London agent Douglas & Gordon has confirmed that it plans to roll out more ‘virtual’ offices this year and next.
Calling it a ‘hybrid’ model, the firm’s boss suggested that compared with other outlets, high street estate agent offices are not popular with the public – and that the model will attract people to work in it from outside the industry.
As reported by EYE last week, the firm has launched a ‘virtual’ office in Streatham, south-west London.
There is no actual office in Streatham, but two dedicated ‘brokers’ – Charlie Mitchell and Enna-Mae Assiter – will service the area through working remotely and providing 24/7 coverage. They will handle transactions from valuation to completion.
Once established in Streatham, Douglas & Gordon said it plans to roll out the model to more locations in 2017, with further expansion through into 2018.
James Evans, CEO of Douglas & Gordon, said: “There are plenty of estate agents’ offices already taking up prime spots on high streets such as Streatham.
“We believe that residents would rather these spaces are freed up for local businesses like coffee shops, bars and restaurants or independent shops.
“Our promise to our customers is that they will get the best possible service and results. This model allows our brokers to give clients that service whenever they need it – be it an evening or a weekend.”
Evans added: “It also means we can attract talent from outside the industry and bring in people who really understand customer service and are skilled at negotiation, but who aren’t interested to work solely within standard office hours.”
Douglas & Gordon was founded in 1958 and employs 200 people in 19 offices.
James Evans, former area director for Foxtons SW London (Streatham etc), now CEO of DG, is taking a huge risk, charging price conscious residents of Streatham 2%+VAT to sell their property, when locals agents are offering less than 1%. Central London is one thing but Streatham and surrounding areas are another. Their ‘virtual’ office is no better than all the other onliners, charing £600. It is a recipe for failure James.
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Perfect advert for PurpleBricks. Well done.
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Good luck
I looked at shopping centres/DIY centres with the view to opening an office their to cover a wider area than just a traditional high street agent back in the 80’s, at the time it was decided the idea wasn’t manageable, nowadays it might work with t’Internet and portals.
Problem is what is DG’s USP to attract clients?
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QUESTION (or two) TO AGENTS MUTUAL
Given that several Member firms on your Board have now incorporated ‘NON-High Street’ presence businesses into their models could you please confirm your stance on whether properties listed by these non-branches will be advertised on OnTheMarket.com?
Will these ‘virtual-branches’ pay a virtual fee.
Will it be virtually £bu99er-all, like recent entrants?
I look forward to a response. I constantly live in hope on matters these days…
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‘Given that several Member firms on your Board have now incorporated ‘NON-High Street’ presence businesses into their models could you please confirm your stance on whether properties listed by these non-branches will be advertised on OnTheMarket.com’?
Doubt it PeeBee given that YOPA are marketing through Z and Prime Location and using Z’s prospecting products?
Says it all really?
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Sorry to say but you are a little late! There is a market for a ‘true hybrid’, traditional agents will need to wake up to or die out altogether. House Revolution has been testing a hybrid model for the last 9 months, one of the original online agents! It has now moved in to a high street position and I am told that the launch of their new platform is due out this month, which will apparently rival Purple Bricks system and the like.
Agency needs to modernise quickly, 24/7 service, more transparency and better fees! The ‘online only’ model is completely flawed, which we all agree on but the traditional method is out of date!
Douglas & Gordon would perhaps be better off approaching the company to see if the could set up a franchise, saving a fortune spent and years invested with IT development, to even get close to the online only boys and girls.
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