Anyone use 'Settled' as online estate agent?

koolpc · 22 Oct 2017 at 16:01

Last year we used PurpleBricks. They were good but prices have gone up. Nearly £900 to sell now as opposed to £500 with 'Settled'

Anyone use Settled? Reviews seem good. Ta

DanTheMan · 22 Oct 2017 at 17:04

I haven't but we are using house network currently and they have been excellent. I think the quoted price was £799 but we got it for £660 as we said we would use their conveyancer (you don't even have to use them) and we got £100 of Amazon vouchers.

I've got nothing to compare to but their online site is really good and lets you amend photos, description s and price easily and is generally a good system to manage viewings.

Skillmister · 23 Oct 2017 at 09:20

Can you be a guinea pig for me? Use these and report back

https://doorsteps.co.uk/

koolpc · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:55

No thanks. Lol

Skillmister · 23 Oct 2017 at 12:09

I plan to if they're still around early next year. Got a client who is buying one that was advertised through them so will ask her opinion

Derek W · 23 Oct 2017 at 13:24

Skillmister said:
Can you be a guinea pig for me? Use these and report back https://doorsteps.co.uk/

I think you should be ok. Doesn't look like he'll be disappearing any time soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/education-41653983/the-19-year-old-millionaire-estate-agent

LeeUK · 23 Oct 2017 at 14:46

Skillmister said:
I plan to if they're still around early next year. Got a client who is buying one that was advertised through them so will ask her opinion

They've got 1,051 properties currently listed on Rightmove... http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?includeSSTC=true&locationIdentifier=BRANCH^152222

They look interesting and might use them myself next year. I'm very capable of taking my own photos and drawing up a simple floor plan. Also I've already got an in date EPC.

Skillmister · 23 Oct 2017 at 15:04

Pringle W said:
I think you should be ok. Doesn't look like he'll be disappearing any time soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/education-41653983/the-19-year-old-millionaire-estate-agent

That's how I heard about it. Not entirely sure how he can pay people to take photos and write descriptions and still earn enough to be a millionaire at £199 a pop though...

Daaaavvveee · 23 Oct 2017 at 15:12

Skillmister said:
That's how I heard about it. Not entirely sure how he can pay people to take photos and write descriptions and still earn enough to be a millionaire at £199 a pop though...

Seems to good to be true, we are currently listed with a local agent, but poor communication time and time again makes us lose faith.

May look at this in the new year

Skillmister · 23 Oct 2017 at 15:31

Think my dad's going to use doorsteps so I'll report back if I hear anything. Will be doing his conveyancing too can so give an opinion from that side of the fence as well!

koolpc · 23 Oct 2017 at 19:07

Cheers people. I will use Settled. Used PurpleBricks last year and they were very good but £400 more than settled and just as good reviews and the same package!

talkshowhost · 23 Oct 2017 at 22:32

Was just looking at settled as considering using an online agent. What is anyone’s experience of number of viewings vs. traditional EA as may need a quick sale? Based in East London.

koolpc · 24 Oct 2017 at 08:20

When I used PurpleBricks it was an awesome process. Viewings and communications were well organised. Instant data available etc. Pity they are now nearly £900.

Settled have same reviews and are exactly the same when it comes to the process and the tools available on your account but £400 cheaper.

LeeUK · 24 Oct 2017 at 11:36

Some of the news articles about Doorsteps say that he started it while at school with no money, then he borrowed some money off his uncle to grow the business. Apparently his uncle still works for Royal Mail to make ends meet yet he is also a director of 3 other companies according to Companies House.

Also the domain name was registered in 2010 while the estate agency has only been going 18 months or so.

Obviously the family have money and invested heavily to get it off the ground, not just some fairytale story of selling his first property from the school playground with only his lunch money to his name.

Skillmister · 24 Oct 2017 at 12:52

Makes for a better Daily Mail headline if it's a rags to riches success story

Still, can't knock the lad.

koolpc · 24 Oct 2017 at 13:08

Looks too good to be true really. How can he make money on £99 per customer? If you think of what needs to go into setting up a sale with pictures etc.

Skillmister · 24 Oct 2017 at 15:40

koolpc said:
Looks too good to be true really. How can he make money on £99 per customer? If you think of what needs to go into setting up a sale with pictures etc.

Well I imagine 99% of people will pay £199 to get pictures and a description. Plus things like a for sale board are extra. And I imagine they get a decent referral fee if you use their recommended solicitors (probably Premier Property Lawyers or similar). Plus the £99 one, how much work is really involved? An "online valuation" which basically means looking at Rightmove and "sales progession" is all BS so it could be well under an hours work for some office junior really.

Point still stands though!

LeeUK · 24 Oct 2017 at 23:05

Why would you even pay £199 for them to take the pictures and write a description, do it yourself and save £100. It's not like they will send a pro photographer, according to the news articles they are just random "mums" on commission.

Even all the local high street agents in my area take crappy photos with 10 year old budget digital cameras, and the descriptions look like they couldn't be bothered to write anything or were in too much of a rush to clock off for the day.

swain90 · 25 Oct 2017 at 12:11

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/settled.co.uk

koolpc · 26 Oct 2017 at 08:38

Yea, settled have some good reviews.