A regional magazine advertisement which said that listing property at OnTheMarket put vendors at a disadvantage was reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.
The advert, for Devon-based firm Wilkinson Grant estate agents, stated: “Would you rather your property is seen by this many people or this many people?”
The advert featured, as a comparison, symbols representing four people alongside symbols representing 32 people.
Further text stated: “Undoubtedly, Rightmove is the most powerful online property portal, but there are other platforms out there capable of putting your property in front of even more buyers.
“A vast number of estate agents choose to market property on Rightmove and via the lesser known property portal OnTheMarket, which we think is bad news for vendors as they will be at a tremendous disadvantage if their property is not listed on Zoopla, the second most visited property portal in the UK*, and Primelocation … We advertise properties on ALL leading online property sites.”
Small print linked to the asterisk provided the source for the claim related to Zoopla and further small print stated “Illustration for representation purposes only”.
Exeter firm SaleBoards Estate Agents – which lists at OnTheMarket – challenged whether:
- the advert misleadingly implied that Wilkinson Grant’s properties would be seen by eight times as many people;
- the advert contained sufficient information to allow consumers to verify the ‘eight times’ claim; and
- the claim “We advertise properties on ALL leading online property sites” was misleading and could be substantiated.
A spokesperson for the ASA said: “We contacted the advertiser who explained the advert in question only appeared once.
“Furthermore they assured us the claims complained about will not appear in any of their future advertising either. They also agreed to get in touch with the CAP Copy Advice service.
“We concluded no further action was necessary and closed the case informally.”
What an idiot. You’re hardly going to be bum chums with rm and Zoopla the next time their annual price rises are added to your subscription.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
On The Who??
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
How much would OTM sell for????? that would be worth agents investing in…i am the boss obviously.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Heard from my OTM Rep yesterday – small issue was…. he was promoting a different business LOL.
Seriously…. feeling loved OTM, feeling loved.
I assume my new REP will be calling soon, when one of the AM team read this post and remind them “I own a ******* share in the venture” and it isn’t a cheap share!
Go on then…… you told me so 😉
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Ric,
What do you think is the best way forward for AM and OTM For the long term?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Let corporates on, ban PAY ANY WAY lenders,,i mean agents…its very very simple but fatcats are on good money so wont rock boat.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Hi AgentV.
So many things.
You want the member agents to be able (when on a valuations) say, by the way, being with Ric means you are on OTM in addition to RM, but being on OTM means you get this ??? and that ??? both are proven to do *** and as you can see this is a clear benefit to you and currently exlcusive to OTM.
So what is ??? and ***, well it is not a list of houses. or see a house here first, or school checkers and price checkers, it would be the ability for end users to communicate better with agents and agents better with clients and buyers, we have a lot to learn from the people we hate (Online Agents and in particular PB) I have 2 things I would love OTM to do which would have me point every applicant and vendor I get towards OTM when they are looking at my properties.
oh and set the email accounts of each areas OTM rep to automatically send a bi-monthly email out saying “I am still here if you need me, I don’t want to hassle you, but anything you need just shout” even if they don’t mean it, pretend they care as going 6 months without a call makes you think they are just like RM.
As for letting corps on, they would I assume but the OOPR stops that based on their share holding ties. Would dropping the OOPR work? As a last resort it might be they need to try this? I dont think current OTM members will go on three, not now Z have shown their colours and most can see being on one portal is enough, but corps may join OTM which increases stock and eventually total OTM listings may out number the others if then “phase 2 happened” (I remember the phase 2 plan) i.e. current OTM supprters then dropped RM, knowing OTM, RM and then Z would be the order of stock. Eventually having the most property will be the key though.
As for the outcome of ZooCon -v- AM/OTM #hammerdown #caseclosed as I said a few times before. Danny? Trevor? come on….. I am looking forward to the spin on this result.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
*********** FOR THE IMMEDIATE AND URGENT ATTENTION OF THE HIERARCHY AT AGENTS MUTUAL TOWERS ***********
The above comment is made by one of your previously most staunch supporters.
You have apparently lost his faith.
I disrespectfully suggest an immediate, well-overdue 3-Point Action Plan be implemented:
1. Wake up.
2. Smell the coffee.
3. #DO_SOMETHING about it.
Now.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I respectfully suggest that is a 4 point plan! 🙂
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Paul – i take it you are referring to the final word of my post.
You will note and accept however that said word – in this case ‘Now’ – was a reinforcement of (or simplification of, as may well be neccessary…) where, in the original post, I stated “…an immediate…”
Hopefully they will ‘get’ one or the other variation and action accordingly.
Believe me – you wouldn’t want what I would put forward as a full ∞-Point Action Plan to be posted here.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
🙂
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
In an idea world, properties would be seen in as many places to reach ALL buyers, including other agents who may reach buyers who main agents don’t.
WHICH showed research last year that portals only achieve around 43% of SOLDs. Portals are great at what they do do. But there’s so much more to attract sellers pitching additional ways to bring more buyers to the table.
Offer more and you get an edge.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
“WHICH showed research last year that portals only achieve around 43% of SOLDs. Portals are great at what they do do.”
Apparently they aren’t, then…
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
https://youtu.be/U4D1hhDWunQ?t=1m55s
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Fair comment. You will get load more views with Zoopla than OTM…..a lot more
Zoopla is a recognised brand who promote and market themselves well.
OTM on the other hand don’t seem to have a scooby about marketing and promotion.
Have a good day.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
FTH64
“You will get load more views with Zoopla than OTM…..a lot more”
I don’t want “a lot more views” – I want the right people viewing. Those that then:
call into our branches;
pick up the phone, or
send emails (in that specific order as well – don’t expect much, do I? ;o) )
It’s @r$es over the thresh that make sales – not the quadrilions that Zoopla claim as ‘traffic’ via the information superhighway… that drive straight past at the speed of their internet connection…
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Oh dear PeeBee. Yes you do want a lot more views which will subsequently lead to a lot more of the right people viewing. And what is it about OTM site visitors that makes them more likely to pick up the phone or visit your office than Zoopla site visitors?
Your reply shows a lack of understanding of the fundamentals of our business. If you can’t see the advantage of Zoopla over OTM you’ve been hiding under your desk for a good few years.
That’s my lot…houses to sell.
x
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
If agents supported OTM correctly, as they do with other portals and AM pulled their finger out with communication it would be number 1. However the latter is seriously lacking these days. Why did RM or Z get to where they are … only by agents support after MANY years. Case in point …. RM media advertising is pitiful and charges the most and yet is number one!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
FromTheHip64
Sounds like you have a great understanding of how our buisness works, assuming you’re talking about how it was in the 1980’s. I think we’ve moved on a bit from playing the numbers game. Give me 10 quality viewers who are actually going to turn up, in posistions to buy over 30 tyre kickers anyday.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
It’s still a numbers game whatever decade you’re in. Yes you whittle out the dross but ultimately the more properties you have, the more you’ll sell and the more viewings you have the more you sell. You get the viewing quality and numbers by getting the visitors to the site that you advertise on. Zoopla gets you viewings, OTM doesn’t…..end of.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
“It’s still a numbers game whatever decade you’re in.”
Tell me, FTH64 – do you quote that platinum nugget of corporatesque billshuttery to every prospective vendor as part of your listing presentation?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
“Your reply shows a lack of understanding of the fundamentals of our business.”
Think what you want. Your forefathers fought and died for your right to an opinion.
Tell me – are you also of the opinion that Zoopla makes the sun rise every morning?
Or – do you think that if one day you were to open your door; fire up the trusty Speccy 64 and find that due to some technodribbly meltdown in their cloud whassname the Zoopla homepage had a 404 error notice, then you would simply turn the lights back off send your staff home until normal service has been resumed?
Zoopla isn’t, I am sorry to tell you, mon ami, the goose that lays your eggs – golden or otherwise.
It f@rts out information that, if you were in any way on the same ball that several thousand other Agencies ran with, you would rather wasn’t thrust down the throats of buyers, browsers, curtain-feelers – or even that other ‘c’-word it and other buzzword-overloaded chuffers love to call those we deal with on a daily basis.
Is THAT what you think is “…the advantage of Zoopla over OTM“?
‘cos if it is – if you think that’s making your job easier for you – and better for your paying customers – then you have more issues that I can ever set aside enough time to help you with.
‘x’ right back at’cha.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
If Zoopla was that great it wouldn’t have been dropped like the proverbial hot potato by just about everyone who switched. Our data analysis at the time confirmed it was woeful at generating either volume or quality leads. That said, OTM need to pull their finger out and do more promotion other than endlessly asking members to use the 24 hour exclusivity.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register