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Frequently Asked Questions
So why should I use FlatMatcher.co.uk?
We're about 99% sure that here at FlatMatcher.co.uk we're the only website out there that offers users not only the ability to browse full profiles from the word "go", AND the prospect of a free picture profile AND the ability for landlords to upload multiple properties AND search for all tenants, landlords and flatmates AND let you contact each other directly...
But it's all free as well!
We won't charge you a monthly subscription fee or "five-pounds-per-profile-per-week", the only time you pay is when you find something you like and you want to contact the other person, and even that only costs you £1.50 (plus the cost of a text, of course!)
How does FlatMatcher.co.uk work?
1. Set up your profile, giving details of your property and specifying what you are looking for, by registering after clicking the purple button below. Once your profile has been accepted by the FlatMatcher Admin Team, you will be sent an e-mail and you are then a Bronze Member, allowing you to advertise for Free.
2. Prospective buyers see your profile and can send their contact details directly to you.
3. At the same time, you can search for other buyers that have registered with us, and if you find one that ticks your boxes, you can send your contact details to them, with a message giving them further details.
4. Once you have sent your contact details to a tenant, or a tenant sends their contact details to you, you may then make contact directly on the phone and meet or arrange a viewing – it’s up to you!
The contact process is done via SMS, which only costs you £1.50 + standard network charges. However, if the prospect tenants contacts you, you are not charged - so it really pays to have an attractive profile! FlatMatcher effortlessly puts you in touch with the landlord or flatmate directly, saving you masses of time that would be spent shopping around estate agents.
5. If you wish to enhance your property profile, you are advised to subscribe for our Premium (Silver or Gold) Membership. This allows you display your direct contact details, allowing prospective tenants to simply pick up the phone and call you immediately.
Premium membership enhances your property profile on over 200 national websites, attracting millions of prospective buyers. You can even order a 'For Sale' board to be placed outside your property for all to see - just how the agents do it!
To find out more about premium membership options, click here. However, for now, Bronze membership is Free, so register now to try us out and upgrade later.
Is FlatMatcher.co.uk an estate agent?
FlatMatcher.co.uk is not an estate agent. Most agents will charge a management fee, a registration fee, contract fee and a commission on the monthly rent. Whereas FlatMatcher simply charges a flat fee for advertising your property, potentially saving you thousands.
Why sell/buy privately?
Selling your property privately - without using an agent - is fast becoming the number one choice. This is no surprise when you consider estate agents usually charge around 1.5 per cent of the purchase price, which in today’s climate, comes to at least £3000.
This is a high price to pay, especially if your property is located in a sought-after location, where most properties go under offer within 2-3 viewings.
Once your property has gone under offer, the role of the estate agent becomes even more peripheral as the file gets handed over to your solicitor or conveyancer.
With property prices soaring, rises in Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax, can you afford to let this 1.5 per cent be swallowed up by an agent if you can generate the interest in your property by advertising and then selling privately?
At FlatMatcher, we give you the tools to harness the power of the internet to your advantage – without using estate agents – saving yourself thousands in commission.
Will my personal information be shared with anyone other than the landlord/tenant I’m dealing with?
Definitely not. FlatMatcher ensures that all personal details are kept secure at all times.
Can I change my profile once it has been created?
Of course! You can change your profile as many times as you need so that you can keep others up to date with any changes in your situation.
My searches keep returning no results, please help!
Try broadening your search: be a little liberal with your rent range and your area. At the moment FlatMatcher.co.uk will search quite specifically for what you ask of it, but we're working on making things a little more fuzzy...
I'm having trouble uploading photographs...
Pressing the upload button in your profile opens the upload photograph window. Changing the file type to "Images" will only display compatible images. After selecting your desired image, click the open/ok button. Not sure what picture is what? You can change the way your files are displayed by clicking on the "View Folder" button to the top left of the window and selecting "Thumbnails".
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Can I upload multiple properties?
Once you are registered as a landlord and have inputted the details of your initial property, you will be able to access the Landlords Only toolbar (left hand side of the screen). This toolbar will give you the ability to add, edit and generally administer your properties.
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How do I contact a landlord/tenant I like the look of?
Make sure that you are signed in! You will not be able to contact any other member of FlatMatcher.co.uk unless you have signed in to your account. Once you are signed in select the appropriate profile and view in full then press the 'Send my conact details' button. If you have already clicked the 'Send my contact details' button and were then asked to sign in, fear not: you will be returned to the profile that you were last viewing. You will now be seeing the 'Send My Contact Information" page. Type in an additional message if you wish, and then text the displayed code to 69911 to recieve your access code.
The price of this is £1.50 (inc VAT) plus the cost of the message itself. We're working on a 'Saved Searches' function, but these things take time ya know?
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I've contacted a landlord/tenant and we've decided to go ahead with it -- who deals with the contracts etc.?
You do! At FlatMatcher.co.uk we're all about matching people with property and cutting out the middle men. We believe that you can save an awful lot of time and money by dealing directly with the vendor, and one of the features of dealing directly is that you may have to write up your own contracts. We will have a standard template of a tenancy agreement for you to edit and use as a guide.
In due course, we may be able to direct you to experts that deal with the legal and financial stuff, if required. Always remember: be shrewd -- always do your research and never sign without reading everything (that goes to landlords too!).
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I want to sell my property -- how do I go about this?
If you wish to advertise a property for sale on flatmatcher,simply follow the sign up instructions as though you are a landlord, but remember to specify that you wish to sell your property -- otherwise you'll be recieving a lot of contact from very interested, but ultimately misplaced individuals..
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I am looking to buy a property -- how do I go about this?
As above, however, follow the sign up instructions as though you are a tenant, but remember to specify that you are looking to buy a house, thus avoiding the misplaced individuals scenario...
How much will I be charged?
It all depends on which type of membership you opt for. We offer 3 forms of membership: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Bronze: By registering your property on this site, you can advertise your properties Free of charge as a Bronze member. As a member, you are set to Bronze membership by default, which allows you to advertise your property on this site and to contact prospective buyers or tenants once you have paid £1.50 + Standard Network Charges by text message each time. Prospective tenants and buyers can contact you too, but paying the same via text message.
Silver and Gold: Landlords or Vendors wishing to advertise their property may opt to enhance their profile by upgrading their membership to Silver or Gold Membership on this site and attract even more interest.
As you will be saving thousands by not using an estate or letting agency, why not upgrade your membership, so prospective tenants and buyers can contact you for free?
Click here is for a cost comparison on the 3 forms of membership.
Click here to see how much you can save using FlatMatcher.
How much exposure can my property hope to get?
All properties, whether for sale by an agency or a private landlord, can be found on the internet. Therefore, when looking for a property, most peoples’ first port of call is the internet. FlatMatcher.co.uk aims to give your property just as much exposure as any estate agent, for a fraction of the cost.
For greater exposure, clients can upgrade their membership from Bronze up to Silver and Gold. Both Silver and Gold membership allows clients to have their property advertised on:
Fish4Homes
Channel4Homes.com
180+ local newspaper websites across the UK (Click here for list)
Other property sites, such as Nestoria and Email4Property
Additionally, with Gold membership, landlords receive a personalised ‘FOR SALE’ board, thus giving your property even greater exposure, certainly as much as any estate agent can hope to do.
I have a Sole Agency agreement. How would advertising my property on FlatMatcher affect this?
As FlatMatcher.co.uk is NOT an estate agent, but a portal to give your property as much exposure as possible through advertisement, it in no way conflicts with any Sole Agency Agreement.
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Can I use an estate agent at the same time as advertising on FlatMatcher.co.uk?
By advertising on FlatMatcher.co.uk, you are under no obligation whatsoever to expose your property solely through us. In fact, to give your property greater exposure, we recommend that you do use an estate agent at the same time.
How do I value my property?
(Coming soon)
How many photos can I display with my property?
Up to twelve. However, this number can be increased upon application to the FlatMatcher team.
I’ve selected my membership option, how do I pay?
Once you've registered with FlatMatcher.co.uk and your profile has been accepted, you will automatically be registered as a Bronze member. This is FREE of charge. However, if and when you wish to upgrade your membership, the fee can be paid by PayPal through FlatMatcher.co.uk.
How long do I have to wait to see my profile on the site after I have created it?
As soon as you have created your property profile and have submitted it to FlatMatcher.co.uk, it will then be checked by the FlatMatcher team. As long as there are no problems with this profile, you will be able to see it on the site as soon as possible.
How long can I advertise my property on FlatMatcher.co.uk for?
As long as you want! You can advertise on FlatMatcher.co.uk until your property is sold or let. However, those with Gold Membership will keep their exposure up to a year, when a new fee will be payable.
Will FlatMatcher.co.uk help me to find mortgage brokers, conveyancers, movers and HIPS?
(coming soon)
What are our terms and conditions?
(Coming soon)
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