Broadband and other utility switching searches skyrocket as home movers look for better value

July 8, 2020
  • Searches to switch broadband suppliers have increased 113% since the property market reopened for business.
  • Other search terms such as ‘changing address’, ‘self-storage’ and ‘energy provider’ have also increased notably.
  • ‘Broadband’ and ‘estate agent’ are the highest-ranking searches in terms of interest

Previous data from home setup service Just Move In found that since the property market reopened in May, the number of people moving home has increased by 29%. Their latest market analysis highlights the importance of utility providers during this process and how estate agents can add value in the current climate by considering this aspect of moving home.

Just Move In analysed several key search terms around moving house both since the property market opened on the 13th May and during the period of lockdown seen before this. The research looked at the highest scoring in terms of overall interest and which had seen the most significant increase in search volumes since the property industry lockdown was eased.

Biggest increases

With many of us now reliant on our home broadband to power our professional lives as well, it comes as no surprise that ‘broadband switch’ has seen a 113% increase in search volume since the property market reopened.

‘Changing address’ and ‘self-storage’ were also some of the search terms with the highest uplift, increasing 106% and 102% respectively.

‘Energy provider’, ‘home insurance’, ‘home removal’, ‘energy switch’ and ‘tv license’ had also seen some of the largest increases in search volume.

Highest overall interest

When comparing search term volumes between the initial period of lockdown and the period since the property market reopened for business, the term ‘estate agents’ has only seen a 27% increase.

However, it remains one of the most robust searches in terms of overall interest in the UK. With an average interest score of 80, only the search term ‘broadband’ scores higher (83).

‘Council tax’, ‘home removal’, ‘energy switch’, ‘broadband switch’ and ‘energy provider’ are also amongst some of the highest-ranking search terms where the average interest score is concerned.

Top 10 largest increases in search term volume
United Kingdom
Search Term
Change (%)
Broadband Switch
113%
Change of address
106%
Self-Storage
102%
Energy provider
99%
Home Insurance
92%
Home Removal
89%
Energy Switch
83%
TV License
78%
Broadband
39%
Council Tax
34%
Change relates to the search term volume increase between 24/03/2020 – 12/05/2020 and 13/05/2020 – 27/06/2020.
Top 10 highest scoring search terms for average interest
United Kingdom
Search Term
UK Average Interest Score
Broadband
83
Estate Agent
80
Council Tax
60
Home Removal
58
Energy Switch
49
Broadband Switch
25
Energy Provider
18
Home Insurance
18
Moving Home
13
Television
12
Average Interest Score relates to search term interest between 01/01/2020 and 27/06/2020.

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