New sites will add to competition online .

Where ever we seem to look these days there seems to be changes taking place within the property industry, the portals sector appears to be attracting the most attention, most readers who follow blog sites like this one will have seen a string of announcements recently re sites being launched. Lets run through a few and maybe your views on any or all of the newly launched sites may give us even a wider understanding as to whether agents will benefit or to what degree in efficiency and savings, so replies would be welcomed.

RaterAgent.co.uk launches January 15th
It has recently come to my attention that rateragent.co.uk will be launching in just a week, the site is being launched by CEO Mal McCallion who helped launch PrimeLocation in 2000 and was also involved in the launch of Zoopla’s estate agency proposition in 2009. The site will be aiming to become established as the most efficient and well-used agent rating website for the public and will be directly in competition with Allagents. Another key area of raterAgent will allow agency proprietors to register individual staff, they can also be rated by the public, this I can see very benefical in group agencies where management can monitor performance of individual salespersons.

Bambooauctions.com launching this month.
Well, there is no shortage of well known persons involved in the launch, backing and running of this auction site for estate agents only. The founder is Robin Rathore who is a lawyer himself, Faisal Butts who already backs several property ventures including eMoov and Ivygate estate agents, Chris Brown, a past president of both the NAEA and NAVA (the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers), an impressive line up. The service will be totally online, sellers will not be charged to list either, revenue creation will come from sharing commission earned by the agent.

Onthemarket.com launches January 26th
Out of all the new launches probably this is the one that is causing the biggest debate amongst agents, created by Agents Mutual this portal will be in direct competition to Rightmove and Zoopla, not only in competition but will impose rules on its members that they can only go with one other portal, quite controversial in itself. The details about onthemarket.com were covered in one of my previous blogs, sufficient to say all eyes will be peeled for what will be a very interesting launch and how well it will perform in achieving results for its clients.

Houser.co.uk launches January 12th
Well this one has taken most by surprise, founder Rocky Mirza has come up with a completely new idea for his portal that will offer free listing to agents by taking the properties directly from the net by crawling agent websites and other published sources, in a similar fashion as to the way google searches. It will certainly be a revolution in the way properties are marketed and a fair few agents have already registered for the service, the service to agents will be free from the onset, additionally the service will also be available to private sellers. The website is now on the net and is at present on countdown until the launch.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

How to secure a rented home if you used to pay rent up front

One change that has come into effect under the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) is that landlords may no longer accept more than one month’s rent in advance of a tenancy beginning. Previously, there was no limit to how much rent tenants could pay up front to secure a property, which was particularly helpful in certain…
Read More
Kerb appeal
Breaking News

Whoever Leads Britain Next Must Focus on Growth, Housing and Opportunity

Neil Louth – Group Executive Director, LRG and CEO, Acorn Group From my perspective, the question is less about who occupies Number 10 and more about what they do once they get there. Whether it is Sir Keir Starmer continuing in office, Andy Burnham emerging as a future challenger, or someone else entirely, the next…
Read More
Breaking News

Biggest Shake-up of Home Buying in Decades

Families and first-time buyers set to save time, money, and stress under major changes to the homebuying process – supporting the next generation and those locked out by a slow and unfair system New sales packs to ensure buyers have the information they need upfront, earlier binding agreements, and digital tools will halve the number…
Read More
Breaking News

More than half of home movers try D.AI.Y

but 38% say it gave them bad advice   The latest research from Yopa has found that 57% of home movers have engaged in D.AI.Y, to help maintain, repair and improve their homes, although more than a third have been given advice that later turned out to be incorrect. Yopa surveyed recent homebuyers to understand…
Read More
Breaking News

Home buying journey is about to become unrecognisable

Claire Van der Zant, CEO of Novus Strategy, comments on the Government’s homebuying reform “The industry has been very vocal in its demands for mandation and this is the most impactful example yet of government intervention that will drive the change everyone has been asking for. What it will mean is the complete reorganisation of…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75%

The Bank of England has announced its decision to hold the base rate at 3.75%. This decision comes as a result of wider economic uncertainty and inflation (CPI) increasing to 3.3% in March and remaining above the Bank’s 2.0% target. Here are some thoughts from within the property industry.   Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert…
Read More