Traditional marketing methods like mailing out property details, and equally traditional search methods like physically going round an area looking for 'for sale' signs, according to fabricproperty's latest survey results, seem to have finally been superseded by online search and marketing. But there still appears to be a few offline die-hards who prefer a more old-fashioned approach. And we'll never know why.
For example, it's taken five years for the majority of home hunters to ditch the property supplements in national and local newspapers and make the switch to online searching. Back then, just under half those surveyed (49.2%) started their searches with a mouse click, while just over half preferred a leisurely flick through the property pages. Now 96.7% sit down at their computers and start their searching, and why those 3.3% still default to newspapers, we'll never know.
There's room for so much more information online, for anything from council tax rates, to availability and accessibility of public transport. There's also space for unlimited numbers of full-colour images which could include interior shots, exterior shots, views beyond, floorplans, area maps not to mention captions and other informative text. And there's that all-important 'click here to contact agent now' link, which just isn't possible on paper.
These days, is there any real point in waiting for the postman to push property particulars through your letterbox? By the time they've been typed up, printed and posted chances are someone's already found the property online (or via a text message) and have put in their offer. Five years ago, just under half the nation's househunters (47.5%) couldn't wait for the postman to knock. Nowadays, a mere 9.8% of those interviewed still hang around their front door, waiting for a delivery. Now, why would that be?
And what about those 'for sale' boards? Five years ago, 14.8% of respondents admitted to driving round areas looking for a 'for sale' board, but that number has now dropped to 6.6% doing that today. In short, 93.4% of respondents thought technology has made looking for new homes easier. But why the other 6.6% don't think that way, we will never know.
fabricproperty's survey was about the buying side of househunting. It would have been interesting to read their respondents' views on selling their property, and how things have changed in that department. But then again, I don't think there's much of a mystery there: take, for example, the cost of instructing an agency. Five years ago, high street estate agents were the norm, while offline agencies were still busy establishing themselves. Today, they both provide estate agency services, but there the similarity ends.
Offline agencies charge - on average - a sum approaching 4,000 for providing those services, while eMoov doesn't have high-priced overheads like snazzy offices up and down the land, so their typical selling fees are a much more affordable 349.00. But there will always be those 6.6% who are going to prefer the old-fashioned, traditional, more expensive way. And we'll never know why. Should we care?
For example, it's taken five years for the majority of home hunters to ditch the property supplements in national and local newspapers and make the switch to online searching. Back then, just under half those surveyed (49.2%) started their searches with a mouse click, while just over half preferred a leisurely flick through the property pages. Now 96.7% sit down at their computers and start their searching, and why those 3.3% still default to newspapers, we'll never know.
There's room for so much more information online, for anything from council tax rates, to availability and accessibility of public transport. There's also space for unlimited numbers of full-colour images which could include interior shots, exterior shots, views beyond, floorplans, area maps not to mention captions and other informative text. And there's that all-important 'click here to contact agent now' link, which just isn't possible on paper.
These days, is there any real point in waiting for the postman to push property particulars through your letterbox? By the time they've been typed up, printed and posted chances are someone's already found the property online (or via a text message) and have put in their offer. Five years ago, just under half the nation's househunters (47.5%) couldn't wait for the postman to knock. Nowadays, a mere 9.8% of those interviewed still hang around their front door, waiting for a delivery. Now, why would that be?
And what about those 'for sale' boards? Five years ago, 14.8% of respondents admitted to driving round areas looking for a 'for sale' board, but that number has now dropped to 6.6% doing that today. In short, 93.4% of respondents thought technology has made looking for new homes easier. But why the other 6.6% don't think that way, we will never know.
fabricproperty's survey was about the buying side of househunting. It would have been interesting to read their respondents' views on selling their property, and how things have changed in that department. But then again, I don't think there's much of a mystery there: take, for example, the cost of instructing an agency. Five years ago, high street estate agents were the norm, while offline agencies were still busy establishing themselves. Today, they both provide estate agency services, but there the similarity ends.
Offline agencies charge - on average - a sum approaching 4,000 for providing those services, while eMoov doesn't have high-priced overheads like snazzy offices up and down the land, so their typical selling fees are a much more affordable 349.00. But there will always be those 6.6% who are going to prefer the old-fashioned, traditional, more expensive way. And we'll never know why. Should we care?
About the Author:
Home buyers don't usually traipse into estate agency offices these days. 90% of them search for estates online. eMoov cover the whole of the UK but save money by not having hundreds of premises which you otherwise end up paying for in high estate agents fees. eMoov are online estate agents. They are a step up from private house sales and ten times cheaper than the High Street. Why pay more?
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