Estate Agents Must "Go Hybrid or Go Hungry" Says Virtual360.net

London, United Kingdom, January 14, 2016 --(PR.com)-- In this digital age, businesses have no need to invest in expensive infrastructure, costly premises and a full team of employees. Start-ups are lean, and business growth is unlimited in almost every industry. For example Skype, the world’s largest communications company, owns no telephone line infrastructure, and eBay, one of the biggest on line stores, holds no stock.

The UK Estate Agency industry is the next group of businesses to be disrupted by virtual trading. Dozens of new online Estate Agents have cropped up in 2015, offering property vendors nationwide the chance to save thousands of pounds on the sale of their homes. Such websites include self-service listing, appointment booking and valuation systems. But customers haven’t made the switch yet to Virtual Estate agencies alone, with £4 billion paid in traditional estate agency fees in 2014, according to eMoov.

The figure suggests the support of a local estate agent is still very much in demand, and has not been hampered by the online only specialists, most of whom are only able to provide a limited service whilst they try to attract a nationwide customer base. However, Amanda Lindsay, Commercial Director of Virtual360.net, a business trading 13 years in this industry, believes the only way estate agencies can truly thrive is to offer a hybrid service of online tracking and management with a touch of the personal local service to support the sale.

"Online agencies need to look at enhancing their service offerings to match what the high street agencies can provide," she says. "They need a team of photographers, valuers, viewing assistants and listers on the ground, visiting the properties and meeting customers," adds Lindsay.

“High street agents should offer an online booking and progress tracking service too, to keep up with the times but also look to grow beyond their local area by outsourcing core services to a team with national contacts, the right technology, with quick turnaround times and at an affordable price.”

Virtual360.net offer a range of professional services for estate agencies. Services include, floor plan creation from agents’ basic sketches from just £4.50, and EPC, to virtual and audio tours of property, photography and photo retouching, a professional viewing assistant service and in-field property appraisal on behalf of the hybrid agent.

For further information please contact:

Amanda Lindsay
Commercial Director
www.virtual360.net
Tel: 0044 (0)844 745 1906
Email: amanda@virtual360.net