The Estate Agency industry dates back centuries, with some of the first London-based agents forming around the start of the 1800s. Believe it or not, one or two of those first estate agents are still operational today. Now that’s good customer service! So, where does the hybrid approach to estate agency fit in? Well, all business models must change, although the estate agent industry hasn’t changed as much as you think. The concept is still the same and will always continue to be the same.

This article will help you to understand the different approaches to the estate agency industry and will hopefully assist you in making the best choice for you.

As the title suggests, this is your standard estate agent on the high street with properties shown in the windows of each branch. Most are fully branded with lovely seating areas, numerous desks and multiple employees within the branch. These allow clients to ‘pop in’ when they want to discuss the property or to drop off any documents needed to progress their sale.

It is normally the large brands that have multiple high street branches, which allow them to cover multiple areas. However, sometimes it is difficult to find parking on the high street so difficult for some to get to the estate agency branch. There is also much expense needed to run a branch, including rent, IT systems, furniture, and not to mention paying multiple wages. This inevitably means that a high street estate agent will have significant overheads compared to a hybrid approach that Leanne Kent Property use. These overheads may be reflected in the estate agent’s fee.

Online estate agents have been going for ten years plus, and as the title suggests, these are online-based agents. Purple Bricks (link to Purple bricks) was founded in 2012 and is probably one of the better-known online estate agents. For a low-cost fixed fee, you can have your property listed. This is good as could save you money. However, one of the main drawbacks is that it’s never really a personal experience. So you won’t necessarily get the benefit of dealing face to face with your estate agent. There are also additional fees if you wanted someone to manage and host your viewings. 

This brings us to the hybrid approach to estate agency. One thing for sure is that having a person to speak to and deal with throughout your property journey is key. It provides a personal touch and makes sure you are well cared for during the process. Now, what if we told you that you could still have your own dedicated estate agent whilst still being able to lower your fees? This is where the hybrid approach is relevant, as provides you with the exact same level of service as a high street agent but with similar costs to that of an online agent.

We still have a lovely decorated office in the heart of the areas that we support, where we encourage our clients to visit. However, the difference is that our main office/branch is singular, meaning we don’t have the excessive overheads of multiple branches and the costs that are associated with them. We have ample parking, and we are easy to get to for most people. No more driving around the high street trying to look for parking or paying for the privilege.

Due to the technology we use, we can even confirm your identity using app-based market-leading technology, meaning you don’t have to waste time finding old utility bills and bringing them to us. This technology saves you and us valuable time. Much of our business is technology-driven, including using the most up-to-date systems such as Street, which provides you with a better moving experience.

High street estate agents aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. They are a staple of our high street and create employment. The same can be said for online-based estate agents; they also have a place.

However, if you want all the benefits of a high street estate agent but at a similar cost to an online estate agent, then choose Leanne Kent Property (link to about us). Remember, our fees are not less because we are any less of an agent. They are merely more realistic as we don’t have all the overheads of our high street counterparts.