Discount store founder’s new venture seeks crowdfunding investors

POUNDLAND founder Steve Smith is seeking crowdfunding investors for his EstatesDirect.com business.

The general public can now buy equity in EstatesDirect.com through Crowdcube, a crowdfunding platform designed to enable companies to raise venture capital from public investors.

Midlands-based Smith joined forces with DatingDirect.com pioneer Darren Richards and entrepreneur Ben Grove to launch EstatesDirect.com – a fixed-fee estate agency, which aims to bridge the gap between online and High Street estate agents.

The network offers to sell or let any property online for a fixed fee, potentially allowing customers to make savings through by-passing traditional estate agent commissions. But it also employs regional agents who provide local knowledge and meet with customers on a one-to-one basis.
 
During the last two years, the company says it has has refined its business model and has sold and let more than 450 properties.

Smith said: “More than 95% of home movers now search for property online and it is predicted that within a few years, 60-70% of all properties on the market will be listed by online estate agents.

“Yet, we know that homeowners and landlords still value the knowledge and service they receive from experts in the field.
 
“That’s why EstatesDirect.com combines the two.
 
“We have ambitions to make EstatesDirect.com the UK largest, single branded, personal estate agency network within the next few years, so now is the right time to open the company up to crowd funding on Crowdcube.”