Online agent launches new site – and throws down price gauntlet to other onliners

An online agent has launched a new website, saying that the intention is to “give control back to home owners”.

Rebecca Peach, who has run I Am The Agent for some five years, says that the new site has been designed to simplify the process of selling or letting a home online.

She said the new site follows the I Am The Agent ethos of “I Am Saving. I Am In Control. I Am The Agent”, and gives back control to home owners so they can market their property as they see fit.

Prices start at £19 to let and £49 to sell, with a year allowed for sales and up to six months for lettings. Assisted viewings are an optional extra.

A package offering a valuation, board, professional photos, floorplans and 12 months on Rightmove and Zoopla is £399 – which Peach says is 50% less than Purplebricks (65.5% less than Purplebricks charges for London listings); 24% cheaper than Tepilo; and a 70% saving on eMoov.

http://www.iamtheagent.com

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35 Comments

  1. PeeBee

    From their website:

    2.5 I Am the Agent Ltd does not guarantee a sale or rental of your property as a result of their services.I Am the Agent Ltd does not guarantee a sale or rental of your property as a result of their services and under no circumstances will fees be refunded if this is not achieved.

    It’s so reassuring to know there are cheaper ways to NOT sell your home than give your hard-earned it to the actually-heard-of Call Centre Agents, then…

    Report
  2. Aaron

    With all due respect to this entrepreneur, Purplebricks are probably the most impressive online estate agent out there at present… And they’re not making a profit.

    How does she think she will make a profitable business with fees like that or am I missing something?

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    1. PeeBee

      Check out their Financials… all will be revealed!

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    2. easternagent

      As PeeBee says – a quick look online at Companies House will reveal the state of their finances!!

      Report
  3. PeeBee

    ???

    How can they be 70% cheaper to fail to sell your home than eMoov when they claim to be 50% cheaper at doing the same than PurpleBricks – who are more expensive (£798) than The Quirkster’s outfit (£679) in the first place??

    Confused… you will be!

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  4. Property Paddy

    “Rebecca Peach, who has run I Am The Agent for some five years”

     

    I’VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ONE!

    So what she been doing for the last 5 years?

     

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  5. Thomas Flowers

    Just checked this website and noticed that their ‘For Sale’ board states ‘The UK’s largest online agent’!

    How on earth can this company make such a claim?

    Perhaps if they make a profit they could say ‘The UK’s largest profitable online agent’?

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    1. Mark Connelly

      Thomas if they make a profit they can claim to be ” The UK’s first and only profitable online agent”

      Report
      1. PeeBee

        As stated above – check out their Financials!

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    2. easternagent

      Agreed Thomas

      It doesn’t take much time on their website to see they claim to be the ‘UK’s leading online estate agent’ yet have only 42 properties listed in London and only 18 throughout the whole of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.  Plus only one testimonial in five years.  Smacks of Advertising Standards Agency misclaims let alone anything else. What a joke.

      Don’t suppose Purplebricks or any other online ‘house advertiser’ let alone any of us proper Estate Agents are quaking in their boots this morning.

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      1. Beano

        House advertiser indeed, or my preferred; ‘Rightmove re-sellers’.

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    3. Trevor Mealham

      Not really Mark

      As most agents today are on-line.

      All said, lower cost listers at £99 to £199 likely to sopn start showing their heads.

      Then the dearer budgets will have to drop and drop or taise more £m’s to afford their losses.

      Pure stupidity.

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  6. LocalAgent201625

    How do companies get away with making such claims? Complete farce.

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    1. easternagent

      Agreed Local Agent 201625

      Perhaps the NAEA or RICS should be keeping an eye on companies making such outrageous claims and reporting them the to the ASA.

      After all we NAEA/RICS members must be paying our fees for our governing bodies to look after their members best interests, or have I misunderstood the reason for belonging to a professional body for the last 45 years?

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    2. PeeBee

      Yes, LA201625 – I agree with you 100%.

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  7. PeeBee

    And THIS seems to be what you can expect for your money:

    http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/40664849#yLF3rWmVtSjSqvdH.97

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    1. AgentV

      Hi PeeBee, what a belter of a listing. Best laugh I’ve had on my birthday morning! I particularly like the upside down bedroom.!!

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      1. PeeBee

        Happy Birthday, ‘AgentV’ – glad to make your day!

        Although in fairness there’s a Birthday treat for EVERYONE on the books of the Call Centre Estate Agents…

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    2. gk1uk2001

      Brilliant!! Best one I’ve ever seen I think, it’ll take some beating!!

      Report
      1. PeeBee

        I LOVE a challenge…I’m on it! ;o)

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        1. gk1uk2001

          Cant wait!! 🙂

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          1. PeeBee

            WELL…

            …how’s about THIS one:

            http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61547720.html?premiumA=true

            If someone can tell me what the chuff is going on here I’ll be eternally grateful!!

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            1. PeeBee

              Funny, that – post this up and a few Tweets for good measure – and within six hours the listing is mysteriously corrected…

              …maybe I should charge them for my services!

              Nah… they couldn’t afford me.

              Ever.

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    3. Thomas Flowers

      Well done PeeBee.

      Surely a contender for the ‘UK’s worst online agent’!

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      1. PeeBee

        Thanks, Mr Flowers – I’m now having a Top Gun moment –

        “The list is long, but distinguished…”

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    4. LocalLens

      Not earning enough to pay for a photography course then.

      Report
    5. Frown Please

      The new way to ‘polish a ****’, flip flip and flip.

      Report
      1. Frown Please

        :-O Tu$d is a ‘naughty word’ Sorry folks!

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    6. Trevor Mealham

      Nice find. Hideous pics that no doubt will cost the seller £housands.

      Report
  8. mrharvey

    PeeBee – great find!

     

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen upside-down photos on a listing before. Talk about turning the industry on its head.

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    1. PeeBee

      Found a cracker yesterday whilst on #portaljugglewatch… a property twice listed where the photo had been reversed in an attempt to conceal the re-listing!

      And it was a High Street Agent that committed the heinous act.  A BIG High Street Agent.

      Report
      1. mrharvey

        Well now you HAVE to tell us. Name and shame those who break the law. It’s the only way.

        Report
        1. PeeBee

          It’s a historic (2014) listing, mrharvey – otherwise I’d have been taking it up with the relevant portal in the usual manner…

          1.  Report the issue…

          2.  Acknowledgement received…

          3.  Bui99er all done about it.

          Report
  9. htsnom79

    These are the costs for selling a car worth over a grand on autotrader

    Basic: Costs £36.95 for two weeks and includes up to 20 photos.
    Standard: Costs £45.95 for three weeks and includes up to 20 photos, mobile advantage and search stand out.
    Premium: Costs £56.95 for six weeks and includes up to 20 photos, desktop advantage, mobile advantage and search stand

    So let’s do the math for a house

    Recurring payment 69.99 per month until sold ( with add ons/ referrals maybe taking this to the equivalent 79.99 )

    Rightmove subscription 1000pm

    Zoopla subscription £400pm

    Staff ( me ) 3000pm

    Car/printing/telephone/internet/misc 1000pm

    housetrader = 5400pm / 79.99 = 68 recurring and continual pm payments ( obviously annoying when they sell )

     

    Hmmm, strokes chin and bald cat

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  10. Trevor Mealham

    article reads:  and gives back control to home owners so they can market their property as they see fit.
    TM Lets hope that this budget operative learns something from how the vendors see fit to sell. Its a shame when budget onliners have to do it the vendors way.

    Shows lack of knowing how to do it themselves. With such low fees, such operatives can’t provide best service and thus gain best outcome for sellers.

    At such low fees the agent is UNABLE to get the max coverage that some higher fee agents can achieve. There is more to better agency than being on main portals alone.

    Report
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