The plot thickens further...
The companies that own the portals took the view that as we were not an estate agent, they could no longer advertise our properties. Then, in December 2006, the Office of Fair Trading concluded that online property selling companies were now covered by, and would have to comply with The Estate Agents Act 1979. One of the benefits of using first4sale.com was that you could - even if you were already contracted to an estate agent as a sole agent - sell your property privately with no liability to pay commission. This ruling by the OFT meant that if a seller was already with an estate agent, they would technically be instructing another if they listed with us, and so be in breach of their contract and potentially liable to pay the agent.
We did not set out to be, nor have we ever seen ourselves as an estate agent. To be classed as one is a complete paradox and contradicts the spirit and ethos of the site. We did not set out to battle against the established agencies. In fact we believe that there is room for professional agencies that give good value for money whilst allowing consumers to choose to sell their homes themselves using an online professional service such as first4sale.com.