Choosing between an online agency and a traditional high street estate agent

There has been a great deal of debate in recent months about the merits of selling homes through traditional high street estate agents and via online agencies, several of which have sprung up over the past couple of years. Each option has its own plus and minus points, of course, and ultimately vendors will choose whichever one gets the job done in the right manner.

Here at James Neave, we place great emphasis on our abilities as a localised agency, one that possesses a wide knowledge of our chosen area and a deep understanding of the needs of the people who seek to live here. While online agencies offer some well-publicised benefits, it has to be said that a localised focus surely isn’t one of them.

In many cases, an online agency will be able to offer a lower price to the vendor, but there will be times when this comes at a cost to the quality of the sale. A high street agent will act as a buffer between buyer and seller, and will be able to handle more of the time-consuming administration. If potential buyers don’t fit the right criteria, they usually won’t be able to waste the vendor’s time in such cases.

Access just when you need it

A great deal has been made about the 24/7 availability of online agencies, but this isn’t perhaps as overwhelmingly important as we might first think. Access to the web is obviously not limited to the opening hours of a high street agency, but vendors can still only be contacted at certain times of the day and evening. And it’s worth remembering that many estate agents, including James Neave, are registered with Rightmove, and can therefore reach a far wider audience than before.

The traditional high street estate agency will always be looking to get the best possible deal for the vendor, and will be ready and willing to work hard in order to achieve that goal. While online agencies can sell for a lower commission, their sellers won’t be able to garner much in the way of personal advice in relation to the sales process and other related information.

At James Neave, we have been quick to welcome the existence and development of online agencies, because we know that competition from other sources will always keep us working to the best of our abilities. The impact of such agencies on the business that we handle has been minimal so far, in part because sellers like to know they are receiving the complete attention of people just like themselves.

If you’re looking to sell a home in Walton or Thames and the surrounding area, be sure to get in touch with James Neave today.