Q. In recent weeks there has been much said about excessive charges by real estate agents. I would encourage your readers to take a look at the internet.
Much of the "dotcom" hysteria a few years ago was triggered by the potential for eliminating the middleman and allowing the vendors and buyers to transact directly.
As we know, this didn't materialise to the exten
Sunday, June 27th 2004, 8:35AM
by The Landlord
t that many investors in dotcom shares had hoped. However, I believe the internet still has enormous potential for direct real estate transactions with no agents involved.
We have sold a property via the internet. A single free ad was placed on www.trade-exchange.co.nz. It was the easiest $15,000 we have made (or is it saved?)
This was after we had unsuccessfully listed with an agency that had tried to convince us to bring down our selling price and charged hundreds of extra dollars for newspaper adverts and for giving our property a "prominent" position in their window. (I don't know how the agencies rationalise charging their customers for these extras. Surely it should be part of their cost of sale!)
Of course our experience is the exception rather than the rule. However, I think people should try giving the internet a go.
