Industry Interview: Rob Dunster of Pay As You Go Homes.
Why did you feel the need to start Pay As You Go Homes?
Government surveys showed 25% of people are looking for an alternative model to estate agents with 30% believing they offer poor or very poor value for money. We want to offer the UK people more consumer choice with visible value for money that addresses the market demand. We believe all customers; buyers, sellers, landlords and renters should pay a fair and reasonable fixed price that does not discriminate from one client to another based off paper wealth.
Why an online portal that highlights no Estate Agents?
There is an increasing demand and ability to fulfill estate agency services but without the elevated estate agency fees. The Internet is keeping all consumers better informed with what is out there in the market and revolutionising traditional services. This progression needs to expand into real estate, as it has in the USA, and challenge the archaic model the UK agencies force upon UK customers whilst satisfying their appetite on value for money.
Do you think the future of estate agency is online?
Absolutely. 90% of properties are first found by their buyers online. It is difficult to find any agent that doesn’t believe in the shift towards online presence. This doesn’t mean that high street agents are redundant, but it certainly asks the question why some estate agents persist with such an old model incurring high fixed costs if they had any intent in offering a fair price back to consumers. Pay As You Go Homes addresses this imbalance and concentrates on value for money for services rendered.
Is social media important to building your brand online?
Social media is now key for any company whether it’s a start-up or an established business. The direct communication that you can have with current or potential clients can lead to an extremely strong relationship building the foundations of any business. Especially as an online portal, having social media allows engagement with customers that some may suggest you lack by not having a high street presence.
What are your thoughts on the marketing tips shared on Estate Agent Networking?
The articles on Estate Agent Networking are very impressive. As social media is so important in building our brand I have regularly looked for advice and tips on how to engage properly within this industry. I particularly enjoyed the recent article on Google+, a platform I feel is still very underrated when compared to the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about Pay As You Go Homes here: http://payghomes.com/about-us/
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