Rightmove is undertaking an investigation into a PropTech app that has tried to list private sales on the portal.
The perhaps-ironically named Top Gaff, launched this week, says it is “a revolutionary new way to sell your home from your phone … no commission, no fees, no contract.”
Its promotional material, sent to Estate Agent Today, says it “eradicates the need for an estate agent or online agent, giving consumers the ability to list their property for sale on property portals including Rightmove without paying commission or fees.”
It adds that the only costs for consumers are the commissioning of an EPC and conveyancing fees.
However, Rightmove - which historically has not taken any private sales, direct from vendors or through intermediary platforms - has dropped Top Gaff’s listings pending the outcome of the investigation.
Yesterday evening Top Gaff told Estate Agent Today: “We are working closely with Rightmove to address concerns raised by other estate agents now that the beta version of the app is available for review in the market place. Top Gaff is giving consumers a new choice and tools to enable them to be more involved in the property sales process, direct from their phone.”
It also told EAT that: “All of the communications and uploads are overseen and regulated by Top Gaff and in line with property laws.”
Earlier this week Top Gaff developer Daren Paradise issued a press release saying: “People buy and sell things every day on the internet via their phones. Consumers are savvy and like to be in control. Apps are a way of life. With the Top Gaff app, they can sell their most valuable asset from their phone.”
He continues: “We are looking for early adopters to download the app and experience a refreshingly new way of selling their home. Feedback from beta users will help us to develop additional features and at a later date, we may consider the addition of relevant in-app purchases to assist sellers and buyers.”
Users of the app set up a profile, enter a postcode and asking price, and are then prompted to give a description of the property and upload photographs.
Submissions are reviewed by the app’s moderators prior to publication online and are typically live within 24 hours, it claims.
Prospective buyers can message sellers, arrange viewings, make offers and discuss aspects of the sale.
In its own description, Top Gaff says it “is not an estate agent, it is a property gateway app” but says that the parent company, ParBarr Gold Ltd, is subject to the UK Property Misdescriptions Act and falls within the ICO data protection regulations.
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Thats not true I know you can list as a private residential vendor directly on RM - £234pcm, 3months minimum.
Where did you find this information Andrew and can you share the source with us? If this is the case, agents need to know.
Let's all get off RM.
Had there day
This will be RightMove's biggest downfall in the long term. They are not keeping up with technology like Zoopla and are still living off their brand name. It's only a matter of time now.
hmmmmmmmmm
Surely all RM has to do is keep its listing fees and charges to EA etc at a cheaper rate than the competition and then they become no 1 again!!?
I presume that with cheaper fees RM attracts back those who previously departed for cheaper offers.
Surely RM has more financial muscle than the competition!?
So it charges less but gets more business so it achieves the same income but from more listers and causes the other portals etc to suffer a loss of business.
RM surely WON'T maintain their prices in light of the cheaper competition.
RM can surely afford to buy back market share with cheaper prices.
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