Online estate agent I Am The Agent has predicted a landslide shift to digital listings in 2014 after revealing record breaking figures on both sales and lettings for the last 12 months.
The Greenwich-based I Am The Agent has just published its 2013 figures along with predictions for future growth following a budget busting year across both its residential sales and rentals services. The online estate agent confirmed that it rented 4000 properties through its website in 2013 – the equivalent of 78 per week or 11 per day. Of these lettings, the UK’s landlords saved a total of £3,264,000 on traditional estate agency fees thanks to I Am The Agent’s fixed fee, no commission policy.
The mammoth savings for landlords were coupled with significant savings for vendors – the site sold almost 1000 properties through the year. With no commissions and fixed fee packages for those wanting to sell a property online, vendors also reap the rewards of choosing an online estate agent versus a traditional property expert. In total, those selling a house with I Am The Agent last year saved almost £1 million in commission charges.
Rebecca Peach, managing director said, “For many people 2013 was fraught with financial challenges with increases in energy prices and the cost of living and continuing unemployment particularly amongst the young. We’re delighted therefore that we were able to save those with a property to rent and a property to sell to keep much more of the proceeds in their own pockets rather than forking out thousands in estate agent commissions. With landlords nationwide keeping £3,264,000 more of their money and vendors £864,000 better off from their property sales, our figures are overwhelmingly in favour of selling and renting property online rather than going to a high street office.”
The I Am The Agent website also racked up 72,000 active users in 2013, a figure that is made up of those buying and selling, renting and leasing. It is taking this momentum forwards to 2014 with a call to all those with a property to rent out or sell to consider a move to an online estate agent to access substantial savings.