Trade Me claims overstated

Harcourts says it will no longer promote Trade Me to clients, many say they will no longer offer free Trade Me listings, and several agencies have removed existing listings from the site.

They will promote realestate.co.nz instead.

Instead of offering agencies a fixed rate for an unlimited number of listings, Trade Me this month began charging $159 plus GST per listing, which it told agents they should pass on to vendors.

Bayleys Waikato manager Stephen Shale told the NZ Herald the moves would hurt private sellers. “The viewings will diminish if the stock isn’t there to look at. If there’s nothing to compare your private to, the private seller is the one who’ll pay.”

Private sellers cannot list on realestate.co.nz

But Alistair Helm, who used to be the chief executive of realestate.co.nz, said there was likely to be little impact.

“I can't see real estate agents exercising this impact. Even if a few boycott, traffic to Trade Me won't change and all sellers will derive the usual benefits.”