A frustrated former real estate agent has set up a firm that he says allows High street agents to offer vendors an online sale services as well, without the expense of setting up their own separate digital platform.
According to Estate Agent Today, Hy Street says it wants to enter a market created by Countrywide, Connells and others who through investment and acquisition offer customers online as well as full-service options.
The model was developed by former real estate agent Awais Ahmad who says he was frustrated by the new breed of well-funded online services taking business from him and his High Street competitors.
Ahmad claims that many of these new companies did not have the same experience or local knowledge as the High Street agents and he envisioned a ‘hybrid’ that would combine the convenience of an online platform with the personal service of a traditional estate agent.
“A lot of agents are spending time going to valuations and subsequently losing out to companies like Purplebricks, as sellers are attracted by the reduced fee and the convenience of a 24/7 online platform. Until now, high street agents have been unable to compete” he says.
