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An online estate agent is a relatively new concept in the United Kingdom, and operates in many ways like a traditional estate agent, marketing properties for sale online via property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla. In most cases online estate agents will take photographs of your property, prepare a floor plan, arrange (but not conduct viewings), vet potential buyers, market your property for sale, and provide a for sale board.

Many online estate agents will also offer online lettings as a managed service for landlords too in England and Wales.

The Difference
As an online estate agent will offer a range of services similar to what you’d expect to receive from a High Street agent it is often difficult to identify the differences and ultimately define the industry, however there are some key differences. Notably online estate agents will not conduct viewings, and normally keep running costs low by ditching an expensive high street presence, normally choosing to operate from serviced offices.

As a result of keeping operating costs to a minimal online estate agents can typically afford to market properties across England and Wales for anywhere from £100 - £700, which is a contrast to the pricing model proposed by the traditional high street model.

References in the Media
As of October 2014 Sarah Beeny hosted Sarah Beeny's How to Sell Your home, a show which follows the trials and tribulations of everyday home owners attempt to sell their property online with an online estate agent. It was reported by estateagenttoday.co.uk that the publicity of the show has led to "significant boosts in traffic" to the major online estate agents websites.

"In a few years' time this will be normal, Sarah Beeny talks selling your house online " published by The Express, October 2014

In March 2013 The Telegraph published "The online estate agents that charge just £500 ".

In July 2013 The Observer published "How to sell your house online ".

Consumer Advice
Independent researchers "Which?" have published an impartial consumer guide to selling your home online with an online estate agent.

The HomeOwners Alliance an independent membership organisation acting as the voice of homeowners have also published an independent guide to choosing an online estate agent.

Regulation in the United Kingdom
Online estate agents are required to be members of The Property Ombudsman, like their high street cousins. They will also need to comply with trading standards, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) if the agents has a lettings arm.