The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have published four research reports undertaken as part of its market study into home buying and selling. These comprise a survey of estate agents, a survey of trading standard services and two quantitative consumer research reports.
The research suggests that consumers are increasingly open to alternative methods of buying or selling a home. While the large majority of sellers used a traditional estate agent, more than a third initially considered selling privately, using an online estate agent, or selling at auction. There is a marked increase in interest in online estate agents relative to their previous 2004 survey.
The OFT intends to publish its market study in early 2010.
To view the reports go to
http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/market-studies/current/buyingandselling