The Swiss Chamber of Real Estate Agents distances itself from Homegate

Homegate, the online portal belonging to the Tamedia Group, is now entering the real estate brokerage business and charging real estate agents a 30% fee.

The Swiss Chamber of Real estate Agents, which represents the interests of over 70 certified quality brokers, distances itself from this type of service.
Both the Real estate and media markets are highly competitive. The increasingdigitization calls for new marketing models and sources of income. Against thisbackground, the online portal “Homegate” has developed a new service. In future, it wants to earn money from the publication of real estate properties as well as from brokerage.  

The Swiss Chamber of Real Estate Agents does not see any added value in this business model, neither for the Property seller nor for the estate agents. The point of criticism: Homegateonly recommends estate agents who are prepared to pay 30% of the agent’s fee to the online portal. Beyond that, no qualitative recommendation criteria are recognizable.

“Homegate strengthens estate agents”. According to Herbert Stoop, Presidentof the Swiss Chamber of Real Estate Agents, this claim is nothing more than a Trojan horse. “In reality,Homegate is declaring itself a competitor to the real estate industry,” he says. The Chamber of Real Estate Agents is therefore examining whether increased cooperation with other online platforms would make sense.

Three years ago, the Chamber of Brokers already rejected a cooperation with the comparison service Comparis for a similar model.

Click here for the press release