+ likes every time.  I wasn’t comparing actual numbers with Zoopla, just the content and the way they engage with the public.

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                    2. IndAgent
                      June 11, 2015 at 18:34

                      PS. I’m pretty sure that there isn’t a social media director at OTM…probably someone that remembers at the end of the day to ‘stick something on Facebook’.

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                    3. Ric
                      June 11, 2015 at 18:38

                      Agreed and I am waiting for the call from AM to offer me the position. Have a good nite. 🙂

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  4. Paul H
    June 11, 2015 at 08:53

    It’s business as usual, as Thousands of properties will still be “new and exclusive” with the only change being the wording on the 10 second advert and newspaper.

    What I don’t understand is why OTM’s competition didn’t raise this issue in January before the portal was able to become established.

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    1. IndAgent
      June 11, 2015 at 09:00

      Will the public understand ‘new and exclusive’? Sounds very empty to me….

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      1. Paul H
        June 11, 2015 at 09:06

        They will understand…”more and more agents are moving their properties to OnTheMarket and deciding to list they’re properties  exclusively with us first”

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        1. IndAgent
          June 11, 2015 at 09:21

          What % of agents are actually doing this… less than 10% of nearby OTM agents to me are so I expect the public may visit once to see if the claim is correct to only be disappointed and then go back to RM where all the stock is?

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          1. Paul H
            June 11, 2015 at 09:24

            So you agree that they’ve not lost their USP ?

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            1. IndAgent
              June 11, 2015 at 09:57

              To a certain extent I agree that they have an almost invisible USP in that a small % of their agents list homes a day to two earlier, but I also think this claim is false as the homes will no doubt be shown in their window display or on the agents own website…

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        2. PeeBee
          June 11, 2015 at 09:32

          Paul H – we haven’t disagreed for a while, mon ami – so it is with heavy heart that I have to say in my opinion you are incorrect.

          How can a property be claimed as “new and exclusive” by OTM or their Members when the information will be available on the company’s own website (…and probably a few more to boot…)?

          ASA will be watching any such claim – especially now that they have already upheld the original whinges from The Great Unwashed.

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          1. Paul H
            June 11, 2015 at 09:51

            Well it’s about time we had a disagreement old boy 🙂

            I’ve always taken ‘New and Exclusive’ as in relation to portals and I think the general public may think the same. But the more I think about it the more you may actually have a point!!

            That’s an extremely early concession on my part!

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            1. IndAgent
              June 11, 2015 at 09:58

              Peebee beat me to it. Do the public see a difference between a website and a portal? Probably not..

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        3. HarryN
          June 11, 2015 at 10:22

          Until they are shown to be reducing in numbers (which I’m told is imminent) at which point they’ll be forced to remove that too!

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    2. ray comer
      June 11, 2015 at 09:25

      “What I don’t understand is why OTM’s competition didn’t raise this issue in January before the portal was able to become established.”

      Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake

      Napoleon Bonaparte

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      1. Paul H
        June 11, 2015 at 09:56

        On that basis Springett has played a blinder taking into account the amount of mistakes messrs Chesterman and Hall have made this year.

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    3. Gecko estate agents Ltd
      June 11, 2015 at 09:39

      Probably no one cares?

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      1. PeeBee
        June 11, 2015 at 11:21

        Well… clearly YOU do or your little reptilian claws wouldn’t be a blur over the keyboard today…

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        1. Property Ear
          June 11, 2015 at 11:48

          Sounds like you are far more venomous than the benign but very astute Gecko!

          Report
  5. Gump
    June 11, 2015 at 08:56

    When did we all become super grasses? I get that if your competitors aren’t happy with you you’re doing your job right……but telling tales to teacher?

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    1. IndAgent
      June 11, 2015 at 09:02

      I’ve thought the same re some of the recent cases but OTMs claim, which was the backbone of their business is completely false and misleading, and designed to force the public to visit their site, which they now don’t need to.

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      1. Gump
        June 11, 2015 at 09:11

        Everyone seems to be snitching on everyone for anything! It’s all getting a tad embarrassing to be honest

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        1. smile please
          June 11, 2015 at 09:14

          I have had similar thoughts Gump,

          Never have reported anybody for advertising always thought live and let live the truth will out.

          But to be honest i have come very close a couple of times with some onliners, the barefaced lies some preach and lead the public to believe a like for like service does make my blood boil.

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          1. Gump
            June 11, 2015 at 09:29

            On liners are fair game 😛

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  6. RealAgent
    June 11, 2015 at 08:59

    But they have left in the words exclusively with us first which I think is the bigger draw to customers. Clearly the ineffective OTM is having an affect somewhere for a complaint to have been lodged.

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  7. smile please
    June 11, 2015 at 09:07

    OTM said they would be the second portal of chose within a year, almost 6 months are now gone, how close are they to the target?

    Been a while since we heard official numbers?

    Anybody know?

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    1. wilko
      June 11, 2015 at 10:21

      “Anybody know?”

      In many towns and regions OTM are already a clear second. The fact that you need to consider, in addition to those that have switched from Zoopla to OTM, is that many agents were either never on Zoopla in the first place, or have come off Zoopla (as their numbers have depleted) but not joined OTM.

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      1. smile please
        June 11, 2015 at 10:31

        Good point regarding the agents thaqtnever on Z, What parts of the country are OTM a clear second?

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      2. Property Ear
        June 11, 2015 at 11:51

        Give us the evidence then please

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        1. BrandNew
          June 11, 2015 at 12:54

          North East Coast -Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.

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          1. Paul H
            June 11, 2015 at 13:09

            Here’s a few more;
             Taunton
            Dagenham
            Middlesborough
            Hartlepool

            Darlington
            Grimsby
            Lincoln
            Hove
            Hampstead
            Sale
            Walton on Thames
            Weybridge
            Boston
            Newquay

            Reading

            Wigan

            Shipley
            Colchester
             

             

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            1. HarryN
              June 11, 2015 at 14:55

              Spoken like a true local agent!

              Get back on the phone – you need to get some sales. I hear your customers are leaving in droves!

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          2. wilko
            June 11, 2015 at 14:08

            Bristol, southend, Gosforth, Wrexham….are 4 I know about but hey…….have a look yourselves. I’m sure you will find loads more, I just don’t have the time to go through 3-4,000 Towns just at the moment.

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            1. HarryN
              June 11, 2015 at 18:41

              You are busy listing areas where OTM has more listings than Zoopla. This is the same mentality that makes some agents believe they are the market leader because they have more pages in the local paper than their competitors.

              All that matters is the audience that is delivered to your client’s properties. Anything else is just window dressing and hot air.

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    2. HarryN
      June 11, 2015 at 10:25

      I was shown some stats last week (Hitwise I think) for one week in late May:

      Rightmove = 20 million

      Zoopla = 10 million

      OTM = 0.5 million

      Nothing has changed for the past 3 months.

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  8. MF
    June 11, 2015 at 09:20

    Can they not just amend the wording?

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  9. Ric
    June 11, 2015 at 09:29

    Hate to say – this is a fair cop and I am glad. I started to get pretty annoyed promoting OTM as the next best thing when other local advertisers on OTM were saying “Exclusive” but still advertising on from minute one on RM.

    Whilst it made them (the agent in question) look rubbish, it also made a mockery of OTM and if the public cannot trust the message or advert in this case and see the “exclusive” property on RM anyway, they will simply NOT visit OTM as they know they do not need to, as RM will carry all the stock anyway.

    OWN GOAL by the OTM agents!

    AM/OTM what is the plan? As just hoping we get there will no longer work.

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    1. smile please
      June 11, 2015 at 09:34

      Nice honest comment Ric,

      Have you and your fellow agents talked about coming away from RM yet? i think if this gained traction you would see numbers leap up.

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      1. Ric
        June 11, 2015 at 09:55

        Hi smile please.

        “Coming away from RM” really?….. I am almost of the opinion now “stuff OTM” I have Gold member agents around me (one who really got some limelight for being a “leader” in championing OTM – even though we actually recommended them to Ian) who has just “sold out” to RM.

        RM offered me freebies about 2 months ago and I said no, negotiated hard on my core membership, dropped all but the logos and smiled with the knowledge OTM may be working by giving little old me some power in talks with RM.

        THEN bosh….. I had a torrid month of listings in May only to see a “the very good company” I refer to above put circa 80% of new instructions as RM Premium Listings… other gold member agents have added local home pages this year and the spend with RM seems to have gone up or they accepted the freebies I turned down.

        Now WE as agents know these products don’t “sell houses” but they can “list houses” (Tell a vendor they work and have one for free and they will believe a good agent) and this is where I say we have OTM agents selling out to RM by using RM products to win business but by doing this are actually strengthening the thought process RM is required.

        I’ve been up against it for years but the strongest two brands around here have always resisted spending big with RM or certainly not doing silly PL’s with RM, but this all changed last month.

        I have a meeting next week and plan to vote for spending as much money as possible on RM! and why not……. single handed I will not make OTM work around here and it seems having 85% of stock on OTM locally was not enough for the other agents to do what we did and start to wind down on RM negotiate our terms BUT importantly say no to products.

        We will just get on with it our way but now embrace RM as “they will not be toppled as the OTM agents around us are simply scoring own goals left right and centre” they have with me as it has encouraged me to consider more products with RM as an instruction winner.

        June has been a different story already – now I am simply saying “you get a free PL if you want it” funny thing is, NOT ONE vendor has wanted it or more said it’s up to me, but just knowing I need to be offering it has meant the other agents have gone back to have nothing unique to offer.

        rant over……. and come on AM lets have some direction and discussions on how to make OTM work…. as selling RM products is surely not the way!

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        1. smile please
          June 11, 2015 at 10:19

          Great rant, and great to see how it is round the country from an honest perspective.

          This is why i have not joined RM I saw this issues may arise, Which is why i thought i would wait until a mass exodus of RM was planned, sounds like its further away than ever!

          I think the one thin OTM has shown me is you do not need a second portal, with that in mind i may drop Z and just continue with RM

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          1. smile please
            June 11, 2015 at 10:20

            Sorry meant not joined OTM!

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        2. Gump
          June 11, 2015 at 10:23

          RM Premium listings……..biggest waste of anything ever, seriously they offer nothing. Now I had better justify that comment huh!

          Jump on RM now, search what ever you want, then behold the Premium Listing in all its silver backed glory…..then look at the non premium listing above it, because everyone else will too

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          1. smile please
            June 11, 2015 at 10:34

            We had until recently a “Homepage”  type in a poastcode and you would see our advert in all its glory, Looked great but no added business from it! – we have reduced our membership to the bear minimum apart from logos across our branches but still paying 1k per office!

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            1. Ric
              June 11, 2015 at 10:41

              Again completely agree….. we had a LHP once which said “0% commission” based on Auctions and buyers premium, it was not obvious from the outset it was auctions (we did this on purpose to test the strength of a LHP) you would have expected the phone to ring off the hook and nada!! nothing at all.

              The only product which works is the logo branding, a quick easy reference to the selling agent. Otherwise it is all about the property.

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            2. Gump
              June 11, 2015 at 11:58

              You should have gone with town name one not the postcode. Agents use postcodes buyers use town names. But yeah, we’ve tried both, no longer

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          2. Ric
            June 11, 2015 at 10:37

            Gump completely agree 1,000% if there was such a thing.

            HOWEVER you picture your areas market leader be it you or another company telling potential vendors on valuations they will give you a free upgrade on RM including a highlighted listing “gratis” and that vendor WILL think great! I would love that please.

            Buyers know they mean little, but be in that “vendor mind set” when a reputable agent offers you one for free….

            As I say – As a market leader where I am – I find myself in the odd place of offering them since 1st June – but quickly explaining they don’t work and the instructions are saying don’t bother then but at least I know – if they (PL’s) did float the boat of that owner, they can have one with me too!

            You actually stand out more not being a PL at the minute in one of our villages in particular as my last instruction agreed and chuckled at…… its about being armed though I suppose!

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            1. Gump
              June 11, 2015 at 14:03

              All the agents in my town have them, we simply show the potentials a screen shot of 3 competitor premium listings with our non one above them all.

              We do however, have featured property which is worth its weight imo

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  10. GuardianIndependentObservor
    June 11, 2015 at 10:39

     

    looks like asa will need to be looking into this also description also ….

    into Zzz

    you cant substantiate “your wording”  the leading resource ….

    looks like your need to be changing your add word buys

    Look at Property from the UK’s leading market resource for a one-stop Property Finder.

     

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  11. wilko
    June 11, 2015 at 10:46

    Nice to see that the same comments are being circulated by the same posters from both sides.

    As a member of OTM who is actually happy with the quantity and quality of leads we get from it at present I will only start to worry if I look at an article on the Eye that has OTM in the title and it only attracts 2 or 3 comments………as long as there is always 50+ by lunchtime I am assured that the portal is still very much alive, kicking, growing and disrupting!

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    1. smile please
      June 11, 2015 at 11:01

      But that’s only within the estate agency profession,

      Few members of the public post on here, such a “Marmite” product will always create comments within the industry, the public do not care where the properties are advertised they will gravitate to the most concise offering which at this point is RM.

      Until OTM becomes a ‘Steak dinner with all the trimmings’ for the agents as opposed to marmite, the public will not take to it unfortunately.

      As Ric has pointed out what is the plan to get more agents to engage and in turn get the public on board?

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      1. Paul H
        June 11, 2015 at 11:04

        “the public do not care where the properties are advertised they will gravitate to the most concise offering which at this point is RM.Until OTM becomes a ‘Steak dinner with all the trimmings’ for the agents as opposed to marmite, the public will not take to it unfortunately.”

        So why are you on Zoopla again Smile.

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        1. smile please
          June 11, 2015 at 11:15

          Marketing to say i am on the two largest property portals along with coverage on Primelocation and a number other publications.

          As i have said above one thing OTM has shown is maybe not the need for a “Second portal” but if i drop Z i wont at this time come to OTM.

          RM is king and will be for sometime, until an offering comes forward that can topple the king i will remain with them.

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          1. Paul H
            June 11, 2015 at 11:25

            “As i have said above one thing OTM has shown is maybe not the need for a “Second portal” but if i drop Z i wont at this time come to OTM.”

            A fair comment Smile, certainly in my area Zoopla/prime is not needed, in fact taking into account the leads I now get from OTM I would be wasting my money going back to Z taking into account it does not win me any instructions by being on it.

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      2. wilko
        June 11, 2015 at 11:40

        Smile….”But that’s only within the estate agency profession,”……..Is it not this profession that supports otm and places stock on their portal?

        Without the estate agency industry there would be nothing for the buyers and sellers to see on OTM!

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        1. smile please
          June 11, 2015 at 12:00

          Thats my point, at the moment not enough agents have taken up the offering, There maybe lots of stories and comments re OTM but the public are not part of it.

          To get the public involved more agents need to subscribe to OTM. And from what i see there are not many on here that have changed camp as you said yourself.

          OTM /AM need to attract more subcribers so the public will interact more with the site.

          At them moment its a nice portal but does not really do what is intended, It has not challenged RM. It is just an expensive third choice portal. If the aim of OTM has changed and you are happy with it no problem and good luck.

          Its too early to call time on it but AM / OTM need to look at recruitment now before it stalls altogether.

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          1. wilko
            June 11, 2015 at 13:08

            Smile……now this is where your comments always grind to a halt. You say “but does not really do what is intended”…sorry to raise my voice but YES,IT DOES. Has it disrupted the duopoly….YES, Does it provide an alternative to it’s more expensive counterparts……YES, Are agents advertising getting leads…..YES, Does it sell agent data on to competitors…..NO, Does it use agents’ adverts to push other competing products…..NO….Is it a PLC?…NO….Is it non profit making…..YES, Does it serve agent’s interests against shareholder interest?….YES

            To be honest, let’s face it…you have said before that you would be interested once it competes with Rightmove.

            You constantly ask what OTM is doing to engage agents, And IF….and it really is a big if , you really want OTM to grow and work its way to becoming the largest portal then there is ONLY one way that is going to happen………….BY JOINING THEM.

            If you don’t that is your choice. But the only reason for that can be that, in fact, YOU DON’T GET IT.

             

             

             

            Report
            1. smile please
              June 11, 2015 at 13:22

              I get it Wilko as do most.

              Problem is we dont believe in it.

              Yes great idea but other than that its all it really is at this stage.

              All the above may be true but the one thing it is missing is buy in from the public, and for that you need more agents.

              Just saying join us is not enough…..

              And sorry to shout but YOU JUST DON’T GET IT! why others have not joined.

               

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              1. Paul H
                June 11, 2015 at 13:29

                To be fair Smile (and having read your posts for some time now I now you will be) you’ve got to admit that your posts only lead to one possible conclusion which is that you don’t think OTM will work and don’t have any intention to sign up.

                You state that you will only sign up once OTM is number 1 but obviously this can never happen whilst you and agents similar to you don’t sign up?!

                Is it not fair to say that you just don’t want OTM to work

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                1. smile please
                  June 11, 2015 at 13:47

                  You are right in that at this moment in time i have no intention of signing up.

                  It is unfair to suggest i don’t want OTM to work. I want OTM to work and when i see real inroads and at least locally agents start taking it seriously with numbers, and dates talked about leaving RM then i will happily sign.

                  It was always going to be hard to roll out OTM and get everybody (as in agents) to buy into it and that is/was my biggest fear of it failing.

                  In my opinion what the reps should be doing is talking to the agents that have not signed up and addressing concerns, see how realistic it is for towns (or majorities of the towns) to walk away from RM and work towards that.

                  It is what OTM was designed for, its how OTM can work. Problem is making it happen.

                  Just picking up a few agents here and there will not achieve that, yes it will keep OTM going but it wont really do what its primary objective was.

                  Just saying join us will not work, It did to an extent but OTM needs to kick on and i am all in favour of it. What you and others need to realise is there are a lot of us still out here wanting it to work but we need more to commit.

                  its not about me or others (well maybe onliners) wanting it to fail, makes no difference to me, its about us looking to shape it, and trust it and believe in it before we fully support it.

                  Now you and the reps and many other pro AM agents can ignore this and tell us “We dont get it” but we do, you dont get us and end of the day you need us we dont need you!

                  Instead of getting agents on board nationally OTM now need to get towns, patches and cities on board, When that happens or at least positive talks about it i and probably many more will get involved.

                   

                   

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                  1. smile please
                    June 11, 2015 at 14:04

                    Sorry to harp on, This is because i care about the industry and i can see OTM helping the industry.

                    I dont know what the OTM reps targets are but lets say they are targeted to 20 new agents a month and they may have a 120 square mile patch.

                    Would it not be better that instead of 20 randomly placed agents you got 15 in one town?

                    Lets pick a town say Guilford, why not spend a month in guilford going into the offices every day selling the benefits of OTM, also arrange group meetings selling the benefit, maybe even one a week for 4 weeks so the agents come together. then hoefully end of the month you have another town converted to OTM as opposed to an agent or two, then you go to the next town and do the same and so on, you will find it works so much better.

                    All i have had since six months from launch was one pathetic half hearted call to tell me i should be on OTM not Z (despite most agents in my patch being on Z & RM).

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                    1. Paul H
                      June 11, 2015 at 14:37

                      “All i have had since six months from launch was one pathetic half hearted call to tell me i should be on OTM not Z (despite most agents in my patch being on Z & RM).”

                      But if you see all the benefits in an agent owned portal and the thousands you could save over many years, then it is up to the likes you (in your local area) to make it work.

                      Always best to lead then follow Smile!

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                    2. smile please
                      June 11, 2015 at 14:47

                      From everything i type thats the bit you pull out and the response you have!

                      Its not up to me Paul its up to OTM to provide it otherwise i may as well just throw an extra £400 per month into SEO!

                      I have stayed away from your comments Paul and up to now you have stayed away from mine. I suggest we keep it that way as you are far too blinkered in your mind set to have a debate or look at why people do not agree with you.

                      To boost your ego and to boost OTM for you yes its pretty, yes its good there is no third party advertising – Just a shame there is not real plan after launch – Good luck you need it just beating that drum you all have and not adding anything else.

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                    3. Gump
                      June 11, 2015 at 15:05

                      I’m with Smile on this one Paul.

                      There is categorically no gain for me to be on OTM, none what so ever.

                      And anyone that tries to dispute that statement is a fool. As it stands, today,  right now there are no benefits at all. They are just another portal that although may have made a dent have certainly had no major impact.

                      Report
    2. Property Ear
      June 11, 2015 at 11:57

      – Or is it because it’s a figure of fun and something to snigger at over coffee?

      Report
  12. Paul H
    June 11, 2015 at 10:59

    Agree with all of that Wilko. Currently i’m happy with the quantity of leads but more importantly the quality of the leads.

    Report
  13. GPL
    June 11, 2015 at 14:23

    OnTheMarket.com

    I can honestly say, my listings are extremely healthly and my research… asking clients!…. tells me this…. our heavy pro OTM marketing has paid dividends as clients clearly see we are being pro active with our portal marketing. In my areas Zoopla is barely discussed, Rightmove is same old, same old and full of detracting ads/info…. OnTheMarket is ALL about property.

    I have gone Exclusive with OTM over Rightmove for 48-72 Hours and have redirected my local market.

    I have always said that clients will follow the property if agents market it pro actively and portal advertising is part of the marketing and for me OnTheMarket has made a strong impact in only 5 months! I contracted for 5 Years! as a Gold Member so I look forward to the next 5 months and the next year and Year 3, 4 and 5!

    OnTheMarket has clearly demonstrated to me how diluted the Rightmove portal offering is as it is so far removed from actual property. Their portal is a clumsy screen of 3rd party advertising and quite frankly fails to serve its members.

    The arrival of OnTheMarket has actually how shown diluted The Duopoly have become! They really are about their share price/stock market performance.

    OnTheMarket march on.

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  14. Paul H
    June 11, 2015 at 14:54

    “I have stayed away from your comments Paul and up to now you have stayed away from mine. I suggest we keep it that way as you are far too blinkered in your mind set to have a debate or look at why people do not agree with you.
    To boost your ego and to boost OTM for you yes its pretty, yes its good there is no third party advertising – Just a shame there is not real plan after launch – Good luck you need it just beating that drum you all have and not adding anything else.”

    With the greatest respect you are a plonk8r sir!

    Report
    1. Gump
      June 11, 2015 at 15:10

      I’m with Smile on this one Paul.
      There is categorically no gain for me to be on OTM, none what so ever.
      And anyone that tries to dispute that statement is a fool. As it stands, today,  right now there are no benefits at all. They are just another portal that although may have made a dent have certainly had no major impact.
      Sorry to post it twice, it kinda got lost up there somewhere 🙂

      Report
      1. IndAgent
        June 11, 2015 at 15:22

        Agreed…. I had a chaser email from them the other day offering me a deal at £399 instead of £255 I pay for ZPG. Why on earth would you change?

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  15. Paul H
    June 11, 2015 at 15:22

    “I’m with Smile on this one Paul.” I’m sure you are.

    Problem is that it’s been proven time and time again that Smile is not sincere with his comments. He keeps stating that he wants it to work yet comes up with a formula with which he will join that is simply impossible.

    He would earn more respect if he was just honest instead of playing a silly game that everyone can see through.

    Report
    1. smile please
      June 11, 2015 at 15:28

      Behave Paul!

      Not sincere?! – I think you will find i am one of the most honest, sincere people on here with no agenda to push, UNLIKE OTHERS!

      you may not agree with my opinions but they are consistent and add balance and are well thought out not just “Join us” – Unlike other i comment on a wide variety of stories unlike you who just lurks about the OTM stories banging the same old tired drum!

      If my thoughts are impossible for OTM then they may as well accept it does not work now!

      Report
      1. Paul H
        June 11, 2015 at 15:31

        “If my thoughts are impossible for OTM then they may as well accept it does not work now!”

        What like “Only when all the agents in my area agree to leave Righmove then I will sign up”

        It’s laughable.

        Report
        1. smile please
          June 11, 2015 at 15:37

          Think you will find its when either the MAJORITY leave OR the public ASK for it or at least LOCALLY agents talk about leaving on mass.

          If the above is not achievable i suggest all agents pull their support for OTM now and waste no further money!

          You really are disturbed Paul, You cannot accept some people do not follow blindly.

          If you are not a rep (which i still think you are) you must be a poor agent.

          Your pitch is basically “Come with me, i will get you the best price” and then unable to back any of that statement up just keep chirping away like a parrott and then wonder why you do not win any instructions.

          Report
          1. Paul H
            June 11, 2015 at 15:56

            “Think you will find its when either the MAJORITY leave”…So there are roughly 18,000 branches in the UK and once 9001 leave RM you will then leave?!  “OR the public ASK for it”…So is that when one person ore the majority of people asks if you advertise OnTheMarket?! “or at least LOCALLY agents talk about leaving on mass”…So as long as agents talk about it, not actually do it just talk about it?! Perhaps you can see why you come across as a bit confused on the issue of what will make you sign up!

            “If the above is not achievable i suggest all agents pull their support for OTM now and waste no further money!”….That’s right if NONE of the above scenarios are possible then EVERYONE should call it a day NOW!And you own a business you say?!

            “You really are disturbed Paul, You cannot accept some people do not follow blindly.” It is quite disrespectful to suggest that the owners and the employees of some of the countries biggest and reputable agencies would sign up blindly, and yet you and your 4 branches established for some 6 years has more clout than those with 10/20/100 branches?!

            “If you are not a rep…(which i still think you are)”…You really do risk looking silly (again) with baring in mind that 3 other people on this forum have said already that I’m an agent.

            “you must be a poor agent.”…So I am an agent, make your mind up?!

             
            “Your pitch is basically “Come with me, i will get you the best price” and then unable to back any of that statement up just keep chirping away like a parrott and then wonder why you do not win any instructions.”…Hold on so Iin the space of your one post i’ve gone from an agent to a OTM rep and back to an agent, your surely not contradicting yourself AGAIN Smile!

            Report
            1. smile please
              June 11, 2015 at 16:07

              Taking comments and twisting them Paul as usual all you do!

              You cant have a debate as you have no ideas or thoughts of your own, keep doing what you are doing only one of us look stupid and its not me.

              Report
              1. Paul H
                June 11, 2015 at 16:10

                Says the guy who comes out with this corker…..”If the above is not achievable i suggest all agents pull their support for OTM now and waste no further money!”

                And you think I look stupid!

                Report
                1. smile please
                  June 11, 2015 at 16:11

                  I don’t think I KNOW Paul.

                  Report
                  1. Paul H
                    June 11, 2015 at 16:21

                    Look he can even use the bold icon. It’s been a great day for you today Mr Please.

                     

                    Report
        2. Gump
          June 11, 2015 at 15:46

          “It’s laughable”

          Much like your “but if” arguments for OTM you mean?

           

          Report
  16. GuardianIndependentObservor
    June 11, 2015 at 16:29

    looks like ZZzz  have alot of explaining to do to ASA

     

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  17. Robert May
    June 12, 2015 at 07:13

    Its a shame this  story has been archived quite so quickly this  contains some of the most influential dialogue we have seen for a very long time.

    Report
  18. JMC
    June 18, 2015 at 10:12

    Can someone please clarify this ‘first’ and ‘exclusive’ as far as OTM claims. When we put a property on the market (not OTM) it appears on rightmove IMMEDIATELY. No delay, just uploaded and appears. How can OTM claim it is on their website 1st?

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    1. PeeBee
      June 18, 2015 at 19:08

      More info required I think, JMC. Am I correct in assuming that

      a) You are an Estate or Lettings Agent;

      b) You list your properties on OTM and RM; and

      c) You do this via your property software?

      Report
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