Archive

Estate and lettings agency is arguably one of the most fierce, ruthless and relentless industries going. And, with fluctuating stock levels,...

When Oakland A’s, a small-market team, stunned the baseball world 16 years ago by transforming itself into world-beaters on a shoestring-budget,...

‘Up’ is the key word in Rightmove’s figures for the first half of 2018, released to the City and to shareholders...

Agents are being offered a new way to capture details of prospective clients thanks to a partnership between The ValPal Network...

A new digital product claims to help agents estimate which of their past customers are statistically most likely to move again...

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

A new free-to-list portal is to be launched - and it is to be ‘voice led’.  The PropTech firm Triplerr says it...

So here’s the thing. It’s summer - not much going on, school holidays about to start, industry publications filling out space...

The For Sale board is one of the oldest marketing tools available to agents, but it is still considered one of...

Clients of software provider Reapit can now integrate with leading sharing and online valuation service The ValPal Network. The objective is to help Reapit...

Letting agents are being advised to think seriously about how they can recoup costs to help compensate for the introduction of...

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

A recent holiday in the US gave me an opportunity to catch up with property news over there - and surprisingly,...

A pensioner who committed sexual assaults on two women - one of them an estate agent - has been sent to...

Coming into force on May 25, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - which replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 -...

How can you use data to benefit and better your business? It’s something you’ll no doubt have asked yourself down the...

As promised a few weeks ago, this week’s Natter concentrates on the importance of content, design and social media, three easily...

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Ben Robinson, Director of Agency Services at Landmark What is Landmark...

Manning Stainton, one of the major estate agency chains operating across North Yorkshire, is to return to listing on ZPG. It will...

Industry suppliers Landmark Information and The ValPal Network have entered what they call “a strategic relationship” to provide the firms’ respective...

HM Revenue and Customs has won a key ruling concerning a tax avoidance scheme promoter which claimed to be able to...

One of the most important aspects of running a successful estate or letting agency is being able to generate new business...

House prices have taken a spring leap in the north of England as the market improves - but it’s a different...

For many estate agents seeking to become entrepreneurs, the idea of starting their own business is undoubtedly daunting, especially when going...

A major revamp of Northern Ireland’s Propertynews portal has been unveiled with one of the targets being to enhance the visability...

A Stratford estate agent accused of killing his wife on New Year’s Day has pleaded not guilty to a charge of...

A former president of the National Association of Estate Agents has attacked “irresponsible agents” for over-valuing asking prices in London in...

Hello and welcome to this week’s Property Jobs Today. If you haven’t caught this feature before, it’s a regular Monday opportunity...

Rightmove says its commercial property side is “continuing to gain momentum” with 650,000 leads generated for customers in 2017. Perhaps with an...

Rightmove has reported another very large leap in revenue in 2017 and a modest rise in agency and new home customers...

A network of agents representing over 800 brands with over 4,000 branches has announced the launch of a host of new...

The printing industry is in the midst of a decline as digital products and services displace printed materials, which is why...

PropTech firm Iceberg Digital has revealed an expansion of its marketing deal with franchise agency giant Hunters.  This will involve local content...

In recent years January has become the month of detoxes, fad diets, health kicks such as Dry January and Veganuary, and...

Japanese knotweed, the invasive plant brought over to Britain in the Victorian era, threatens millions of pounds worth of property transactions...

New research from the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents reveals that no fewer than...

An estate agent has offered a reward of £1,000 for information to help find a safe stolen from his premises during...

There’s a new warning being issued for estate agents and all other businesses to ensure they are prepared for the General...

Here we are again: another much anticipated Budget has been and gone and, yet, still nothing much has changed! Yes, of course,...

ZPG has revealed its 2017 annual report this morning with a stream of records - 648 million visits to portals, revenue...

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...

A new software tool claims to be able to verify leads by checking on buyers via social media.  Using Facebook, LinkedIn and...

Winter seems to be firmly with us now, if the plunging temperatures are anything to go by. After a ridiculously mild...

A roadshow is being launched to help the industry tackle what is being described as “the biggest change to affect estate...

The fact is that most house hunters simply do not have the time, let alone the inclination, to trawl around properties...

New Zealand’s new Labour prime minister elect has banned non-resident foreigners from buying existing homes anywhere in the country in a...

The housing market may appear sluggish at best in many areas but data from Rightmove suggests it’s now quicker to sell...

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

The ValPal Network is launching a new tool for its 4,100 agent users - an area barometer which reflects the buoyancy of...

I’ve been in France for the past few days and depending on your viewpoint, I made a spectacularly good or singularly...

Many industries in the UK are currently facing a tumultuous time as the great unknown of Brexit looms on the horizon...

Whenever any research is released, part of me can’t help thinking of that old adage, ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’ especially...

Research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research has shown that the cost of the average rental deposit is expected...

No one can say Agents’ Mutual has failed to provoke debate within the industry. The project was the centre of fierce argument...

ZPG has stepped into the escalating dispute between portals by revealing record figures on new leads - two hours before the first...

Property has been changing hands for centuries, but when did estate agents as we know them today – with their branches,...

I hate to be the guy to say ‘I told you so’…but I told you so! It seems that my predictions...

Let’s start with a quick fire quiz. How many more leads do you think you’d get with photos that have been...

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

A new report reveals how clients’ reviews and star ratings - used by many online estate agents in particular - are...

We’re already more than halfway through 2017 and, against all the odds, it’s pushing 2016 close in terms of eventfulness and...

Agents’ Mutual says it will be seeking to recover costs and compensation for losses incurred after what is widely seen as...

Supporting the adoption of technology does not mean we have to stop protecting the core values of the property industry. In...

**The free photography course for estate agents (part one) offer has now expired. It is still available in special circumstances so...

A trade body which has been founded to represent the interests of independent estate agents has partnered with consumer reviews platform...

High profile estate agency Cluttons has returned to marketing with Zoopla Property Group (ZPG).  The firm rejoined the portal at the end...

Not in vain the distance beacons. Forward, forward let us range, Let the great world spin forever down the ringing grooves of...

ZPG says the number of estate agency branches to have quit OnTheMarket and rejoined Zoopla over the past two years has...

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

The best estate and letting agents in the UK were recognised at the prestigious ESTAS luncheon and ceremony, which was held...

Given that around 95% of property searches now start online, it is more important than ever that an agent has an...

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

For my latest Property Natter I have sought the opinions of two well-known property consultants - Michael Day, managing director of...

The triggering of Article 50 may have been regarded as a historic event but it appears to have left the housing...

A survey of over 2,000 sellers who used online agency eMoov reveals that review websites were the overwhelmingly largest driver of...

Looking ahead to the Spring Budget this week, the Chancellor Philip Hammond will be obliged to face up to the implications...

Over 60% of UK consumers think that Estate Agents’ Photos Are Very Poor To Average A recent survey* by dedicated property photo...

Rightmove has released its figures for 2016 and as predicted they show the portal streaking ahead of all rivals. It reports record...

The rapid growth in popularity of buy-to-let in recent years, fuelled in part by the failings of the pensions industry, has...

1) Who are you? Kevin Ward – Director and founder of Agentlocator.co.uk 2) For those not familiar with Agent Locator, can you explain...

A new website supporting high street estate agents has recently launched. Agent Locator provides an online platform for high street estate agents to showcase...

It’s over. Done. The only ones interested are those with too much time on their hands. For God’s sake - behind...

Zoopla and OnTheMarket have issued their figures for last month’s visits, each claiming their busiest ever January. Zoopla Property Group says it...

A City consultancy has issued a note to investors backing Zoopla Property Group’s acquisition of data company Hometrack, suggested there is...

Instant gratification is nothing new. It’s been around for millennia. It’s an in-built survival instinct for humans – that want, that...

An American investment analyst has used the Motley Fool online city column to give a glowing endorsement to one of the...

1.For those who are not familiar with Properstar yet, how would you summarise your services? Properstar is an online portal that helps...

One of the country’s leading estate agency consultants and trainers, Richard Rawlings, this week embarks on a six-week tour of the...

A post-Christmas treat this week, as I carry out a Q & A with one of the leading figures in property,...

Zoopla says it delivered a record number of unique appraisal leads to its agent members in December, up 112 per cent...

OnTheMarket is to advertise across 40 channels this month, in the build up to its second anniversary at the end of January. The...

The chief executive of one of Britain’s top house builders is warning that the industry must do more to prevent an...

The introduction of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax to replace stamp duty in Scotland is having an “eye watering” impact...

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

Carpe diem, seize the day – whatever you call it, it’s something all of us in the property industry should be looking...

A new property portal is to launch in April, and has this week started recruiting estate and letting agency members while...

Zoopla Property Group's estate agency membership grew five per cent and its property listing inventory was up 10 per cent in...

Countrywide chief executive Alison Platt has told Estate Agent Today the transformation she wishes to see within the group may take...

A trading update released by Countrywide this morning shows a 29 per cent slump in London exchanges in the third quarter...

Foreign exchange giant Moneycorp says the number of Britons buying homes abroad has slumped 25 per cent since the EU referendum. In...

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

There were some absolutely brilliant figures released recently by telephone answering specialist, Moneypenny.  The highest call volumes diverted from agents to Moneypenny occurred between 10am-11am...

We are now less than a month away from Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement to the nation, depending of course on...

A website live chat provider claims research shows that the facility significantly influences activity amongst users of websites on which it...

Zoopla Property Group says there were over 53m visits to its Zoopla and PrimeLocation websites in September, up 13 per cent...

OnTheMarket says it provided “a record number of leads” to its agent members in September - but is not disclosing how...

This week we have the Head Shepherd of EweMove, Glenn Ackroyd, in the hotseat. He’s been co-owner of EweMove Sales and Lettings,...

Zoopla Property Group (ZPG) has announced the launch of a new feature on its website which will help estate agents to...

The former managing director of Countrywide has responded to claims made by Russell Quirk that the UK's largest agency rejected the...

The key lies in improving your customer experience through technology For Agents, the tremendous growth in online estate agents highlights a strong...

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

YOPA, the online agency which now has financial investment from Savills, says its instructions have risen five-fold since February. It also says...

Agents take an average of seven working hours and 11 minutes to respond to email leads - and just over a...

It’s easy to forget, but there was a time when the internet didn’t exist. When the idea behind the world wide...

Estate Agents may say they are different. They may even believe they are different. But, the perception of many vendors is that...

With ever increasing obligations, estate agents know that compliance matters now more than ever.  However, being able to obtain access to the...

As promised, this week’s Natter is dedicated to a question and answer session with Peter Brodnicki, the man who has been...

Zoopla claims that it has delivered a 40 per cent increase in valuation leads to its agent members in the first six...

The joke doing the rounds last week still seems to be just as relevant this week: “the only man with a...

Zoopla chief executive Alex Chesterman has been revealed to be one of the business leaders behind a legal challenge regarding the Brexit...

A few of our Industry Views pieces this week focus on the upcoming EU referendum. I don’t think I can add...

With more house-hunters than ever now starting their search for a new home by typically looking online on one of the major...

There has been an 11 per cent increase in sales in Scotland over the past year - and one major agency...

Cost-effective marketing will always be an important part of growing an estate agency business. I'm often asked about the ways in which...

The head of one of the country's largest estate agency chains has urged sellers to be more realistic with the asking...

An agent has expressed his anger and frustration at being the subject of an apparent cyber-attack which involved his office telephone...

Last time out I spoke about the beginnings of a PropTech revolution, with two major London-based events in the offing over...

Strutt & Parker won the UK Sales Agency of the Year award at the annual RESI Awards event, organised by Property...

Zoopla says its latest research shows it has now achieved a record level of national brand awareness and leads UK property...

House prices dipped by 0.8 per cent in April, the first month of the stamp duty surcharge and the period when...

A few years ago one of our property receptionists took a call from a vendor whose husband had passed away.  The client,...

Who are you? I’m the champion of local owner managed estate agents, leading them in the fight to beat the competition   What...

Two estate agencies have looked to a crowdfunding platform to try to raise investment. Online agency HouseSpotters wants £150,000 to “ensure the...

The broad disgruntlement of some OnTheMarket estate agent members over claims of poor quality and low quantity of leads, and the...

There was a significant drop in interest in purchasing buy to let properties in March as the April 1 stamp duty surcharge...

Some estate agents who received a letter from lawyers acting on behalf of Agents’ Mutual say they will still not upload...

One of the leading financial advice websites in the country has said that Rightmove’s “significant market share” and “insanely high margins”...

Zoopla Property Group says it has recorded a 61 per cent leap in appraisal leads in February compared to the same...

A three branch estate agency has announced that it has returned to Zoopla from OnTheMarket.  Staves Estate Agents, which has offices in...

In a digital age where we have an abundance of information at our fingertips via desktops, tablets and smartphones, our attention...

An estate agent is complaining to Rightmove about what he says is its ‘misleading’ method of calculating and publicising leads.  Like many...

A rogue estate agent has been jailed for 10 months for what a judge has described as a “thoroughly dishonest” act,...

One of the property portal sector’s leading analysts is suggesting that Rightmove may be about to increasingly involve itself with services...

A survey of 1,000 people shows that a significant number in each region of the UK are putting their sales plans...

Alex Bailes, until recently spearheading the Countrywide’s activities in the digital world, has now reappeared as Connells Group Head of Digital. Alongside...

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

ValPal is an instant online valuation tool that sits on an agents' site and converts their web traffic into vendor and...

Countrywide is to lead a group including Connells and Zoopla in a partnership with the proptech company Fixflo, currently best known...

Hybrid estate agency EweMove has unveiled its new website which claims to set a new bar for agents looking to use...

It is reported this morning that OnTheMarket has lost one of its key early investors, the Gascoigne Halman agency which is...

An OnTheMarket director says his portal can still challenge Rightmove - despite record figures from Rightmove itself. As we reported yesterday, Rightmove says...

Rightmove has announced a string of new records with visits in January up 21 million on the same period last year...

Marketing and property often go hand in hand. But from time to time you might come across certain marketing terms that...

Who are you? Steve Gosney. What does it say on your business card? Managing Director of Kremer Signs. How long has Kremer Signs...

An online estate agent who a year ago predicted that OnTheMarket would not survive for 12 months has issued a statement...

Zoopla has confirmed that its next date for announcing its agency membership totals - part of its ongoing rivalry with OnTheMarket...

Both Zoopla and OnTheMarket have ramped up their long-standing rivalry. As we reported yesterday afternoon, Zoopla has revealed what it calls a...

With the portal wars ratcheting up ahead of OnTheMarket’s first anniversary, Zoopla has revealed what it calls a “record number” of...

And so it begins. The first anniversary of OnTheMarket’s launch was inevitably going to bring a further skirmish in the portal...

OnTheMarket has issued testimonials from three agents advertising their properties on the portal, which marks its first anniversary later this month.  A...

The directors of Agents’ Mutual say they have “every confidence” in OnTheMarket as the portal approaches its first anniversary on January...

Right, so it’s one more week till Christmas and two more weeks until we head face first into 2016. Both these...

Zoopla, buoyed by its latest financial figures reported to the City yesterday, now claims that OnTheMarket lost 43 per cent of...

A new agency called Sphere Estates will launch next month following a management buy-out of high end overseas property agency Abercrombie...

As the year draws to a close, awards season is in full flow. It’s a time to reflect on the highs...

An interesting story caught my eye a few weeks ago. A man from Lytham St Annes in Lancashire attempted to sell...

Someone told me the other day that it’s now only seven Mondays till Christmas. Now there’s a scary thought. Best get...

OnTheMarket has written to a number of members of the Independent Network of Estate Agents, saying they should remove properties from...

After a week of criticism from some parts of the industry, OnTheMarket has released a series of testimonials from agents who say...

A central London estate agent is in dispute with OnTheMarket over its leads, number of agencies on board, and visits from...

House builders say portals are vital generators of leads, especially for drawing in buyers who are not ‘brand loyal’ to one...

The managing director of a Home Counties estate agency has described how leads “fell off a cliff” when he signed up...

I’m writing this from the brand spanking new Center Parks in Woburn Forest. Set within 365 acres of lush Bedfordshire forest,...

The estate agent who last week sent an open letter to OnTheMarket, saying it had lost her both business and money,...

The Resort Group, the developer of the all-suite Llana Beach Hotel and Spa, which is due to open in 2016, has...

Challenger portal OnTheMarket is “not attracting a meaningful audience or engaging with its users” and so is likely to fail according...

The Resort Group are looking for sales agents to help sell our 5-star property developments in Cape Verde. With a proven...

Over the past few years Rightmove and Zoopla Property Group (ZPG) have each been spending massive sums on marketing and product...

Detectives investigating the burglary which ultimately led to the death of PC David Phillips on October 5 have released pictures of...

Well, the hosts have left the party early. England have crashed out of their own Rugby World Cup after a demoralising...

The consumer is King and to protect sellers and buyers' best interests estate and letting agents have to operate in the...

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a policeman was struck by a car and killed following a...

Two men have been arrested following the break-in at a Merseyside estate and letting agency which ended with a police officer...

The chief executive of OnTheMarket has hit out at what he calls "detractors" who allege four multi-office agencies have quit the...

A report by Barclays Bank based on a survey of the three major portals and interviews with estate agents shows that...

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

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

The chief executive of Zoopla has pledged that there will be no financial or other penalty exerted on agents who return...

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

Zoopla is back in business with its trading update to the City this morning revealing that it has a net growth...

I received a call from a prominent agent known to many in the industry this week, asking an unexpected question: he wanted...

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

Introduce your properties to over 500,000 investors, increase sales and management stock... WHAT IS PRING Pring.co.uk is the largest investment property portal...

Estate agents want systems that deliver power, speed and mobility. Increase efficiency, reduce admin, offer a personalised service and increase your income...

Zoopla Property Group has launched a new service across Zoopla and PrimeLocation to provide users with access to thousands of professionals and...

Connells says its sales figures for June show a 27.5 per cent rise on the same month last year.  The agency has...

Zoopla claims that new research shows it leads all UK property portals with the highest level of national consumer brand awareness. The...

Estate Agent Today has seen a copy of an email sent by an OnTheMarket representative to an agent stating there may...

A review of 30 prominent property sales websites undertaken by a digital marketing company demonstrates, perhaps predictably, a huge lead for...

OK, you’re being spoilt. This column is now going to be on a bi-weekly rather than monthly basis. You lucky people,...

Scottish house prices have seen their sharpest fall in six years as the ‘transaction tax boom’ has come to an end...

London’s housing market slowdown is the chief reason UK house price growth has eased in the year to April, according to...

A new portal aimed at investors looking to purchase buy-to-let property has reported that it has thousands of listings from agents...

Hello and welcome to my brand new blog! Every month I’ll be giving you an insight into the varied, exciting and...

UK house price growth accelerated to an annual rate of 9.6 per cent in the year to March, according to the...

The ex-Savills and ex-Romans agent who heads the estate agency Capital & Coastal, Michael Riley has stepped into the row between...

The chief executive of Andrews estate agency chain says housing policy should be decided not directly by politicians but by an...

The presupposed notion still exists that new online agents are ‘tech savvy’ whilst the seemingly old fashioned high street agents are...

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

It seems like every day there’s a new article about On The Market. Usually it consists something Zoopla have said, followed...

The UK property industry has spent 4 years in an economic maelstrom. We came to this before anyone else in the...