When Rightmove Isn’t the Right Move

On the face of it, selling your house online appears to be a simple and straightforward option. Just choose an agent, fill in a form, have some photographs taken and in a few clicks of the mouse, your home can be shared instantly with the millions of people who use sites like Rightmove, Zoopla and On The Market. How easy is that?

Actually, it’s not that simple and there is another side to this. While millions of users will be alerted when your home is first advertised, how many of those recipients are buyers with genuine potential and how many might just be being a bit nosey? In the UK, we are renowned for our love of property, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that many people surf online sites just to look at the photos for design inspiration, extension ideas, to check out how much the neighbour’s house is on for – and also maybe, just maybe, to buy.

This is the Achilles heel of online portals (and the online/hybrid agents out there who rely heavily on website enquiries). Just who are all these people looking around your home online?

Rightmove and your agent will say that your home is receiving an excellent number of interactions per week and an impressive conversion ratio of brochure downloads. Sounds great and you’re flattered that so many people have taken the time to look at that kitchen which you sourced from Italy. But nobody has any idea who they are. How can the agent then put in a phone call to see if they have any queries, or ask that all important question, would they like to come and view?

In my opinion, less is more when it comes to an online presence. So often do I see agents putting up photographs of every room, creating colourful 3D floorplans and fancy virtual tours. It can look good and get some great figures to feed back to the homeowner. But does it actually deliver results?

Well, no. As every bit of information has been given away upfront, why would someone looking online want to call the agent? Quite simply they don’t, as they mistakenly think they have all the information they need.

The art with online marketing is to put just enough detail out there to tempt genuine buyers to make that call. Put out too much, and they will prejudge that home and walk away, with you none the wiser.

You need to make sure that the key rooms are portrayed well, and leave potential buyers wondering what the rest of the house is like. Then they are more likely to call the agent. This is when they can find out the detail they are after and your agent’s real work begins.

Your appointed agent should have a proactive front of house team, who have seen your home in person, to take these incoming phone calls or walk in enquiries. They can talk knowledgeably and enthusiastically about it and accompany the viewers around, which is an art in itself. Remember, the lifeblood of any sale is the quantity and quality of your viewings. Relying solely on online enquiries and putting too much information out there is a sure-fire way to receive limited enquiries. No enquiries means no viewings, which inevitably means you can’t even begin to have a conversation about offers.

Rightmove and it’s counterparts are undoubtedly effective marketing tools, but they must be used in the right way. They can be your best friend in getting your home in front of millions. However they can also be your worst enemy, as all information placed online forms a ‘digital footprint’. If you spend too long on the open market, this information can be found and buyers start as asking why you haven’t sold yet.

Until a buyer makes an enquiry with your estate agent, they are completely anonymous to everyone involved and you are just a statistic. Rightmove is great, but getting the right balance with your estate agent, the other marketing tools at their disposal and above all, personal contact with buyers, is key to getting your move right.

Written by: Alex Goldstein – alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker 30/05/25

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.64% +0.03% -0.78% 5-year fixed 4.61% +0.03% -0.45%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.82% +0.02% -0.93% 5-year fixed 3.88% +0.09% -0.55%   Average…
Read More
Home and Living

Carpet Cleaning Specials in Stanton: Save on Your Next Service

Sure, the carpeting in your Stanton home is inviting and adds warmth and comfort, but it can also store harmful dirt, allergens, and bacteria that can affect your family’s health. This makes regular carpet cleaning not only better for your health, but also your wallet. With Carpet Cleaning Stanton specials, you can save on the professional services…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Seven in ten branches now using Rightmove’s insights and training platform

New figures from Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, show that seven in ten estate and letting agency branches are making use of its insights and training platform, the Rightmove Hub. This is up from 56% of branches back in 2023. The Hub, first launched ten years ago and recently revamped, has expanded in response…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

From Fixer-Upper to Profitable Asset: Strategic Renovations for Landlords

Did you buy a fixer-upper? Or maybe you inherited one. Either way, you’re standing in a place with peeling linoleum, a questionable smell, and wallpaper that could file for social security. The big question: Do you patch things up, go full HGTV, or just torch it for the insurance (don’t do that)? First, take a…
Read More
Breaking News

Household Costs Indices for UK household groups: January to March 2025

Household Costs Indices, 12-month growth rates, expenditure shares and contributions for UK household groups and all-households. These are official statistics in development. Main points Overall UK household costs, as measured by the Household Costs Index (HCI), rose by 2.6% in the year to March 2025; this is a fall from 2.9% in the year to…
Read More
Surge in country and seaside property values
Breaking News

Why Rural House Prices Are Surging Faster Than Cities

New analysis from Open Property Group reveals that rural England is facing an affordability crunch, as house prices in the countryside outpace urban growth, despite lower average wages and higher living costs in remote areas. These shifting dynamics are challenging the long-standing assumption that rural life offers a more affordable and sustainable alternative to the…
Read More