UK Portals at War: Zoopla's New Negotiations to Dethrone Rightmove

Zoopla's Commercial Chief Officer, Andy Marshall, has been in talks with three real estate agent giants—Dreamview Estates, Hausman and Holmes, and Alan Goldin Estates—and they seem to have come to a mutually beneficial agreement. 

For the next five months, agents signed up with Zoopla can utilize its services free of charge. After the period ends, those individuals can sign up for new paid contracts, the terms of which are to be explained. 

Managing Director of Dreamview Estates, Murray Lee, said that the British property portal's new offer proves that Zoopla believes there is a chance at persuading agents to leave Rightmove in droves and this deal will support that. 

He went on to explain that with Rightmove's fee cut period ending— a cut that is 75%— Zoopla will be the next portal those looking to save money and time, will look towards. 

Another innocuous movement is happening with another startup. Homesearch, which is planning to launch next month amid the chaos surrounding the novel COVID-19 virus, says that it has over 25,000 agencies interested in its services and that it will not directly charge agents for listings or leads, but offer an optional network service at £155 per branch per month, lasting until 2025.