Search4Homes Low Cost Estate Agency Service Takes UK Property Market by Storm with 100 Local Offices Joining Its National Franchise Network



Search4Homes (http://www.Search4Homes.co.uk) has now become the U.K.'s largest low cost national estate agency group, and is well ahead of its target of opening more than 100 new franchised local offices within the next 12 months.

The success of the group can be attributed to the fact that in today's property market, budget conscious consumers are seeking a value for money alternative to expensive 'high street' estate agents.

For example, if a home seller uses a traditional estate agent to sell a 200,000 property they would typically expect to pay a commission of 4,700 (based on a 2% sole agency agreement) In contrast, by using Search4Homes' simple transparent estate agency service, the rate would be just 0.5% - saving the home seller 3,700.

Initially established as an internet-only operation, Search4Homes aims to provide local representation and coverage with its growing offline operations, which has already seen the opening of 33 local offices - making it one of the U.K.'s 'top 25' estate agency networks in terms of offices.

Search4Homes provides its clients with far more widespread advertising exposure for their properties than the majority of conventional estate agents can offer. It has established advertising and marketing arrangements for its clients' properties with more than 150 of the UK's top property websites. With more than 7 in every 10 home buyers now harnessing the power of the internet to search for their dream home, these are exactly the right places that the majority of home buyers are visiting.

Search4Homes 'partners' include Fish4Homes, Propertyfinder, FindaProperty, Google, Channel 4 Homes, Wanadoo, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, The Times, The Telegraph, The Daily Express and The Evening Standard. Its listed properties can also be viewed on the Sky Active, NTL and Telewest Digital TV channels.

This comprehensive advertising strategy ensures that Search4Homes clients' properties can be viewed by more than 2.1 million national and local home seekers per month.

Unlike some 'traditional' estate agents, Search4Homes offers a variety of optional services to its clients, including the production of virtual tours and professionally produced floor plans - which help buyers make an informed decision to view a particular property.

There is also the option of a 'pure advertising' service for just 99, which allows home sellers to advertise their own properties and sell them privately without having to pay commission.

Clive Boosey, Managing Director at Search4Homes, comments: "Over the last five years, the value of an average UK property has more than doubled*. Despite this, the majority of estate agents are still charging similar rates of commission to five years ago. It's hardly surprising that an increasing number of financially savvy sellers are demanding a value for money quality estate agency service which helps them to keep thousands of pounds in their pockets."

He adds: "Both buyers and sellers love our refreshingly simple approach to estate agency, and I am confident that Search4Homes will become a major 'driving force' in the U.K. estate agency sector."

* According to Nationwide National House Price Index Q4 1999 to Q4 2004

Notes for editors

Search4Homes was established in 2004 to provide a low-cost alternative to homeowners wishing to sell their properties. The company is headquartered in Devon and currently has 87 people in more than 33 offices across the U.K.





Search4Homes Low Cost Estate Agency Service Takes UK Property Market by Storm with 100 Local Offices Joining Its National Franchise Network