Why are Estate Agents running with OnTheMarket?

I have spent time to visit a few estate agents who have declared they are running with OnTheMarket, simple to spot many as they’ve crowded their window displays with, as consumers say, RAF logos! Infact, I spoke to one of two consumers who said, some actually went inside their local agency to ask, they thought the new logos were some kind of show of support to our RAF – I can see their point!

onthemarket RAFSpeaking with one estate agency, who had very light reference to OnTheMarket in their windows, said that other agencies that are running with similar, are not sticking to the rules agreed, ie not an overkill on displaying banners until the website is launched on January 26th (they did have all the boxes ready in the corner of their office, to re-design their window displays – They had taken down though all reference to Zoopla whom they had dropped).

So, what did the estate agents say about them choosing to run with OnTheMarket:

“From what we see, it’s the independents who are championing OnTheMarket as it’s us who really suffer from the rates that Rightmove and Zoopla are charging. In all honesty, if I could drop both the major platforms then I would have done, I am now hoping our faith in OnTheMarket works out as if it does, we could very well see us not needing to bow down to the extortionate prices they we have been charged over the last few years.”

“We thought long and hard, but it’s more down to a common sense decision than anything really. We are paying for OnTheMarket as a property portal that will be run by us, ie estate agents, as opposed to independent property portals who do not listen to, or really care about our needs.”

“Many of the agents in this town have already gone with OnTheMarket so we know it’s the right thing to do. They (OnTheMarket) have been clear on how they see their portal working and how a collaborative effort from us, the estate agents across the country, can help us to lower monthly portal fees. We attended a recent local meeting and we like the way they work, we are looking forward to the television adverts and the consumers visiting our offices wanting to know more. We have paid into supporting OnTheMarket and we are pleased to know that we are seen as part of ‘the team’ going forward.”

“We had issues with Zoopla and this Smart price valuations on property. It makes our job harder trying to convince vendors that their house isn’t worth the value Zoopla’s software predicts them to be worth. At times, we have valued a property at one price and next door have approached us demanding twice the price simply because Zoopla says so. We are running with Rightmove who we feel are still charging too much and we are behind OnTheMarket – Happy  to know that we are part of the team as the portal grows.”

“Let’s see how it goes. This is something coming along at the right time, a lot of agents were unhappy with the two major property portals, so OnTheMarket could be exactly what the industry needs.”

I hope to add to this blog, so come back and check for updates. I hope to be able to share some quotes that agents are happy to put their names to, currently out of respect, they prefer to remain uncredited on the above comments…

 

 

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

This Summer’s Extreme Heat: What It Means for UK Gardens

The UK has been enjoying plenty of warm sunshine during the early weeks of the 2025 summer season. In predictions made by the Met Office for the three-month outlook there is plenty more hot weather to come. According to the government agency, the UK’s meteorological summer is twice as likely to be hotter than normal…
Read More
Breaking News

No-fault evictions by bailiffs up 8%

New figures show that in the 12 months since Labour came into Government, no-fault evictions by bailiffs in England have risen by 8%. Labour has pledged to end no-fault evictions under its Renters’ Rights Bill, which is going through Parliament. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice there were 11,402 repossessions by…
Read More
Breaking News

Leasehold Lettings Under Pressure: Landlords Blocked from Improving Flats

New research from LRG (Leaders Romans Group) reveals that leasehold structures are creating a growing barrier to progress in the rental sector, limiting upgrades, pushing landlords away from flats, and lowering tenant confidence in how buildings are managed. According to LRG’s most recent Lettings Report, 58% of flats let by landlords are leasehold. Among these,…
Read More
Breaking News

234% surge in demand for air-conditioned homes as UK buyers brace for hotter summers

Following the many heatwaves the UK has experienced this summer, searches for homes that are for sale with air conditioning have more than tripled in a year (+234%).1 According to recent research, just 1.2% of homes for sale in England feature air conditioning, which adds around 2.5% to a property’s overall value.2 As air conditioning…
Read More
Home and Living

Bathroom Supply, Fitting & Repairs: A Complete Guide for Homeowners

Your bathroom is one of the most used rooms in your home — it should be functional, comfortable, and built to last. Whether you’re planning a full renovation, upgrading tired fixtures, or dealing with a plumbing issue, understanding the ins and outs of bathroom supply, fitting, and repairs is key to getting the results you…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage arrears and possessions Q2 2025

UK Finance today releases its latest mortgage arrears and possessions data for Q2 2025, while highlighting continuing lender support for any customers facing financial difficulty. Key Information The number of homeowner mortgages in arrears fell by 3 per cent in Q2 2025 compared to the previous quarter. The number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears…
Read More