Be
Careful of faceless 'Call Centre' Estate Agents
Over recent months there seems to have been a huge
uprising in the number of online-only estate agents. Each jostles for attention
within an increasingly crowded market with promises of ‘big’ savings for
customers. These companies are usually operating from a back bedroom somewhere
or a call centre on an anonymous and remote business park somewhere. But are
these ‘Call Centre’ style estate agents really saving
consumers money? In this blog we take a look at this key question and explain
why, when you’re dealing with a faceless ‘Call Centre’ estate agency, it pays
to be careful.
Let's begin with the main reason why most sellers
consider online estate agents; to save money on the fee
A totally understandable consideration and we all
want a 'bit of a deal' and have no appetite to over spend! However, we must
consider the bigger picture here. The cheapest fee is often the most expensive.
Why? Paying a low fee may, at first, seem attractive but saving a thousand
pounds or two, pales into insignificance, if an agent fails to get the best
price and sells your home for five, ten or twenty thousand pounds less because
they haven’t reached all potential buyers. This is where an established and
town centre estate agent has a bigger tool box. Time and time again we achieve
a higher sale price than the online cyber agents do.
Paying a fee upfront irrespective of result is
hardly an incentive for great service or performance either. Once you've paid
the incentive to work hard disappears. Also, you will pay even if your property
doesn't sell!
It's a bit of a cliché but three of the most
important things to consider when buying a property is: Location, location,
location
They say that selling a property is often more
about location than it may be about the property itself. Pick a property in the
'right' area and they will enjoy a higher chance of the value increasing over
time and it will always be desirable. Parents will research schools, commuters
will research infrastructure and everyone will consider local amenities and
which area boasts the best reputation.
Whether you’re buying or selling, it seriously pays
to be talking with an estate agent who knows the local area (and its pros and
cons) inside out – and as all too many consumers find, online-only estate
agents simply don’t cut the mustard as they are often remote, cover an enormous
territory and simply do not have the “on the ground” knowledge and experience.
Think that the shop window is an old-school
marketing tool? Think again.
The well-placed estate agency shop window upon the
busy Bridge Street is an essential marketing tool that many sellers overlook.
After all the majority of savvy buyers will be researching any potential area
that they’re considering moving to, and key to this is checking out the local
high street agents.
An estate agents office is another 24-7 advertising
hoarding for your property alongside the undoubted benefits of the internet.
Why not have both? Belvoir are effectively an online agent with huge internet coverage but also have
a well situated “Town Centre“ office providing additional and relevant local
coverage.
Faceless estate agents are exactly that – faceless
Lacking face to face contact can be a real
negative. No one-to-one meetings where your circumstances can be discussed and
actions agreed and actioned. There are many situations where it is much easier
to resolve issues and make progress when sat across a table with a cup of tea!
Of course, the benefits of face to face contact also extends to the potential
pool of buyers that sellers may be missing if they opt for an online estate
agency.
A sometimes sorry reputation that proceeds them
Whilst there has been many an online-only estate
agency cashing in on what seems to be the latest trend of trading via internet
and phone alone, many such companies already have a (pretty poor) reputation.
Check out their social media presence and reviews. You can’t? No, often they
have removed themselves from the potential firing line as feedback and comment
on their service is less than favourable. Nobody is perfect but at Belvoir in
Andover, we believe in resolving any aspects that need addressing rather than
just hiding them in the cloud!
And finally... At Belvoir Andover, we are as good
as our word
We have a solid reputation that goes before us. We
know our local and national markets inside out and back to front – from
school’s latest Ofsted report to the average journey times from and to local
towns and cities. We also appreciate the need for superstar customer service
that is far from faceless.
Our teams are exactly that, teams. You are not
reliant on a single person but benefit from our teams across our network of
offices. Yes, you will have one main point of contact but also a number
of other staff working diligently on your behalf.
So if you want to deal with tried, tested and
trusted professionals who are anything but faceless, then talk to us today.
After all, why would you entrust the sale of your bricks and mortar property to
a company who exists only within the online world?
Text adapted and expanded from an article by fellow high street agent Mr D
Sansome
Belvoir Andover is an established estate agent in
Andover town centre who have been property experts since 1997. They occupy a
prominent position on Bridge Street (the only road to pass through the town
centre) in a recently refurbished listed property that has been an estate
agents for the past 60 years. If you would like 21st century efficient and
proactive property marketing, please contact us to arrange a free and without
obligation valuation. Why not pop in for a cup of tea? Belvoir Andover 01264
366611
