Jason Butcher

Google’s launch into UK online property poses a severe threat to property intermediaries

Google could become the biggest threat to online property intermediaries overnight Google is said to be considering a launch into the UK property market next year. This will allow both estate agents and private sellers to put their property for sale as an overlay on Google Maps. Whilst this is open to estate agents to exploit as well as private sellers, if it becomes incredibly popular, (and there’s every reason why it will), and the average private seller becomes more technologically savvy, estate agents as we know them, will cease to provide any real value to sellers and offer no value as part of the supply chain. Moreover, the role of the intermediary in online supply chain mechanics overall, is changing. In its early years the Internet was heralded as the great disintermediator – removing the need for middle-men across the entire spectrum of commercial affairs, and allowing manufacturers and…