FAQ - onthehouse.com.au

Our motto is "why not?". onthehouse.com.au is a free service for agents which has sought to address many of the concerns real estate agents have with the industry as it currently stands.

Will you ever charge agents to list with onthehouse.com.au?

No we won't! I hear you saying "yeah yeah, heard that before" - but seriously, we will never charge agents to list on our site.

How will an agent receive an enquiry on a listing?

Your logo and contact details will be displayed on every property listing (assuming you have provided your logo) so buyers will contact you using their preferred method, be it email or phone.

I upload my data to the major portals through an outsourced service provider or 'portal pusher/multi-loader'. Will I be able to have my data also sent to onthehouse.com.au via this service?

Yes, onthehouse.com.au is currently listed with many of these service providers. If your service provider does not push listings to onthehouse.com.au, just let us know and we will contact them to try and arrange something for you.

I don't outsource my data uploads, how do I list directly with onthehouse.com.au?

To set up an agent profile please contact us. We can create an agent account with several logins for individual agents under that account. From there you simply login to the site and create your own listings.

Are any of your shareholders part of a real estate franchise system (i.e. my competition)?

No, we are a privately owned company which is not in any way aligned with any real estate agencies/franchise systems. We prefer to keep things at 'arm's length' which enables us to be unbiased with our operations and provide you with a top notch service.

Your site looks good at the moment but will it be bombarded with distracting advertisements in the future?

Our aim is to keep distracting advertisements to a minimum. We will of course require some advertising as a means of offsetting the free listings we offer to you.

What other services will you offer to agents?

Apart from the free property sales data we currently offer, we are developing a much more extensive database of sales data which will be available to all users of the site.

We also offer agents free banner advertising throughout search results - also free of charge. Our technology will examine the level of content posted by each agency in a region per month and generate an agent advertisement in each search results page relevant to the enquiry. For instance, if a search of West End in Queensland generated 100 properties for sale, then each page of 20 property listings would contain an agent advertisement, selected and ranked by quantity of listings of the agents in that region.

Phase 2 of our development process (under construction as we speak) includes the creation of extensive reporting features. We will collate and analyse data from the site and make it available to you as a valuable resource tool.

On completion of phase 2 of our development process, each agent's office location will be represented as an icon on the onthehouse.com.au mapping features. Each icon will capture each agent's logo and contact details. Of course, this only applies to agents who have listed properties with us.

onthehouse.com.au will listen to agent feedback and strive to provide agents with the services and features which are most important to them.

Why are you supporting private sales if you insist you want to do right by agents?

Private sales is only a small percentage of the current real estate market (around 1% - 2% from our enquiries), but capturing that 1% - 2% allows us to provide agents with all of the services detailed above. Without private sales content, we could not service agents free of charge. onthehouse.com.au also wants to be a service available to everyone and for this reason, we do not want to disregard consumers who would like to sell privately but, until now, have not been able to do so effectively.

What sort of technology does onthehouse.com.au use?

onthehouse.com.au has strived to provide consumers with the latest in technology. Our site features:

Search results displayed on dynamic, interactive google maps. As the contents of the map are changed by the user scrolling or zooming, the search criteria updates itself accordingly.
Search results displayed by user preference (in a map, list, tiled or detailed).
User can browse by means of an interactive map, drilling down through states through to regions and sub regions.
Javascript technologies such as AJAX utilised throughout so as to enhance the user experience.
An interactive photo gallery, providing the user with a slideshow.

Private Seller FAQ's

Why should I list with onthehouse.com.au?

Save money!!

You will save thousands of dollars in commission fees by selling privately.

It's easy!

Our step by step process makes listing simple. Its as easy as 1, 2, review! We also provide guidance on every aspect of the selling process. See our Hints and Tips for more information.

You are in control

You decide how and when to sell your property. You decide the sale price. You decide who views your home and when.

You are the expert

Who knows your property better than you?

You receive feedback direct from buyers

All feedback will be sent directly to you so you get the full story.

How much will it cost to sell my property?

With onthehouse.com.au you have two options if you wish to sell your property:

Our 'no up-front cost to list' method. You can place your listing free of chrage on our site. If your property is sold through onthehouse.com.au, you only pay 0.5% commission on the sale price of your property! If your property is not sold through onthehouse.com.au, you don't pay a thing! Your listing will remain on the site until your property is sold*.
Our 'up-front' payment method. Pay just $250 to list your property for as long as you like*. No other fees payable. This fee is non-refundable.

What payment methods are available?

With the 'no up-front cost to list' method, payment is payable upon settlement of your sale. Accordingly, we will liaise with your solicitor to have a cheque drawn from the settlement funds.

With the 'up-front' payment method, payment is due at the time of listing and may be made by credit card (we accept Mastercard and Visa). If you do not have a credit card, please contact our helpful support staff who will try to arrange an alternative payment method.

Can I still use an agent?

Yes you can! If you prefer to use a real estate agent, why not use our 'no up-front cost to list' method as well? Whoever sells first receives the commission and if its us, you save! You should ensure you have an 'open' or 'sole' listing with your real estate agent to enable you to do this. Check our How To guide for more information on this.

How do I list my property?

Click this link and you will be taken to the Sell page. Alternatively, click on 'Sell' from the main menu.

How do I register with onthehouse.com.au?

Click this link and you will be taken to the Join page. Alternatively, click 'Join' from the main menu.

How long will my listing last?

Your listing will remain on the site until it is removed by you. Listings which remain inactive for more than 90 days will be removed from the site but don't worry, we will remind you first.

How do I estimate a value for my property?

See our brochure on How To Set A Sale Price For Your Property.

What do I do once I receive an enquiry on my property?

After receiving an enquiry on your property, the potential buyer's contact details will be forwarded to you via email. You should contact the potential buyer to arrange a mutually convenient time for him/her to view your property. Ensure your property is presented at its best when they arrive by following our hints and tips on How To Prepare Your Property For Sale.

What do I do once I have received and accepted an offer on my property?

You should edit your listing in the 'My Listings' section of the site under 'My Profile' to advise us that it is under contract and to avoid other buyers contacting you. You should then contact your solicitors to finalise the Contract of Sale. If you chose the 'no up-front cost to list' method, you should also advise us of your solicitor's contact details.

Who will prepare the Contract of Sale?

Your solicitor can prepare the Contract of Sale on your behalf.

Is it necessary for me to hire a lawyer?

Yes, a lawyer/solicitor will assist you through the conveyancing process. You will need to hire a lawyer regardless of whether you sell privately or with an agent, unless you are familiar with the conveyancing process. Conveyancing involves the preparation of the contract, preparing the required transfer forms, arranging for payment of stamp duty, peforming the appropriate searches on the property, preparing settlement adjustments (i.e. rates) and attending settlement on your behalf.

How do I edit my listing and how often can I edit my ad?

You can edit your listing at any time through the 'My Listings' section of the site under 'My Profile'.

How do I find out how many people have viewed my ad?

You can do this in the 'My Listings' section of the site under 'My Profile'.

Can you track sales on properties listed on your site?

Yes, we monitor sales on all properties listed on our site. This ensures we can keep track of commissions owed to us if properties sell using the 'no up-front cost to list- method. Administration charges may be payable if we are not notified of a sale.

My listing has not appeared on the onthehouse.com.au website.

We will approve/disapprovee listings within 1 business day. If you posted your listing more than 1 business day ago, please email us and we will investigate the problem. Ensure you quote your property ID when contacting us.

General FAQ's

I have forgotten my username.

Your username is your email address.

I have forgotten my password.

Click here to have your password emailed to you.

How do I sign up for email alerts?

You will first need to become a member of onthehouse.com.au by completing your details in the 'Join' tab. You can then sign up for email alerts via the 'My Alerts' section in 'My Profile'.

Will my contact details remain private?

Yes, unless you submit an enquiry on a property or an enquiry is made on your property. At that point, sellers and buyers details are exchanged and forwarded to both. We take your privacy seriously, please see our Privacy Policy for further information.

When will my for sale sign arrive?

For sale signs will be dispatched within 1 business day of confirmation of successful payment. You should receive your sign within 7 business days but in some cases, delivery may take up to 10 business days. If you do not receive your sign within this time, we will be happy to provide a refund of the amount paid.

My for sale sign has not arrived.

If it has been more than 10 business days since you ordered your sign, we will be happy to provide a refund and a new sign. Please email us and we will investigate the problem and arrange for your refund. Ensure you quote your property ID when contacting us.