Paul_M started this topic @ 19:40 on 12/04/2004
Firstly hi to everyone in the forum. I have had a property website idea for a while now and have been reviewing a potential web mock up that has been sent to me to look at. My main concern is that there appears to be so many sites, i.e. the likes of Rightmove, Assertahome to name two of the big ones. There are also sites that allow people to sell their property privately without using estate agents. All have different charging structures aimed at agents and private sellers. However I am trying to look at it from another angle. Do you think buyers would pay to access a site if it had an added benefit? Also alot of the sites seem to display properties that have long been sold, how can I get over this hurdle which should make my site more appealing? I definitely believe that there is a gap in the market if I can distinguish my site from the rest.
I would welcome your comments and thoughts.
Thanks
Paul.
RE: Property website idea
Kieron | 12/04/2004 09:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul_M
Do you think buyers would pay to access a site if it had an added benefit?
It would have to be a hell of a benefit to get people to pay to access your site. How many websites do you know where people pay to access them? Sure, one or two of the huge portals or online newspapers have some form of paid content. But people are so used to viewing sites for free it will take something extraordinary to be able to demand a charge to view.
In the case of house buyers, they can get all the information they want regarding buying a property from estate agents for free can't they? What would they want to pay for?
Kieron
RE: Property website idea
hollyyetmore | 12/04/2004 10:20 PM
Hi,
The only site I can think of where people pay to access premium content is for developing land, basically a search website and very useful to self-builders. I think it's called Plotsearch. But it has to be very, very good info to be worth it... there are already a few sites (forsalebyowner for example) which do what I think you're planning to do.
Holly
www.yetmore.com - amazingly cost effective websites, design and copy writing
[url]www.YetMoreTraffic.co.uk[/url] - Web traffic tips and tools
www.musosguide.com - for music lovers everywhere
------------------------
www.yetmore.com
www.musosguide.com
[url]www.yetmore.com[/url]- Amazingly cost effective creativity for small businesses!
[url]www.musosguide.com[/url] - NEW LOOK!! WITH BUFF NEW FORUM READY FOR FILLING
RE: Property website idea
afam | 12/04/2004 10:39 PM
Hello Paul,
I think you should allow for free access for now and when visitors to your site know that you have some value added services, they will pay to access it if/when you decide to charge them.
I believe that every individual who has a dream should believe in that dream and even try it out. What works for Mr A may not work for Mr B. However, it is only when you try your idea that you can say it's okay or not.
I have learnt to do things they way I feel is best for my business. My online business is still surviving and making money for me simply because I dared to be different in alsmost every aspect of the services I render especially business websites - I offer 100% risk free business websites to Nigerian business owners and every other day I have new clients. People thought I was crazy when I started the 100% free business transactions but when they saw the success rate some of them are beginning to do business just like that.
www.time-autos.com, www.broadhorizonsng.com, www.deemranbey.com, www.unass.com, www.elferrari.com, www.keyamochambers.com are websites provided without the owners depositing any funds until they were completed and delivered. All of them were happy and paid up without questions.
The point I am trying to make is this, that dream of yours may be the only thing you need to set yourself apart from the competition and smile to the bank.
All the best.
Afam
http://www.lagosestores.com
------------------------
Afam Nnaji
Just Web Services.
http://www.justwebservices.com">href="http://www.justwebservices.com">http://www.justwebservices.com
RE: Property website idea
decider | 05/05/2004 11:20 PM
I don't know if this would be legal or not but the best way is to hire some-one to stand near estate agents to approach their visitors and hand-over your leaflet that has your website link on it.
------------------------
DECIDER is now deleted - and all posts are being deleted
RE: Property website idea
Gradpads | 06/05/2004 09:06 PM
I don't think anyone would pay for access in this day and age, not when there are so many free alternatives around. The only possibility I could think of would be to operate like Loot, with premium members allowed to view property details earlier than others.
As for added value, if you offered some personalised service that the other big property websites could not, then you might have a market. Thinks like personal property hunters, contacting the relevant people for them etc etc.
If you do get this off the ground, please get in touch. We could exchange links.
RE: Property website idea
gulp | 06/05/2004 09:16 PM
quote:
[i]Originally posted by decider[/i]
[br]I don't know if this would be legal or not but the best way is to hire some-one to stand near estate agents to approach their visitors and hand-over your leaflet that has your website link on it.
That maybe a bad idea.
You'll probably be dragged to court for unfair competition.
RE: Property website idea
meterer | 06/05/2004 09:25 PM
quote:
[i]Originally posted by gulp[/i]
[br]quote:
[i]Originally posted by decider[/i]
[br]I don't know if this would be legal or not but the best way is to hire some-one to stand near estate agents to approach their visitors and hand-over your leaflet that has your website link on it.
That maybe a bad idea.
You'll probably be dragged to court for unfair competition.
How is it unfair competition ?