An article published online by The Spectator stated that 70% of UK house sales are set to come from online estate agents by 2020. The article goes on to explore how the internet could be the death of the traditional estate agent. But is that a rash assumption?
We’ve decided to a look at both types of agencies and examine their benefits…
Traditional Estate Agents
Perhaps the biggest selling point of a traditional agency is the personal customer service. Yes the world is becoming ever more digitised, but a machine will never replace human contact. People like to know they’re dealing with people, not just a robot or a screen.
Face-to-face customer service reassures customers, especially those who come from an older generation and do not use the internet on a regular basis.
What’s more, an established estate agency is likely to have years of knowledge which you can use to your advantage. If you’re unsure about the house prices in an area, a traditional estate agent will be able to offer you useful advice based on their experience.
Ultimately, the subject which fuels the debate over online or traditional agencies is price. That’s where online agencies are at an advantage. But let’s take a look at a few more pros…
Online Estate Agents
No need for a physical premises and reduced overheads means that online agents can afford to offer their customers cheaper fees.
They can invest more money into their websites which means they are often high-performing, attractive, and full of clever functions.
Traditional estate agencies often work long hours to accommodate viewings and negotiations. But online agencies can operate 27/7. Anyone can visit their site at any time, which means they never run the risk of missing a potential sales opportunity.
The Verdict
Both types of agencies offer individual benefits. But they do share one thing in common…
Regardless of the type of agency, estate agent software will help determine its success.
That’s what ultimately matters, and that’s where we can help.
Whether you’re online or off, get in touch with us today to see how our software can turn your agency into a glowing success.
