Smart Move's Advantages
The SmartMove business model offers significant advantages over traditional Estate Agents - making for a very popular and profitable business.
Most estate agents charge a percentage of the vendors property value for their services, and there are several problems with this. Smart Move charge the customer an initial marketing fee of £345 (plus vat), then on completion of the vendors sale, a second payment of £345 (plus vat).
The average property price in the UK is around £200,000, so at 2% of the sale price customers pay on average £4,000 plus vat to their estate agents - for what is usually a very easy job. This is why customers of Smartmove are not just happy when their property sells, they are over the moon, having saved over £3,000 on average.
This is why Smart Move licensees get an excellent stream of referral and recommendation business.
The relationship between vendor and estate agent is not balanced. The estate agent is supposed to act in the vendors best interest at all times and to achieve the best possible price for their property. However, the majority of agents have their own agenda, and work solely for themselves. Because Estate Agents work on a commission they get nothing unless the sale actually completes.
An Estate Agent this therefore incentivised to do what ever they can to get the sale through and that is often at the expense of getting the best price possible for the vendor.
Smart Move's fee structure ensures that we are not dependent upon receiving a huge commission from the vendor on completion, and therefore it is plain to a Vendor that we will be working in their best interests at all times during offer negotiation.
Call several estate agents and ask them what their fees are. Chances are that many of them won't give you a straight answer. You may get something like, 'Well I can't really say over the phone', or 'It varies, so we can only tell you when we've seen the house'.
There is a reason why an agent wont simply give a you a straight answer. Firstly, they want to get a 'foot in your door' in order that they may try and sell their services. More importantly though, is that they want to see what they can get away with charging you. Most agents will try and charge at least 2% and sometimes more, but often will 'negotiate' down from this. This is why little old ladies that don't question the fees pay a lot more than a switched on businessman who knows how to haggle.
Smartmove's fee structure is completely transparent. Vendors know what we charge before we've set foot their your home.
There are many things wrong with the estate agency industry, and Smart Move's unique business model not only addresses these problems, but then provides a quality service to its customers at a fraction of the usual cost. Smartmove is an estate agency, yet with an "anti-estate agency" ethos. As the public perception of the industry seems to be at an all time low, Smartmove is therefore a refreshing change that has the public on its side.
Over 70% of properties registered with Smart Move sell through Smart Move this is way above the industry average and is a testament to our unique business model.