BREAKING NEWS -top 5 stories 03/03/2021
STARBERRY ACQUIRED BY EPROPSERVICES
In the second, of what now looks like a trend technology brands are buying up or into website providers who have cutting edge services which create lead generation for clients. This time it is Ben & Rus Sellers of Starberry being bought out by epropservices headed up by CEO Jon Cooke.
Knowing Ben personally, a man who positively sizzles with energy and possibilities, this is a brilliant strategic fit for both operations, as the Starberry vision and understanding of the power of what they can and do for clients will dovetail well into the ever-growing epropservices empire.
AGENTS HATE RIGHTMOVE THE PUBLIC LOVE IT – ACCORDING TO THE TIMES
Patrick Hosking the Financial Editor of the Times newspaper reported two days ago that though the public loves Rightmove, the agents, the paying customers hate it. See his commentary,
‘Yet while the users are addicted to the site (weird fact: usage peaks just before 9pm on Wednesday evenings), its actual paying customers detest it — or at least are very frustrated with it. Estate agents are resentful of the sometimes thousands of pounds per month per branch they are charged for advertising homes on the site.
The agents, as they see it, do all the work in wooing the vendor, valuing the home, taking photos, writing up the particulars, arranging viewings and conducting negotiations. Rightmove offers a perfectly good service, but takes a large chunk of money for adding very little — and keeps raising its prices.
It is, … “an abusive relationship”. It has “a psychological chokehold” over agents, who are terrified they simply won’t receive instructions from vendors and landlords if they don’t use the most popular portal in Britain. Ninety per cent of all agency branches — more than 19,000 of them — are signed up’
BUDGET DAY
Soon we will know what the Chancellor has cooked up, where he is on SDLT, increasing taxation on property, increasing corporation tax, and what other inniatives he has for stimulating or cooling the property market – full analysis tomorrow.
HUGE UPTICK IN DEMAND FOR PROPERTY
Despite all the negatives of the pandemic, the sentiment in the housing market is extremely high, many agents are reporting they have limited stock and too many buyers.
RENTAL SECTOR HEALTHY DESPITE PANDEMIC PROBLEMS
A recent study states that despite the amount of tenancies where tenants are behind on rents, rents themselves are actually increasing and the need for more rented accommodation is at a healthy level.
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