Major Scottish firm CKD Galbraith has announced that it will be dropping Zoopla in favour of Rightmove.
The firm, which is an Agents’ Mutual gold member, said it was “confident that this decision is in the best interests” of its clients.
CKD Galbraith has branches across Scotland and employs 225 staff.
The firm is also Scotland’s largest rural consultancy and has an associate firm in London, CKD Kenney Macpherson.
Simon Brown, head of residential sales at CKD Galbraith, said: “OnTheMarket.com will challenge the existing duopoly of Rightmove and Zoopla and it is our belief that this customer-focused property portal operated on a not-for-profit basis, and existing purely to promote properties, can only benefit vendors, landlords and buyers.”
* Yesterday, Sussex firm Churchill Country & Equestrian Estate Agents said it would be dropping Rightmove in favour of Zoopla and PrimeLocation.
Comments (51)
Dont forget that Zoopla & Rightmove are supporting (or in the process of) faceless online agents working from their bedrooms and private listings – Both potentially damaging to more traditional High Street agents. The very agents who made them the large concerns they are today. Time to fight back! Three quarters of the agents in my large town have signed up to On The Market, with the majority if not all dumping Zoopla. In the short term this will strengthen Rightmove, but as the OTM branding grows along with their market share the power will move back to the agent. This would never happen with the current situation. Only rising fees from portals happy to damage your business by opening the doors to all the unregulated online platforms etc Every High Street agent now has a responsibility to take this fabulous opportunity to protect their future which in turn will help maintain the excellent customer service vendors & landlords expect as standard.
So what have you got to say about this then JMeapps01 and Harree?
Agentx says nothing new. Agents are banking that the traffic will follow the agents onto OTM. I don't think it will in anywhere the volume needed to make AM a success. I predict within 3-6 months agents will start to desert OTM because of reduced lead volume plus client and non AM competitor pressure.
The real elephant in the room: Who's one of the handful of people that has given in to Zoopla and their last minute cheap deals with premium listings on the basis of signing up for the whole of 2015?! Perhaps JMeapps01 and Harree…#upthecreekwithoutapaddle
Hey Jmeapps01 it's a bit late in the day but after reading your post I've decided to hire you for my company Christmas party…can you please confirm your hourly rate?
P.S. Do you do magic tricks as well as your comedian act?
What is so funny about JMeapps01 post? You think it is so unbelievable as to be hilarious that a seller would decide not to list with an agent who won't be advertising on both RM and Z? Well you can hire me as well to give your staff a belly laugh. We have been winning instructions for weeks by pointing out that a 90 day sole agency means that sellers will be dropped off RM and Z before the end of that period. The real laughing matter is that you and Wilko really believe that not one non AM agent across the UK is doing the same right now.
Haree…I've not been on Zoopla for months and yet lost no instructions…why…because my clients choose me and my reputation and not where I advertise. If you win business based solely on
Being on two websites then your business isn't worth diddly squat as far as I'm concerned.
Now then PaulH, were did I ever say the ONLY reason was being on RM or Z. It was of course only ONE of the reasons. Your type of silly self righteous response makes your part in the debate … to use your own words … worth diddly squat.
So, AM agents don't believe that ANY vendor would decide to list with an agent with a big part of the decision being that the chosen agent is on RM and Z? You are in self denial. We have been hammering the point home to new valuations and other agents clients and we have picked up numerous instructions because of it. Agents who actually talk to clients with an open mind will find that many people use Z as their first choice portal. These people in particular are dead against their property not being on Z. Come Jan 26th AM agents will find out exactly what vendors feel about which portal they should or shouldn't be on. Any AM agent who thinks they won't lose instructions and existing clients is naïve, blinkered or both.
Harree "So, AM agents don't believe that ANY vendor would decide to list with an agent with a big part of the decision being that the chosen agent is on RM and Z" … If jmeapps10 provides evidence of his/her claims I will apologise, but I can't see that happening ……because it is made up!..Do you think that they have started "cleaning up" before the site is even launched???…….I would, however, go as far as to say that I don't believe a vendor would switch or go on with another JUST because they were on Zoopla…..Its about so much more than that …isn't it? If you think that by just saying you are advertising on Z and RM that sellers will sign up with you over others then it is, in fact, YOU who is naïve and blinkered!
What bit of 'a big part of the decision' didn't you understand?
I'll ask my question from yesterday again – Has Harree been outed as a portal rep (my money's on Zoopla) yet? He doesn't post like an agent.
PP, I answered the question yesterday and the answer is the same again. I am an estate agent.
As normal an arrogant post that should be finished with the statement "IN MY OPINION" because unless you've spoken to my clients too how would you know what they do or don't think??!. We weren't on Z a year ago and lost no business, we tried it this year and gained little out of it, so we are now coming off it. Our clients have been contacted regarding the marketing of their properties next year and ALL were delighted that their property would be getting additional promotion from being on a new portal with a national TV campaign starting in Feb. I say all, some frankly didn't care where we were advertising actually. The reality is the ONLY people who care about portal advertising are the online only agents because frankly if any other agent goes to the portals first to market a property, I would suggest you close your office and go and work from your back bedroom because you could save yourself the money.
Your clients are only hearing your side of the story so I wouldn't count your chickens yet. Read my post again, we have signed up numerous clients because we have shown them R and Z site visitor figures and explained how 38% of our portal buyer enquiries come from Z. Some have rang AM agents and when it has been confirmed they will not be advertising with RM or Z from Jan 26th have come with us. I don't need to know 'your' clients or anyone else's clients – they are people – and people can be swayed that the cup is half empty or half full depending on who they speak to and how the case is presented. We have well rehearsed strategy for dealing with OTM especially from 26 Jan. It won't work every time (nothing does) but I am very confident that on my patch we will win more instructions than we lose over the on/off OTM issue. I am sure many non AM agents feel exactly the same.
Well if that were in fact true Harree why are you in fact on here trying to persuade those same competitors that OTM is a bad thing. I would have thought that if you were an astute business man you would be encouraging as many of your competitors to going it as possible! As for my chickens, we have been promoting OTM since Sept/Oct so I think its safe to say that any clients that have instructed us since that time have known exactly where we will be advertising as one of the options available to us next year. But thank you for your concern.
Well RealAgent (a moniker of arrogance if ever there was one) if you were an astute businessman you wouldn't have joined OTM. 🙂
Oh and as an aside we have also had a record breaking Qtr for instructions. I guess some sellers look for estate agents that take a lead in their market place when they are selecting someone to represent them. Or maybe its just coincidence, who can know for sure.
Well I see you didn't answer the question as to why when you are "cleaning" up you continue to try to dissuade agents from OTM?. Perhaps try and hurl answers rather than insults eh?
And with that utter nonsense you have answered my question, saving others doing it for me. Here's a tip – start polishing up your CV for next year.
How can you say you lost no business? How did you measure that? I keep reading this type of statement on here all the time. Are you saying that the 10's or 100s of thousands of people who search for property in your area every month on Z are just timewaster non buyers? That none of them would have visited Z only (and so never saw your properties) and that not one of these Z visitors would have bought one of your properties earlier or at a higher price, nor one of them given you a successful valuation? These 'no difference' 'lost no business' posts are strong on rhetoric and weak on factual analytical measurement.
Yes I can say that for sure. Zoopla is a brand of cola where people are loyal. Who wouldn't check whatever sites were relevant when looking for a property?!. We go through EVERY single enquiry and without doubt the ones from Z were extremely poor/waste of time. I'm sorry if thats not what you want to hear but that is a fact. You say they are weak on statistics, small businesses have a much greater handle on where their business comes from, we have had to when making an online v traditional media advertising spend decision. And there are no stats that can categorically show me that the leads from Zoopla didn't ALSO look on Rightmove?
Oh and as an aside we have also had a record breaking Qtr for instructions. Wowwee!! I'm impressed! Is that why you call yourself RealAgent? The very fact that you feel the need to throw in that little gem underlines who is the arrogant know it all in this exchange. I bet your cat is bigger and blacker than mine as well.
Well I see you didn't answer the question as to why when you are "cleaning" up you continue to try to dissuade agents from OTM?. Perhaps try and hurl answers rather than insults eh? ……. Hurl insults … moi?! I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from joining AM, those on here that I engage with have already made that decision. And in my area every agent bar one has joined. I just find it interesting to put an alternative point of view. Whether you like it or not.
"In my area every agent bar one has joined" . Well Harree, I guess they are ALL wrong then!
Yes RA, they are all wrong.
Still cannot believe what I'm reading !!!
The whole point with OTM was to stop the stronghold RM have with fees. RM for sure will be rubbing their hands together For everyone that drops ZPG and sticks with RM. That will on emphasise that RM is needed more than ever !!!
Dear oh dear oh dear 🙁
And… the publics choice is now completely limited, How many of you have probably sold a property via RM or ZPG because it came up on a search for another agents property ??
You watch RM stick prices up more an now they are offering out the data feed to all, that will make them "needed" much more..
But Rightmove offered me a sizeable reduction in fees if I stayed with them(and dropped Z) in 2015, which I accepted for all the branches in the company!….Zoopla only offered me guarenteed increases over a sustained period of time!. It seems that those that haven't signed up with OTM are the ones that have/ will have their prices put up as there is no danger of losing them to the OTMs' "1 other portal" strategy.
Ultimately time will tell, It will either fall completely flat on its face, or will endeavour to remove all ZPG off the radar, again reducing the publics choice. If OTM does succeed, then along will come someone else to add fuel to the fire. As someone else pointed out on another post regarding OTM RM ZPG etc, "be careful what you wish for" !!
How on earth does removing ZPG reduce the publics choice? There isn't going to be LESS property available is there?!!
its quite simple really. With the restrictions in place of who can list on OTM there will be less agents on there, therefore less property for sale on that portal !! You may as well stick with just RM only then. What is the the benefit of it then ?
Purchasers will stick with RM as it will have more choice of both agents and property. Other than a cheaper fee than Z, whats the use ??? Its confirming RM as king again and will help then to maintain their rob dog pricing ..
Lets face facts here. Would joe blogs member of the public look at Primelocation to find a property thats not on RM ? No.. .. However much I hate the fees charged by both, RM has the market covered, ZPG is used more for pricing and info by purchasers in my opinion . What will OTM actually do ?????
I am aware of many agents signing up to it, but are not on ZPG just RM. So again what benefit will it have to them other than costing them more each month ???
Its the same with Microsoft and Apple. Both are different for their sins. Could another platform break their reign ???
Appstore and Android… Room for another ?? Blackberry tried and failed..
Thats my opinion.. at least
Given a choice, I would actually drop RM if I could as its the more expensive option, and wasn't this the whole point of OTM, to stop RM !!!!
Your username says it all.
Totally !!!! It was either that or Confucious !!
How about TopTroller? Got a certain ring to it!
We got yet another new instruction today as one of our competitor agents had told the vendor their property was going to be on OTM and one other! Not a huge fee 1.8% of £425k but a very saleable home and quite frankly any saving I would have made by dropping a major portal has just paid for itself for that office. We have not gone out of our way yet to promote the fact that we are continuing to market properties on all the major portals but I think in the new year, if we were to do so, this would be an easy way of picking up more instructions. Whether agents like it or not the public will not respond kindly to agents who tell them they are only going to market their property on one never heard of portal and one other. I'm sure like me you think your marketing is so good that you don't need the portals that much. but this isn't about what you as agents think or want it's about what the public think and want. If you don't care about that then more fool you!!!
I'm sorry but I don't believe you on any count…….It seems strange that your anti OTM comments have finally come to this. If it is really, really genuine then I would suggest letting Ros have the details as it is worthy of a story, "the first seller, paying c£7650 fee + vat dumps agent because of OTM portal restriction" …….go on give us evidence, although I suspect you'll say no more on the issue or say that you can't give evidence of this for "legal reasons"……Ros will protect you and your clients identity, as long as you can provide the evidence confidentially to her…….Go on do it now?
Also……you say you "got yet another new instruction today as one of our competitor agents had told the vendor their property was going to be on OTM and one other!" ……how many exactly have you got this way as this is "yet another"……proof on those as well please as I believe you are spouting nonsense.
I find it difficult to believe that a vendor will solely change agents over this issue. Most people will use both portals, so it would not be too difficult to persuade a vendor not to change agents; and, more importantly, most vendors choose an agent, not a portal, to act for them.
Laughable nonsense. Zoopla employee/shareholder? My business has nailed its colours to the mast. We have signed up with On the Market. Hold your nerve – Do what is right for your business/balance sheet. Time to break the mould/dictatorship?
Wow, I had to check it wasn't April 1st. What a load of tosh.
I could have had a threesome last night but I let slip that I was dropping Zoopla for OTM and was left not empty handed, single handed lol! Then I saw another lucky agent leaving with them both, damn!
Keep up the good work jmeapps01.
You clearly have your head screwed on and will steal a march in the New Year- ignore your critics – if they weren't bothered about this very chancy exercise they wouldn't bother to respond to you! They're sure to bite at this one too!
Also serving notice on Zoopla today – We have 3 branches in the East Midlands. Signing up for the Silver service level with On The Market has saved us 13k pa. Agents need to push and promote the new branding – The faster the new portal grows will benefit all involved. The only agents not signing up to the new platform must be shareholders or have other financial interest in the big two. This is the biggest and best opportunity agents will ever have to break the stranglehold of Rightmove/Zoopla – Their prices are only going to increase over the coming years as they feed shareholders etc. This is too good an opportunity to let pass by.
We received our marketing pack yesterday. My only dilemma was whether we had an office window big enough for the large logos they sent! ….And I am giving notice to Zoopla too.
We gave notice to Zoopla after careful consideration. They certainly did their best to keep our business by offering discounts and free upgrades on our package, but it wasn't enough. The quality of leads we receive through Rightmove are significantly better than Zoopla.
So I am putting in my notice to one of the portals today, I trust I will get a half page editorial!?!
Do you have 225 staff or are you part of Zoopla's marketing staff "RealMarketeer"
No and err NO! But I am always being told size doesn't matter!
She is fibbing to you!!
I, just as Real Agent, see very little reason for this article. I understand that they are a big agent in Scotland as they are one of my main competitors but surely they get enough press. As if anyone cares but I am dropping Rightmove and would be more than happy to do an Eye piece on a small Scottish agent's portal decision. I only charge £1,000 an interview 😉