The UK government’s roadmap for the easing of Covid-19 restrictions is on track following the introduction of Step 3 easements on Monday.
The latest restriction easing has been welcomed by many people, but guidance from the UK government will mean the changes for agents will be minimal, with the largest change coming from the rule of six.
As far as agents are concerned, they are still required to maintain social distancing with all clients as well as one another in offices and will still need to wear masks in client homes.
Working with MHCLG, which has updated its Covid-19 advice for estate and letting agents, Propertymark recommends that virtual viewings should still be encouraged, and physical viewings should still be restricted to essential people only.
Propertymark CEO Nathan Emerson said, “Despite the current pressures, these changes should in no way be seen as permission for mass attendance to properties or open house style viewings.
“As we follow the governments roadmap, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our staff, and our clients, and need to follow the guidance being given.”
Download the guidance for agents working in:
Estate agents in England and Northern Ireland Letting agents in England and Northern Ireland
https://youtu.be/isbRWL-OiQg
Comments (10)
Stuff Pmark -worthless organisation
“Propertymark recommends that virtual viewings should still be encouraged, and physical viewings should still be restricted to essential people only”
Just demand proof of funding, it works much better than a “online viewing” to deter the WOFTS.
Or, if you are really keen to reduce viewings… take **** photos and over value the property by 30%…
Online viewings are like the VAR of Estate Agency… fecking pointless.
For the sake of balance, Ric has spoken against online viewings repeatedly, although he has never thoroughly tested them. Other equally, or even more successful agents have been using video for up to 10 years, and continue to do so. They’re either incredibly generous, and just want to keep me in business, or they’ve analysed the results and found that video works for them and their vendors!
We build new homes -they do not work for us
Would I buy a house and spend £££ on the strength of a video ?
Not a chance
For the sake of balance iViewProperty – check out my listings… I have them on several…! I tend not to speak against something unless I have tried it, or have enough stats to prove my point and/or truly believe with 100% common sense they are the difference for my clients.
Some agents like them, swear by them, no issues… but your assumption is incorrect and I would like to know where and how you have decided I have not tested them?
Please give me a detailed analysis of your thorough testing and the results to show an agent would not have achieved the same result with or without said VT. Your chance to shine if you have the data to back up the fact you think I have not tested them. I actually put to you, you have not tested being an EA with or without them, but simply comment as the producer of a VT with a rather blinkered and obvious reason to support them. (Which I admire, and do not blame you for, as you say it is your business, but just because I don’t want them, is a tad unfair to say I have not tested them)
Please come and have a meeting with me, spend a month as my shadow on valuations and hear it for yourself. Please DON’T be so disrespectful to think I haven’t tested them. If they would make me money I WOULD USE THEM… but they simply don’t. I am sure there are plenty of “more successful” agents use them… likewise plenty more who don’t…
So on the properties we did them for: When monitoring requests to view, quality of viewings and numerous other factors such as offer to viewing ratio I can hand on heart say the difference was nada! Please tell me though what the measure of them working I am looking for.. perhaps I have tested them incorrectly? (What is the correct VT test? – Other than having them on all property, because the results will show property sells, but then having them on none, results in the same… so GIVE ME THE STATS….)
When asking sellers on valuations would they want one, coupled with do they watch them; the vast majority said no, some said they start to watch and then get bored. NOT ONE said they would leave buying to a VT and not one said they would trust a buyer who had only seen a VT… so I see no point in creating a video which is designed to reduce viewing levels.
I even tried 360 tours, and again nada… infact vendors started to ask me to take them off… and they looked great, but didn’t sell the house.
I would 100% say, they don’t cause less interest, but they do not result in extra interest at all, they don’t get a seller a better offer and therefore fixed fees or percentage simply come off my bottom line if paid for. My testing resulted in my bottom line increasing on a cost of sale… So if I can produce the same result for a client with LESS spend from me.. I will. Simple business sense.
They are 100% a listing tool to be used as a “we will give you something shiney to help sell your property”… The Pandemic caused a huge increase in the demand with sellers more inclined to see them as a way to sell the property or increase the quality of viewing, yet as the Pandemic softens and lockdowns are lifted the reality is setting back in that they do not increase the chances of selling, the chances of getting a better price NOR the increase the quality of a viewing.
Health and Safety is paramount for sure and I fully support the logic in not showing timewasters around, but I found a timewaster would say “yeh, I watched the video and want to view” to then give feedback only a timewaster would… “too small” or “not the right location” etc… same old feedback good photos would result in.
I have compelling evidence to support I’ve not needed them, as an EA using VTs, so please please please give me the compelling evidence to show me I need them… show me where my business has failed and my clients have suffered as a result of no VT.
OK, I have made some assumptions in my earlier comment, which perhaps I shouldn’t. First assumption is that you’re the Ric I think you are (I’m going to look like a right idiot if not, but it won’t be the first time). If I’ve got that bit right then:
You know I can’t give all the stats you’re asking for – that’s impossible, which is why I explained that other good agents have continued to use them for so long. It’s obviously not for my benefit!
One test we did with a client after filming just less than half of all instructions over 3 months, revealed that (from memory) 53% of properties marketed without video were sold/sale agreed, whereas 82% of properties with video were sold/agreed. (This was a few years back in different market conditions)
I’m more than happy to meet – we almost did a few years ago, but you never confirmed a time (again, I’m going to look silly if you’re not the same Ric I think you are!) If we do I can explain how it’s not just having the video available that matters, it’s what you do with it
Finally for now, I can see why viewers aren’t watching your videos in full. Generally speaking agent/vendor filmed videos are lucky to get 50% average watch time, whereas ours typically get 75%+
Let me know if you do want to learn more – I’m happy to pop in to your office with no obligation
Morning. I am sure I am the Ric you think I am, as I have made no attempts to hide my identity, but I don’t bring my company name into the debates on here, as it is “Ric thing”. Twitter I am sure gives the rest away! (although plenty of Rics AKA Dicks on here and Twitter) I think one of your supporters called me a .. Bell end .. for my Twitter views on VTs.. made me chuckle and became part of my Twatter Bio for a while. I appreciate you have agents who consider you a part of their team (actually says so on their website or did, slight light hearted dig at them, I considered adding my window cleaner as our ClearViewProperty Expert, primary & important role is to ensure properties are visible in our office)
To be clear, this is not a “iViewProperty” hate thing… you could be anyone EA or VT producer, this is just my opinion on the cold face of EA for far too long now. (29 years now – which I know I don’t look old enough which confuses everyone 😉 )
My problem is, would the 82% of sales have sold without them? were the 53% of unsold property the right price? Nobody will ever know.
I think you either believe in VTs or you don’t, in the same way does an agent need to be on 3 or 4 portals or just 1, but if a seller wants one… we are happy to provide, our marketing and valuation presentation is clear… we offer VT or 360 Virtual, and Drone Photography all for FREE if you want them, but we do talk about physical viewings are the only way to sell a house and a VT will NOT stop someone viewing who has asked to view.
I have said, I think your VTs are easily the best... no questions in my opinion and no dig at your quality of filming, which I think your supporter thought was my Twitter take on the matter… but if they don’t make a difference, then 10% viewing time or 99% viewing time, it is just time which is not gaining my client any extra advantage.
I don’t think as you say there is a true measure… certainly in this market, I would say 90% of my stock is sold without them. I am sure if I added a VT to them, I would have 90% of them still sold… if only there was a parallel universe we could 100% test the “with or without” results. We sold 90% of our 2020 stock without them,
Again, no dig at your company… I just tend to become passionate about certain beliefs I have but also an open book to be convinced otherwise if I am on the fence and unsure.
Thanks Ric, I didn’t think it was anything against iViewProperty in particular, and appreciate your comments about our videos being “easily the best” (just repeating that for anyone else still reading!!) We can agree that we won’t ever be able to prove definitively that x number of homes sold because of video or otherwise, or that they sold faster or at a higher price, or that you will win y more new instructions because you offer video (you will). As the guy working in & running your agency every day, you just get to know whether something is working or not, even if you can’t put a figure on it – that is why agents who use video continue to do so.
I replied to your original post because I obviously believe in, and am going to stand up for my service/sector of the industry – if someone said publicly that high street agents are fecking pointless, I expect you’d have something to say about it too! The part I think you should actually consider is your ‘testing’ of VTs – if a test isn’t run properly then it’s going to give you the wrong answer. If I set up an EA business & couldn’t make any money, it’s not because estate agency doesn’t work – it’s because I’d make a poor agent! You are a strong agent but, with the greatest of respect, you’re not producing or using video effectively so are getting results similar to those I would get as an agent!
So many High Street agents are fecking useless LOL. I think I would agree to be fair.
I think there is a huge place for VTs in the Lettings Market btw, just like booking a holiday, a definite chance someone would gamble a let based on it is not forever.
I have a 12 o’clock VT to do tomorrow, A property listed For Sale yesterday and is tenanted.
If you read this before then and fancy (paid job) doing one for the property! although I suspect you may be busy at such short notice, Feel free to let me know. It is Bramhall and all yours to do!
Let me know.. no worries if you can’t as short notice.
Just messaged you – tomorrow is no problem