An online estate agent is a company that provides real estate services digitally and remotely, rather than through physical high street offices. Online estate agencies leverage technology to connect home sellers and buyers more efficiently. This allows them to operate with lower overheads than traditional brick-and-mortar agencies.

At Property Webmasters, we have noticed that online estate agents have risen in popularity among property sellers looking to save money on agent fees and commissions. Whereas high street estate agents charge commissions of 1-3%, online agents offer much lower listing fees starting from as little as £99. This significant cost saving is achieved by replacing office infrastructure with streamlined digital platforms and workflows.

For motivated sellers who can take on the coordination of viewings and digital marketing, an online estate agent offers a convenient and affordable way to reach home buyers. Without expensive commercial premises, online agencies pass the overhead savings directly to clients. As more properties are listed and transacted digitally, online estate agents continue to disrupt the market.

What is the meaning of online estate?

Online estate agents provide an end-to-end digital real estate service, enabling home sellers to list, market and sell their property completely remotely.

A key service offered is an online property valuation. Using recent sales data and property attributes, the online agent will estimate the optimal listing price for the seller’s home. This market appraisal is carried out digitally, without the need for an in-person visit.

Once instructed, the online estate agent lists the property comprehensively on major UK property portals, including Rightmove and Zoopla. These high-traffic listing sites maximize visibility among active home buyers. The agent will also often provide complementary listing photos, floorplans and promotional materials like ‘For Sale’ signage.

A streamlined calendar and messaging system allows the agent to schedule and coordinate viewings, providing booking links to buyers. While the online agent facilitates viewings, the property seller may need to be present to grant access and showcase the home themselves. This is a key difference from a high street agent who will typically conduct viewings.

When offers come in, the online estate agent advises on pricing negotiations and provides guidance on handling the offer process. However, they typically have less experience than traditional agents when it comes to navigating negotiations and closing the sale.

For the conveyancing and contracts stage, some online agencies offer access to partner solicitors and conveyancers to assist with the legalities required. However sellers can also choose their own lawyer.

Overall, online estate agents aim to provide an efficient and low-cost end-to-end digital property sale service to motivated sellers. But clients make some tradeoffs, taking on more responsibilities themselves in areas like viewings and negotiations.

Are online estate agents cheaper?

The main advantage of an online estate agent is significantly lower fees compared to traditional high street agencies. Whereas brick-and-mortar agents charge commissions of 1-3% of the final sale price, online agents offer fixed low fees starting from just £99 to list a property. This cost saving of up to two-thirds makes online agencies highly appealing to sellers focused on maximizing profit.

With their lower costs and digital-first model, online estate agents work best for proactive, self-sufficient sellers who are willing and able to take on more responsibility themselves. Clients must be comfortable with self-managing elements like property viewings, open houses and buyer communications. This DIY approach in exchange for fee savings may not suit all vendors.

There are also some important considerations to consider when deciding between online versus high street agencies. While traditional agents provide more hand-holding and account management, online agents offer less in-person support and interaction. They also tend to have smaller buyer databases and less established local area networks.

This could mean accessing fewer potential buyers. While they provide guidance, online agents typically have less real estate transactional experience to lean on during negotiations and conveyancing.

So in summary, while online estate agents provide a low-cost convenient option, clients make some tradeoffs primarily around in-person support, buyer access and negotiation experience. The type of service needed should determine if the lower fees justify these potential limitations.

Is it better to use an online estate agent?

When deciding whether to use an online or traditional high street estate agent, there are tradeoffs to consider around cost, service and support.

Online estate agents can offer significant fee savings, with some charging as little as £99 compared to high street commissions of 1-3%. For proactive sellers, they provide a flexible and low-cost approach to selling property digitally. However, clients take on more responsibility for viewings, marketing and negotiations.

Traditional agencies charge higher fees but provide more account management and hand-holding. Their experienced staff will conduct viewings, provide local expertise and guide negotiations. However, costs are higher and the process can be less convenient.

Ultimately, whether an online estate agent is ‘better’ depends on the client’s priorities. For savvy sellers who want control and cost savings, an online agent may be preferable. But for those who value expertise and support over cost, a high-street agency may be the better option.

As online agents grow in popularity, both models will continue serving different needs. By weighing up the pros and cons, property sellers can determine if the lower fees and convenience of an online agent outweigh the greater service levels of a traditional high street agency for their specific circumstances.

Pros of using an online estate agent:

Online agents provide a more streamlined, low-cost alternative to traditional high-street estate agencies. As of October 2023, using an online estate agent offers several key advantages for savvy home sellers looking to save money and efficiently sell their home.

• Lower fees – Online agents charge much less, with typical fees of £99-£500 vs 1-3% for traditional agents. This can save thousands in commissions.
• Flexibility – The digital process allows more flexibility to manage the sale remotely via phone, email and portal listings. No need for in-person visits.
• Convenience – Less time spent on appointments and property viewings, with coordination handled online. Suits busy sellers.
• Good for savvy sellers – Ideal for proactive, sales-focused sellers happy to handle viewings and marketing.
• Faster listings – Properties can be listed rapidly online, reaching Rightmove and Zoopla quickly.
• Wider reach – Online portals provide national coverage, so properties can reach a wider audience.

Cons of using an online estate agent:

While online estate agents provide a more affordable and convenient option, there are some potential drawbacks to consider. Compared to traditional high street agencies, online agents offer less personalized service and marketing support during the home sale process.

• Less personalized service – Traditional agents provide a dedicated point of contact and more face-to-face hand-holding.
• Smaller buyer network – Online agents have smaller databases of registered buyers to market to.
• DIY viewings – The seller usually has to manage their own viewings rather than having the agent host.
• Less marketing support – Less help with photography, brochures and social media promotion for maximum exposure.
• Reduced negotiations help – Traditional agents are typically more experienced at negotiating offers and closing sales.
• Potentially longer sales period – Due to smaller buyer pools, the length of time to find a buyer may be longer.

Pros of using a traditional high street estate agent:

Traditional high street estate agencies remain a popular option for many home sellers, thanks to their extensive industry experience and connections. As of October 2023, some key advantages of using an established local real estate agency include:

• Expert local knowledge – Long-established presence provides in-depth insight into the local property market.
• Wider buyer reach – Large registered buyer databases and networks drive more potential buyer traffic.
• Marketing expertise – Excellent marketing assets like professional photography and detailed brochures.
• Viewings management – Agents will fully handle conducting all property viewings.
• Negotiations experience – Skilled at securing the optimal sale price and negotiating with buyers.
• Faster sales – Good connections tend to facilitate a quicker sales process.

Cons of traditional high street estate agents:

While traditional real estate agencies offer valuable experience and marketing capabilities, there are also some downsides for sellers to consider. Potential drawbacks to using a traditional high street estate agent in October 2023 include:

• Higher fees – Commissions of 1-3% of the final sale price, costing thousands more than online fees.
• Less flexibility – Require in-person visits to the agency office as part of the process.
• Dated model – Some follow a traditional and outdated approach less tailored to each seller.
• Variable service levels – Heavy workloads can impact the ability to provide a personalized service.
• Lengthy contracts – Traditional agents often ask sellers to sign lengthy exclusive contracts.
• Pressure to sell – Potentially more pressure to sell quickly rather than holding out for the best offer.

Who should use an Online Estate Agent?

The online estate agency model works best for sellers who are sales-focused, motivated, and comfortable taking a hands-on DIY approach.

Specifically, online agents tend to suit:

• Tech-savvy sellers – Those who are confident using digital tools and platforms to manage the sales process online. Being digitally literate is a major advantage.
• Proactive multi-taskers – Sellers who have good organizational skills and can juggle the administrative tasks involved like coordinating viewings. The ability to self-manage is important.
• Cost-driven sellers – For those whose priority is maximizing the final sale proceeds by saving substantially on agent fees and commissions. The lower costs appeal.
• Flexible schedules – People with flexible schedules who can accommodate hosting viewings and conducting sales activities outside of working hours. Having availability helps.
• Experienced negotiators – Sellers who are comfortable negotiating directly with prospective buyers, as online agents provide less direct support with this.
• Market awareness – Those who have good knowledge of property market values in their local area. This helps when determining pricing and offers.
• Remote location – Sellers living abroad or at a distance from the property location. The remote digital model suits those unable to easily visit.

Overall, online estate agencies work best for independent, sales-motivated sellers who embrace a more DIY approach in exchange for much lower fees and flexibility. The self-starter nature of online selling should align with the client’s skills.

Who should use a Traditional Estate Agent?

Here is an overview of the type of seller that would benefit more from using a traditional high street estate agent:

• Need hand-holding – Sellers who want a lot of guidance, advice and hand-holding throughout the entire selling process. Traditional agents provide high-touch service.
• Less tech skills – People who are less comfortable with technology and want support navigating the digital components like portal listings.
• Busy schedules – Sellers without much time to take on the administrative tasks and sales activities involved. Traditional agents handle more of the workload.
• Dislike negotiations – Those who do not want to have to negotiate directly with buyers. Experienced high street agents act as middlemen.
• Specific needs – People with unique property-related needs around things like land, auctions, renovations etc that require specialist expertise.
• Local knowledge needed – Sellers who would benefit from an agent with in-depth knowledge of the local area and market conditions to best price and position the property.
• Maximum exposure – Those looking to tap into the large registered buyer databases that traditional agents have built up to maximize viewings.
• Quick sales – People with pressing timelines looking for an agent who can facilitate a quick sale through their contacts.

Overall, for sellers who want expertise, marketing reach and account management even if it costs more in fees, a traditional high street estate agent is likely the better option.

Using an online agent: Summary

Online estate agents provide home sellers with an end-to-end digital real estate service, allowing properties to be listed, marketed and sold completely remotely. This enables greater flexibility and convenience for motivated sellers looking to maximize sale proceeds.

A key advantage of online estate agents is significantly lower service fees compared to traditional high street agencies. Online agents offer fixed pricing starting from just £99 to list a property, whereas brick-and-mortar agents charge variable commissions of 1-3% of the final sale price. This cost saving of up to 70% provides substantial financial benefits to sellers focused on optimizing net returns.

The streamlined digital process also allows faster property exposure through leading portals like Rightmove and Zoopla, harnessing the power of internet home buyer traffic. For savvy sellers able to self-manage elements of the transaction, an online estate agent provides an efficient and affordable sales model.

However, clients make tradeoffs in terms of accessing in-depth expertise and support throughout the buying and selling journey. Online agents have smaller registered buyer databases and provide less personalized guidance compared to established high-street agencies. The convenience and cost savings come with greater responsibility for the seller.

In conclusion, while online estate agents are disrupting the market, they currently work best for proactive, sales-oriented vendors who value remote flexibility and lower fees over account management. Their streamlined digital approach resonates with motivated sellers able to take greater control of the process.