SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
The UK property market has long suffered from fragmentation,
inefficiencies, and hidden costs, causing frustration for buyers, sellers, and
property professionals alike. From estate agents to conveyancers, mortgage
brokers, surveyors, and tradespeople, everyone involved routinely faces
unnecessary stress and confusion due to the absence of a cohesive and
transparent system.
One fundamental issue lies in outdated and expensive
lead-generation methods, dominated by property portals and intermediaries.
Businesses frequently face steep upfront fees or referral charges simply to
access potential clients. BBC Panorama's recent exposé of estate agency
giants Connells and Purplebricks allegedly revealed disturbing practices such
as conditional selling, hidden charges, and deliberately inflated valuations
designed to secure listings.
Panorama's undercover investigation illuminated a systemic
crisis. Connells, it was alleged, was caught prioritising buyers who utilised
in-house mortgage services - so-called "hot buyers"- even
if independent buyers made superior offers.
There is nothing illegal in estate agents offering mortgage services –
but making it a condition of purchase is illegal. Purplebricks, on the other hand, were accused
of incentivising staff to aggressively reduce prices soon after deliberately
overvaluing properties to attract sellers. These practices ultimately erode
consumer trust, cause properties to stagnate, and result in sales
well below true market value.
Solicitors often bear the brunt of these dysfunctional
dynamics. Lacking robust marketing capabilities, they heavily depend on estate
agent referrals, typically paying fees between £200 to £400 or even higher per
referral. Considering average conveyancing fees range from £800 to £1,500,
referral fees significantly cut into their profits, forcing solicitors into a
high-volume, low-quality service model. One solicitor, speaking anonymously to
industry press, admitted, "We have no choice but to handle more cases than
we realistically can, leading inevitably to communication breakdowns and
mistakes. It can become a nightmare, and transactions fall through more
frequently." It is clearly obvious that solicitors are seriously
under-charging for the work they do. This obviously needs to change and
will require educating the public as to why the price increases are needed.
Estate agents, by contrast, commonly earn between 1% to 3%
of the property's sale price. On a £300,000 home, agents could make between
£3,000 and £9,000 - far surpassing the solicitor's fees, despite
solicitors carrying considerable long-term liability. A leading conveyancing
expert explained, "Solicitors must maintain extensive indemnity insurance,
as errors can severely impact homeowners years down the line. It's an
imbalanced and unfair system." However, it has to be acknowledged
that estate agents’ costs per sale completed are massively higher than that of
their Legal counterparts in the transaction.
Real-world examples highlight the scale of these issues
vividly. In one case, a family listed their Clapham home at £700,000 but faced
multiple reductions over 12 months, eventually receiving valuation feedback
dropping the value to just £470,000, collapsing their planned move and
disrupting a chain of transactions (source: Financial Times). Another couple, Maria and
Luke Bailey, found themselves stuck after dropping their Chard home's price by
£50,000 with no buyers in sight, ultimately describing their experience as
"chasing a disappearing market" (source: The Times).
The forum communities resonate deeply with these
frustrations. HousePriceCrash.co.uk users openly criticise agents who
"take on any instruction" just to capture leads. One Reddit user
likened the current market conditions to a "reverse auction,"
stating, "Sellers list high and reduce until the first buyer blinks…
forced sellers are literally eating through savings" (source: Reddit).
The problems don't stop there. Mortgage brokers lament being
locked into expensive lead generation schemes where they pay for unqualified or
recycled leads. "We're paying £50-£100 per lead only to find out most
aren't even serious enquiries," said one broker quoted in Mortgage
Strategy. "We need a system where we can connect with people directly, not
through layers of middlemen."
Meanwhile, tradespeople face their own battle with platforms
charging hefty commission fees. On one forum, a plumber shared his frustration:
"I lose 20% of my earnings to lead platforms, then half the jobs don't
even come through. It's killing local businesses."
With so many voices crying out for change, the solutions
they are asking for are clear and consistent:
- Transparent referral
structures: Homebuyers and sellers want to know if they are being
nudged towards a service provider because of financial incentives.
- Realistic, honest
valuations: "Price it right or you're dead in the water,"
says Antony Antoniou, CEO of Robert Irving Burns (source: The Times).
- Centralised,
collaborative systems: Professionals are calling for platforms where
everyone involved in a transaction can communicate and update progress in
real time. One conveyancer told Law Gazette, "If I could
tick off tasks and notify everyone in one go, it would save me hours each
week and probably halve transaction times" (source: Law
Gazette).
- Digitised material
information upfront: Several industry bodies have echoed Trading
Standards' call for upfront disclosure of property details to avoid delays
later in the process. It is a legal
requirement that this information to be made available, however the actual
legislation has recently changed, causing much confusion and making the
upholding of any such law far more difficult than it has been for over 30
years.
- Fairer fee structures:
Solicitors and tradespeople alike want a model that doesn't force them
into high volumes or high commissions.
The evidence clearly points to systemic challenges that need urgent attention and action. Transparent, fair, and digitised processes aren't just desirable - they are essential for restoring trust, efficiency, and fairness to the UK's property market.
As one property industry commentator put it: "We've been talking about modernising the market for 20 years. Sellers are crying out for honesty, buyers want clarity, and professionals need tools fit for the 21st century. If nothing changes soon, we'll keep watching the same mistakes collapse chains and ruin lives."
ARE THERE ANY SOLUTIONS OUT THERE?
Short answer is YES. There are many
existing solutions along with new innovations coming to market that
are trying to tackle these problems head on. The problem is, they are not
promoted enough, if indeed at all, by their respective industries. Those
with direct access to the people who need the solutions, such as industry
bodies and the press do little to raise awareness.
INTRODUCING WIGGYWAM: A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS PROPERTY - BUILT
FOR EVERY USER
WiggyWam's vision is bold: a fully integrated, transparent
property marketplace built on social networking technology where each
professional and consumer can interact openly, free of middlemen.
As one member accurately summarised "it's
basically a one stop shop for all things property related, covering everything
from finding professionals, to viewing properties for sale, and then
effortlessly managing the transaction through collaborative property workspaces
that keep everyone updated with a single click, or by posting
messages."
Unlike traditional property portals, WiggyWam is a fully interactive platform that unites estate agents, conveyancers, mortgage brokers, surveyors, tradespeople, and home movers under one digital roof. But it goes further than solving transactional problems – it's designed to empower professionals, simplify moving journeys, and strengthen local communities.
Simplifying Transactions with Property Workspaces
At the heart of WiggyWam are Property Workspaces
- collaborative digital hubs where everyone involved in a property
transaction works together seamlessly. Instead of scattered emails, phone
calls, and outdated CRMs, agents, solicitors, and brokers can update their own automatically generated checklists (which they can also edit and expand on) and post messages in one place. Every update automatically notifies
all relevant parties, saving hours of duplicated effort and avoiding costly
misunderstandings.
This system dramatically reduces delays and helps prevent one of the property industry's most common pain points: collapsed chains caused by poor communication.
A MARKETPLACE BUILT FOR EVERY USER:
Estate Agents
WiggyWam gives agents freedom from restrictive portals. For a low monthly subscription, they can list properties, showcase their brand, and engage directly with clients. When properties are listed, a Property Workspace is automatically created. Agents are assigned the role as Workspace Owner, and there is very little for agents to do here other than inviting the relevant parties to join such as the seller, buyer, solicitors, even surveyors, mortgage brokers and removals firm. They (if they choose to offer this invaluable service) become the project managers of the entire transaction). This is, we believe an incredible value added service to any agent's offering. There is nothing else out there that offers this service! Agents also have tools to share blogs, videos, and podcasts, establishing themselves as trusted local experts and building a lasting digital presence.
Conveyancers & Solicitors
No more paying hundreds per referral. WiggyWam helps conveyancers market their services directly to home movers and estate agents. Their profiles highlight services and accreditations, while Property Workspaces enable them to communicate updates once and notify all stakeholders instantly. This helps reduce caseload pressures and improves service quality. If you are having to work with an agent who isn't embracing the WiggyWam Property Workspaces, you can take over this process by creating your own Property Workspace. It takes seconds. After that, there is very little to do other than invite all the relevant parties to join.
Mortgage Brokers
Instead of buying unqualified leads, brokers can connect directly with consumers and professionals in the network. In addition to marketing their services and being directly contactable, they can respond to service requests directly - no middleman blocking what they see. No pay-to-view fees. Absolutely nothing sitting between them and potential clients. Also, by showcasing their credentials and publishing helpful content, brokers build trust and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Tradespeople & Service Providers
For one affordable very low monthly fee, tradespeople get a digital shopfront to promote services, display work portfolios, and collect reviews. No need to manage their own websites anymore. With no per-job commission, they keep ALL of their earnings and can target local and national clients effectively. They can respond to incoming leads from service requests with no interference from the platform. Totally open and transparent.
Home Buyers & Sellers
WiggyWam empowers home movers and other consumers who are here seeking other property related services with access to a trusted network of professionals. Buyers and sellers no longer need to feel pressured into using in-house services that may be pushed on them by a minority of estate agents. They will also benefit from transparent, real-time communication on WiggyWam, including within their private property workspace if they are buying or selling a property.
Strengthening Local Communities
WiggyWam isn't just fixing transactions; it's fostering vibrant local networks. From connecting movers with reliable decorators and removal services to promoting independent businesses, the platform helps money flow back into local economies and strengthens community ties.
Addressing Long-Standing Industry Issues
By removing costly middlemen, simplifying
communication, and empowering professionals to showcase their expertise,
WiggyWam directly addresses systemic problems:
- Referral fees that
drain solicitors, mortgage brokers and other professionals profits
are eliminated.
- Overwhelming caseloads are
reduced for solicitors with smarter collaboration.
- Opaque, high-cost
portals are replaced with transparent, affordable subscriptions.
- Poor marketing tools are
replaced with rich, interactive profiles.
- And lots more...
A Vision for the Future
Even in beta, WiggyWam is redefining how property can be bought,
sold, and serviced. Upcoming features like automated material information
gathering and AI-powered insights promise to accelerate transactions and set
new benchmarks for transparency. If you want to be the one of the first to
hear about this please subscribe to our email list. If you would like to be one
of our early beta testers then please also get in touch.
This isn't just about repairing a broken market it's
about creating a connected, modern property ecosystem that works for everyone.