One in three home owners would “seriously consider” using an online estate agent if selling tomorrow, says a new YouGov survey.
But while 32% would give it serious consideration, only 4% of home owners would definitely use an online agent – against the 19% who would definitely use a traditional local agent.
In the YouGov survey, 27% said that while they would almost certainly use a traditional agent they would not completely rule out using an online estate agent, and 5% would try to sell privately.
The survey was commissioned by online estate agent comparison website Selling Up, whose director Oliver Lewis said: “These findings will come as a shock for traditional estate agents who are hoping to keep their online competitors’ market share at around 5%, where we believe it currently is.
“If one-third of possible property sellers already say they would seriously consider using an online estate agent, then we could be close to the tipping point where this market really takes off and becomes fully mainstream.
“Where it will be in a few years is impossible to say, but our findings suggest that there is long-term potential for the online share of all residential property sales to end up at around 50% or even more.
“This growth would probably depend on companies like Purplebricks, easyProperty and Tepilo continuing to promote themselves heavily to attract new customers, and deliver good customer experiences for word of mouth referrals and repeat business.”
Lewis added: “In the short term, the big question is how good the online estate agents will be at converting this massive group of ‘maybes’ into customers.
“At SellingUp we believe that the online agents that will be the strongest at convincing property owners will be the ones that present a credible personal approach at the vendor’s front door combined with their price benefits online.
“Agencies with genuine property experts based in or near to the seller’s local area that have the experience to value properties accurately and handle sales progression personally will be the most persuasive, because they will reduce the perceived risk of selling without a traditional agent.”
Comments (12)
Ahhhh… ‘SellingUp’ – that explains it all.
Last time they tried to sound like they knew what they were talking about the article pulled one of EYE’s highest ever post counts – 182 – most of them ripping these numpties apart at the seams, which wasn’t difficult.
Seems like they’re trying to appease their advertising base again…
Thank you for the ‘Dislike’. Pressing the button was, in a way, good for you, as it is strongly advisable to vary the use of your hand from time to time.
Otherwise ‘you know what’ will drop off.
Meanwhile…
…an online poll of 5654 turkeys showed that 92.2% of respondents would favour Christmas to be made a VEGAN festival.
LET THEM GO TO AN ONLINE AGENT! All of the vendors we’ve dealt with over the last couple of years have had a shocking level of service from the onliners and I’ve been told that around half the stock they listed last year came off the market or went to a local agent. ‘Once bitten twice shy’
The same questions should be asked after an experience with a local property expert. I think the percentage of people will be lower
Bless him, commissioned by a lad who at best might be the UKs 978,000th best on-liner and he just as baffled as all of them that the online only thing isn’t taking off as they hoped or at least as well as their business plans / promises to investors they banged together a year or two back suggested.
This £500 upfront thing is all a bit 2014 isn’t it?
Jonnie
“Agencies with genuine property experts based in or near to the seller’s local area that have the experience to value properties accurately and handle sales progression personally”
In my experience with these companies, they don’t do this, and if they attempt it, they don’t do it very well. They’re simply paid to list properties, trained to provide customer service, but very few do as it takes time away from listing and that is where they earn a living!
As long as we add value to any transaction where they’re involved, make their own clients feel we were invaluable to the transaction, we will be alright!
Or another headline: “Two out of three homeowners would NEVER consider using an on-line agent!”
Currently 98.5% of UK house sellers using an agent are not choosing to use call-centre agents.
But, be warned, according to Mr Quirk of eMoov, 2016 is the year estate agent armageddon hits: “At 16% it ‘tips’. We’re at 5% now so by mid 2016 things get interesting” Twitter 16/11/2014
A job for someone that likes a bit of Twitter……..@russelloncesaid – the account can re tweet some of his excellent predictions from the past and the world can sit back in awe at how brilliant he is.
Jonnie
READ ALL ABOUT IT! Call-centre estate agents own survey in shock result – people might consider using a call-centre agent…
I considered joining the French Foreign Legion once
I love unbiased surveys.