Thirty agents – with a total of 100 branches – in Wales have announced that they will continue to list with Zoopla and PrimeLocation when OnTheMarket launches.
They will do so on a long-term agreement with Zoopla.
The statement says: “Over the years Zoopla and PrimeLocation have increased their brand exposure in Wales and invested heavily to become a household name in the area.
“As a result of this investment, agents in the west Wales area receive incredible value, exposure and leads from Zoopla Property Group websites.
“A total of around 100 branches will continue to advertise on the websites, including John Francis, West Wales Property, Dawsons, Clee Tompkinson Francis, Evans Brothers, Frank B Mason (FBM) and Morgan Davies.”
Nigel Jones, director at John Francis, said: “Right from the start the approach from Zoopla has been impressive and it is clear that the strong brand awareness they have in west Wales is key to our business and we are delighted to be working with them into 2015 and beyond.
“The data speaks for itself and shows that our properties get more views and our clients receive more leads as a result of us advertising on these major portals.”
Chris Hope, senior partner at Dawsons, said: “Our clients expect to see their properties featured on Zoopla and PrimeLocation and we receive fantastic value from ZPG.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the team at Zoopla into the future.”
These agents constitute around 95% of the market in South and west wales, I predict that OTM will become the only portal in this region by the time that the current contract with Zoopla expires. That's Wales done…NEXT.
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Fair play to the Welsh Agents. English Agents take note, Thats how you do it, Simple!
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Many sheep in Wales – a tally up in England may not be so bountiful!
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I suspect the Welsh agents have selected simply on price.
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Its obvious the agents will have done a deal on price with Zoopla but the point in Wales is that Rightmove is significantly weaker and OTM has put its self in a position where it has every chance of being the no 1 portal, Unlike in England where Rightmove has been strengthened to such a degree that OTM will only be fighting it out with Zoopla for the No 2 position,
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And then they will ditch RM. Pay attention!
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Take note of whats happened it Wales! They have already ditched R. What are you waiting for?
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I am glad agents are leaving both these greedy nasty public limited companies who do their best to rip off agents and play agents off against each other. The sooner we all just use OTM the better.
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Clearly another agent who knows little of marketing costs vs value.
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We sold just as many before rightmove even existed!
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Yes and accountants did just as many taxes before calculators. What's your point? A more efficient and transparent market–which the portals facilitate–provide benefit for buyer and seller alike. The only one it doesn't help is the middleman taking a sizable cut out of every transaction…
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There's nothing more transparent about all those phantom listings left on the portals, causing consumers to lose hope from hearing, "Sorry, that property has just gone, but if you register with us."
And there is nothing efficient about property portals. They are JUST classifieds. And essentially, Rightmove and Zoopla are just a directory of estate agents for people to call up and register with.
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Clearly another layman who presumes to understand our business….
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A superb show of strength from the west wales agents, that's how you bring about real change. Its nothing to do with price, its about ensuring that control of portal spend is retained by agents, not the portals, now and in the future. If anyone cant see where ZPG & RM are heading in the next few years you really need to wake up PDQ!
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Well done to the Welsh boys, united they have sent a strong message, hopefully they negotiated better terms (as they are negotiators for a living) and have identified Zoopla is right for their market…OTM has helped in its own little way! There is a long way to go before global domination though!
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Do not forget there were also plenty of girls involved not just the Welsh Boys. I would like to re-iterate most S.W. Wales offices were on RM and Zoopla but RM would not discuss prices for the future or offer any transparent pricing structure making the decision an easier choice. I ask all agents whatever your view on RM, Zoopla or O.T.M. this question. Would any of you agents think of marketing a property without providing the vendor/landlord a price structure on request.
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Good to see a well thought out, mature and professional plan being put in place. Just a shame we don't have the same organisational skills in the area where we operate.
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If you think we selected simply on price Richard 104, then think again. The relative costs of each portal was obviously a factor, but it certainly wasn’t the ONLY factor. In fact my monthly Zoopla spend will go UP slightly BUT I was on a preferential rate to begin with and realistic enough to know that wasn’t going to last for ever, AND it’s fixed for a set period – which I admit I like. Zoopla were prepared to do a group deal, and despite being invited, Rightmove wouldn’t – in my opinion that’s their loss. We have used RM off an on over the years (never been on there continuously) but the way I see it, RM will be the biggest competitor to OTM. Why would we want to support our biggest competitor? And if you think owners are concerned, I don’t think they will be. I’ve already had one owner this morning ask me if we advertised on RM. We explained that when OTM launches on 26th Jan, we won’t be on RM and that genuine buyers will need to look on either OTM or Z. When she realised that West Wales will be practically a RM free zone at the end of the month, she wasn’t bothered – which just confirms what I always believed that buyers and owners have no loyalty to RM and will follow the properties. If buyers go on to RM looking for a property in West Wales after OTM launches, they’re going to be disappointed .. because there isn’t going to be much on there for them to see, and I will make damn sure that the properties are on OTM. Where do you think they’re going to look the next time they log on?
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Spot on Taff and Bravo for your efforts in Wales, at least you could get around a table and talk. The trouble with England is it became a cut throat business in comparison and most agents dislike each other.
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It's pretty cut-throat in Gods country too, but if you've got a common goal (and all OTM agents have) it's for everyones advantage surely. Well, not RMs advantage obviously, but you know what I mean.
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Another case of those signed up with OTM getting preferential rates from the main portal they stay with…..surely those against must at least recognise that there are a lot of agents saving a money by signing with OTM
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Clearly, but think of the potential cost of those savings. If OTM drives very little traffic, then these agents have succeeded in locking themselves into a cheap longer-term contract with ZPG, but will be contractually required to continue to pay dues to AM and will have no option to join another portal (i.e. Rightmove, Houser, etc.) for FIVE YEARS at risk of being sued. Maybe the upfront savings is worth that risk, but every agent needs to make that calculation for himself.
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There is an agreed "Break Clause".
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HAving now been back into residential sales for the past two months, and reviewing where my sales have come from, my original belief that it is irrelevant as to what portal is more important – Rightmove or Zoopla, as neither have had much impact or influence in my sales. I have influenced my sales so too much is being placed on the major portals. As a sales manager within a large corporate, I do wish OTM well – I had my own company for 8 years. But don't think OTM will turn a failing business around. It won't. Neither will RM or Z. Only great people, well trained and who 'go the extra mile' will do that. And there are many in the local independents. I am pleased to say there are also many within the Corporates – the market IS changing but I really do feel it will come full circle – back to full service, with personal service as the premium. As such, onliners and the portals have had their day – it is Joe Blogs and Srah Smith within the branches that will make the difference in the future…..trust me…"I'm an estate agent" :-)!
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Apologies for a few typos above – predictive text!
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"the market IS changing but I really do feel it will come full circle – back to full service, with personal service as the premium."…hold on a darn picking minute, Jam01 you spent the whole of 2014 stating that you were about to set up an online business in January 2015 but your now saying that you now work for a full service agency, and that Full service is the way forward, what gives?
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The light at the end of the tunnel comes to mind.
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