Archive

Before I get into the nitty gritty of the government (well, one of its startup accelerator schemes) giving away £20,000, let...

I loved my Foxtons office. I started in the Battersea branch. It was the old-style office; traditional carpets, actual properties in...

The German publishing company Axel Springer has increased its stake in Purplebricks to 12.5 per cent - and says it may...

By now we’ve all seen news about the long-term decline in property sales and competition from online alternatives leading to ‘more...

A decade ago we were still years away from Purplebricks, Countrywide was a colossus in the industry, no one had thought...

Cast your mind back to July 2008 – Gordon Brown was Prime Minister, the Euros were in full swing in Austria/Switzerland...

The time has come for full PropTech/property integration and only those who open themselves to the globe will be part of...

What a big week for PropTech! With the very first MIPIM PropTech conference, taking place in Paris today and tomorrow, comes...

The pace of change is extraordinary. As we reach the middle of one conversation, rumblings of the next already begin. I think...

Having recently attended FUTURE: PropTech in London, it struck me just how far the integration of property and technology has progressed...

A property portal that describes itself as free-to-list has launched today, taking the industry by surprise - however, at least one...

Is there really any true value to an estate agent in our current climate? Will there be a role for traditional agents...

Last time out I looked at the growing importance of content, social media and design – but these should only form...

Respected industry spokesperson Kristjan Byfield is continuing his fightback against the negative coverage of the agency industry in the mainstream press...

Well last week was interesting. The column about my decision to put the property on with a letting agent went viral.  This was...

That’s it. I’ve given up. The lull has continued and it’s becoming quite a bore.  The price drop hasn’t worked. The revamped...

The prospect of technology transforming the selling and buying process, including more power for portals and especially online agents, dominated parts...

There is a lull in my imminent flat sale. Just no activity at all, despite a price reduction!  So, I am forced...

The Future: PropTech conference takes place in under a fortnight’s time on May 2 and over 1,200 delegates have now been...

As the estate agency business in England moves towards being more robust with professional qualifications and higher standards being introduced, there...

To say I had a lot of reaction to last week's column about selling my flat would be an understatement. I've never...

Just like that, the Easter Bank Holiday has come and gone and I find myself now looking ahead to the Summer.  The...

It’s all very easy, talking and evangelising about the use of technology in the property market, but, now that I’m selling...

As always seems to be the case with Purplebricks, the hybrid agency has had a good week...and a bad one. Undeniably impressive...

Last week, a story was published by CNBC about a couple who sold their home, for above the asking price, without...

Purplebricks has given details of how it intends to use some of its new investment, and in particular is spelling out...

Purplebricks has announced what it describes as “a strategic investment from Axel Springer, Europe’s leading digital publisher” - but this comes...

For part two of the 'Day in the life of' series, I spoke to Peter Kavanagh, who first joined Romans in...

Three weeks has flown by (I missed an early deadline last week - apologies) and I find myself writing the next...

A property technology analyst has floated the idea that portals could become eclipsed by powerful alternatives such as Google, triggered by...

Smart sensors, and smart technology as a whole, are enjoying a period of accelerated innovation and adoption.  It’s my opinion that such...

Greetings from Cannes, where the sun is finally shining over MIPIM. I’m sure many of you are out here, too, and...

The UK PropTech Awards are fast approaching. The window is open for applications and nominations and on May 2, the winners...

Firstly, a huge thanks to everyone who shared and commented on my first blog and for all those that emailed me...

A mergers and acquisitions specialist says traditional agencies have been pushed into becoming more innovative by the rise of portals and...

One of the country’s leading PropTech entrepreneurs has responded to recent criticism of online estate agencies and their allegedly-poor record of...

We think about technology all the time. At least, I do. And there’s nothing left in property that technology hasn’t touched...

The death of traditional TV – where viewers sit down together to watch shows at defined times – has been much...

Co-Founder Gary Keller has declared that Keller Williams (KW) is, 'no longer a real estate company...we are a technology company No....

PropTech has been the industry soundbite for the last couple of years. For many of my fellow agents, I think it’s one...

I had an interesting meeting last week with a VR company called Garou. Based in New York, they claim to have...

Purplebricks’ new UK chief executive officer, Lee Wainwright, is to address a major industry conference in May - his first address...

I have high expectations for this year’s PropTech events and property conferences.  Those that I attended in 2017 demonstrated a real step...

Fall-through rates have long been a problem for the UK residential property market, the issue is nothing new. Today, however, the...

Arun Estates says his group’s four main operating companies are to become ‘premium brands’ through a mixture of marketing and PropTech...

Well, I don’t know about you but after the holidays I've got an imprint just below my navel where my belt...

This week, news broke of the ‘first bitcoin homes’ being sold in the UK by Go Move, an estate agency in...

Hands up if you’ve read all of the property reports that have been published in the past week or so? Forever...

As we hurtle towards the end of 2017, it’s time to reflect on the year that’s just been.   Even better, this property-based...

As Augmented Reality (AR) and Microsoft’s Hololens showcase the finest in modern architecture, it’s time for me to think again about...

The housing industry has set out a list of demands in advance of the government’s hotly anticipated Autumn Budget on Wednesday.  Despite...

Online estate agent eMoov recently set itself apart by directly addressing the issues of openness and transparency that have long dogged the online business...

Countrywide's decision to 'pause' the roll-out of its online option for sellers and landlords is "unforgivable and dumbfounding" according to a...

Saudi Arabia has announced it’s to build a new mega-city, rising out of the desert sands in the kingdom’s north, adorning...

Crowdfunding is nothing new. As I pointed out in a previous Natter, it dates back centuries, playing a part in the...

With more news of PropTech investment, this time with Spotahome and Nested, one can’t help but wonder if this boom period is...

Conveyancers and the speed of local council searches have come in for criticism as details have emerged of the government’s consultation...

The government has launched a consultation this weekend calling for evidence on how to make the home buying process “cheaper, faster...

Last week was MIPIM PropTech Summit 2017 in New York, and it was the most oversubscribed to date - proof of the...

The upcoming national conference for the Relocation Agent Network is introducing an innovative format for part of its agenda - speed...

If an industry, which is going through a major change is going to truly implement change at every level, it must...

After some months of speculation within the industry, high-profile supplier Reapit has confirmed today that it is the subject of a...

As those of us in the industry know, there is a fine balance to strike between disruptive technology – and the...

When Kenneth Bruce, co-founder of Purplebricks, published an emotional post on social media this week, my first reaction was; what a...

And so summer draws to a close. The slow, lazy months of July and August have come to pass and the...

In this week’s Natter I’m going to get all political. Don’t worry, I won’t be giving my opinions on Brexit, Trump...

A new managing director has been named for EweMove - with the promise of more high-level appointments to come for the...

The stock exchange seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment. There’s Agents’ Mutual seeking to float on the Alternative Investment...

Historically, short-term rentals have been an unattractive business for the majority of estate agents and property managers. Scarcity of demand from tenants...

The highly-popular FUTURE:PropTech conference, regarded as the leading event for showcasing and debating industry technology, has been confirmed again for next...

Two leading property technology experts have warned Foxtons that it risks failing to keep up with the digital revolution which the...

House hunters in the UK are the global leaders in online property research according to a new study from HSBC.    The bank...

In its latest report to shareholders, Rightmove has revealed yet more growth in agent numbers, traffic to its website, revenue per...

I would argue the property industry is fundamentally inefficient. Much of that inefficiency is now being handled by PropTech companies and...

ZPG has published its half-year figures this morning showing a six per cent rise in the number of agents and a...

Google, under the command of parent company, Alphabet, has set its sights on building the world’s first digital city, in Toronto,...

Two of the most influential figures behind the PropTech sector have run a microscope over Rightmove’s business model and technology -...

It’s that time of year again – peak conference/event season. And, while Brexit and a shock snap general election are dominating...

Two figures with high profiles in the world of PropTech have formed a consultancy to try to sell their services to...

As Trussle and Placester add to 2017s bonkers tally of PropTech investment, isn’t it time we end the conflict between Tech...

It seems prop-tech is exploding at a scary rate, and the latest brands are all trying to grab our attention by...

Excuse the puntastic (or not) title, but as you’ve no doubt already deciphered I took a trip northwards a couple of...

The chronic shortage of housing supply in the UK relative to demand has been a national issue for decades. The Government...

The story of the week has been the first steps of a trade body to represent independent estate agents - as...

The head of a new ‘disruptive’ online mortgage service says 2017 will see more major estate agency and other property businesses...

Forecasts are so last year: who anticipated Bowie, Brexit or Balls for example? Quotes, on the other hand, really ARE last year...

One of the key factors associated with an active private rental market in the UK, as detailed in the Dataloft PRS...

London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s aim of creating a 24-hour city is one step closer with the appointment of London’s first Night...

Relocation Agent Network has ended the year handing out 28 awards to individuals and firms at a gala dinner in London. The...

Working relationships between estate agents and conveyancers can be mutually beneficial with the referral of work between parties. However, they are missing...

It may be Halloween but here at Estate Agent Today we’re not getting distracted from honoured our heroic industry’s efforts to...

In recent weeks I have been carrying out question and answer sessions with some of the key figures in the property...

More estate agents are using – or at least considering using – virtual reality viewings as part of their services. But what...

A fantastic exclusive this week as I carry out a question and answer session with one of the leading names in...

Later on, the title of this piece should become clearer (at least I hope so). First, though, a few bits and...

The government is reported to have yet again delayed a decision on whether to privatise the Land Registry. The Financial Times says...

Zoopla Property Group is organising a series of seminars for agent members next month, aimed at promoting products offered by its...

With an anticipated “Call for Evidence” from the Dept of Business Innovation & Skills looking into the home-buying experience ETSOS is...

PropTech firm Plentific has teamed up with the HomeOwners Alliance to give another platform for its ‘Find a Pro’ service highlighting...

Summer finally arrived, the transport system (as always) went into meltdown, everyone complained that it was too hot and the sun...

Pi Labs, which has ex-TV Dragon James Caan and Countrywide amongst its investors, is partnering with a Canadian company in a...

Plans for the Northern Powerhouse scheme, designed to rival London and the South East as the main driver of economic growth...

Plentific - a proptech startup that operates a ‘find a professional’ service - has secured £2m in funding.  The service, which lists...

As a service provider to both Estate Agents and Conveyancing Solicitors from one platform, ETSOS sits in a fairly unique position...

The controversy over whether the Land Registry should be sold off will now not be resolved until a new Prime Minister...

It’s official; the estate agency business is tougher than ever. Contrary to perceptions that may exist amongst observers and even clients, the...

The Conveyancing Association is setting up a working group to consider how to increase transparency, cut unnecessary delays and costs, and...

Rightmove has begun testing a virtual reality viewing platform which will allow prospective buyers to view properties without leaving their own...

eMoov has announced that it has secured a loan of £500,000 to help it expand into lettings, international transactions and license...

The government's consultation on the proposed privatisation of the Land Registry closes today. Interested parties have had since March 24 to give...

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has challenged the government over its renewed attempt to privatise the Land Registry. Last week's Queen's...

An online petition against the privatisation of the Land Registry now has around 225,000 signatures with just over a week to...

The government is staying tight-lipped about it for the moment but there may be a major shake-up in house buying on...

On Tuesday we managed hail, snow, rain, sun and a chilly wind all in one day. Whatever you want to say...

A London agent says he has quit OnTheMarket and Agents’ Mutual as a result of the intervention of the Competitions and Markets...

This week, as the title suggests, I turn my attentions to the world of deposit protection schemes. Landlords have been legally obliged...

In 2014 there were 19,000 estate agent branches in the UK. Of which 18,000 were registered to list properties on the...

An executive director at hybrid estate agency EweMove has hit out at the government’s apparent support for innovation in the house...

Estate agents have been urged to follow the example of the travel agency industry and make high street offices more stimulating...

Who are you? Montana Hassan Tell us about yourself? I am the Business Development Director of Gnomen, my primary focus is to build strong...

Software. You might not give it much thought a lot of the time, but it’s an absolutely crucial part of how...

In line with the industry’s expectations, Rightmove has announced its results declaring a record performance by almost every measure. There were a...

The amount of column inches taken up by ‘property’ is at an all-time high.  In my mind there are two major contributing...

A branch of Connells has been named on a government website’s ‘name and shame list’ for failing to pay a member...

An agent has broken new ground by creating an open-plan shop which includes an agency office, a cafe and an interiors...

I started work in 1966 in Exeter with Fox & Sons then moved to a local company in Honiton soon after....

The founder and co-owner of hybrid estate agency EweMove has written to the chief executive of the OnTheMarket portal, lavishly praising...

It’s time to take a pause, to reflect and put into context—and what a year it has been for our industry...

There are a number of fairly recent regulations that agents need to comply with. One of them, now just over a year...

The director of a leading regional independent agency says the agency industry needs a thriving Zoopla to keep Rightmove in check,...

Estate agents interested in operating multiple listing services in the UK have the opportunity to meet one of the United States’...

I’m sure I’m not the only estate agent confused by the Government’s approach to residential property ownership. Many of the current ministerial...

The answer to the question is that we all should; both in terms of the contribution we can make to the...

There’s been a lot of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve seen it feature prominently this year on film (in...

PropSpace, an international cloud-based property software firm that has recently launched in the UK, is one of the new sponsors of...

Readers of Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today were given an exclusive opportunity to pose questions to Zoopla Property Group...

Readers of Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today were given an exclusive opportunity to pose questions to Zoopla Property Group...

So, has everyone been enjoying the fine summer weather we’ve been experiencing? Oh, wait…fear not, I will attempt to inject a...

The rising phenomenon of agent-rating and review websites is a topic that seems to have caused considerable division and controversy among...

The annual RESI conference, usually dominated by developers and debates over housebuilding totals, is this year to include a discussion on...

As a company that designs and manufactures products we are constantly looking for new products that will WOW you, and in...

The Property Redress Scheme (PRS) is delighted to announce their partnership with the award winning mediation provider, Small Claims Mediation (SCM) The...

www.dezrez.com/rezi Whilst the estate agency market has accelerated over the last ten years, it’s fair to say that technical innovation in the...

The head of a company making virtual walkthroughs for estate agents says the industry wrongly sees technology as a disruptive threat,...

Zoopla Property Group has acquired uSwitch, widely considered to be the UK’s leading price comparison website. It also generates high volumes of...