UK homes come under the hammer as estate agents hit 30 year low

The slump in the property market could mark the beginning a new approach for professionals selling UK property.

A recent RICS survey reports the business of traditional estate agents has hit a 30 year low, selling an average of just one property home a week.

Even property auctions - normally a guaranteed way of selling homes - have been unable to break the credit crunches stranglehold on the property market, forcing agents and sellers to become more creative and proactive.

"The market's changing and business' need to think outside the box - adapt, diversify and consolidate" warned Steve Elson of estate agent marketing consultancy, Signature Image Consultants Ltd.

While many vendors are now adopting unusual tactics, from staging raffles to throwing in free cars or holidays with their homes, a few trail-blazing estate agents are radically changing the way they sell property in the UK.

From flat fees, aggressive internet marketing, property consulting, house doctors, house swapping services, staging raffles or throwing in free cars or holidays; some advertising gimmicks will be forgotten when the housing market picks up, but a few of these ideas may stick around long enough to become mainstream.