CrashTester

TEST VERSION NOW RUNNING at www.jet2homes.com << please give feedback! Thx

Sorry to post in this section, I don't have a property to sell but wanted to do a little market research involving those who do, so thats why I'm posting this here.

I'm thinking about setting up a website where private holiday home owners can advertise their property for sale or to rent for free. To place an advert the property owner would simply fill in a form online that asks details about their property, then once submitted and approved their advert would be entered onto the site in several categories that best match their property listing.

So what I would like to ask is would such a site be of use to those who have or plan to post their properties here? I'm guessing anything for free that can help boost the chance of selling/renting is a bonus right?

Now, websites are not free as there are ongoing costs associated with the upkeep, therefore I have a plan to help cover these costs and also help promote the site. this includes;

• DONATIONS: Anyone listing a property would have the option to 'donate' money if they wished perhaps, the amount donated would be completely at the donators descretion.
• PAID AD: An advert could be placed on the front page of the website in full view of all visitors but at a cost to the advertiser. I'm thinking something like maybe £10 for 3 or 6 months, for example.
• SPONSORS: The web pages would have some sponsored adverts (such as google ads) placed within them that is not intrustive to the information being displayed.

If you were going to use a free site such as that being proposed, would these methods of income generation be acceptable to you?

And lastly, since I wouldn't anticipate a lot of money being generated by the above methods and a site such as this would need to advertise, It would be suggested that anyone placing an advert undertakes a degree of 'self marketting' their property by mentioning it online as much as possible that they have used the website to list their property.

I would very much like to hear your thoughts on this proposed project and hear of anything that perhaps I hadn't thought of, even if its to say 'Paul, you are wasting your time someone has already done it'.

bobthenob

Paul,let me know when you have it up and running.l will be interested in the renting out my apartment,which is unfurnished,but l would rather sell it.

fran1

well Paul, I think it is a fantastic idea! To have the one website that people can go to and considering the membership on this forum alone; word of mouth.......does wonders.

Perhaps you could even team up with an honest emlak(I am sure they do exist!) who would be prepared to help with any sales and maybe payment could come from the 'sales package', particularly as this would make it extremely easy for the seller when in the UK.

Good luck

Fran

parrot

Initially sounds good to me,but I'm not what you would call an expert.

Germaine

If its free, Its for me !

Guz1

I think Fran's suggestion is a good one. Failing that, I think a charge of £10 for 3 to 6 months is good.

Sylvia

We will be very interested. After moving into a villa living here full time we need to sell our 4 bed duplex 5 min walk From Garden of Sun 3rd beach

Juicy

Hi Paul,

I think it's a great idea. especially as estate agents hardly ever promote resales.

But who would be responsible for valuing the property? People do tend to visit estate agents sites simply because they feel it's safer, and the only downside I can see to it is the buyer being wary if the property is overpriced, or the seller is not genuine in some way.

A great idea in one way, but you'd need some kind of formal body to make the buyer feel confident they were dealing with a reputable person.

Good luck, I hope it works.

akbukcyd

Book me in for one villa and one apart pls and good luck