Rightmove to launch digital agent valuation tool to connect agents with more future sellers
The UK’s largest property platform Rightmove is adding a new product to its suite of valuation tools, helping agents to reach more future sellers that want an online-first experience.
With the new Online Agent Valuation, prospective sellers can send photos and detailed information about their home to selected agents, who can then reply with an initial valuation and begin a conversation.
Rightmove seller insights identified that while potential vendors want the unique insights and experience of an agent valuation, some prefer to engage digitally first rather than in-person.
Online Agent Valuation joins Rightmove’s Instant Online Valuation and Local Valuation Alert tools, providing potential sellers with more choice in how they engage with agents, and giving agents more opportunities to attract future sellers at different stages of the decision-making process.
Instant Online Valuation provides the UK’s largest and most engaged home-moving audience with an instant estimate of what a home is worth. Curious future home-movers can track and get updates about a property’s value, to decide when the right time to sell is in the future.
Local Valuation Alert connects agents directly with prospective sellers who are ready for an in-person appraisal and want the most comprehensive valuation experience.
Rightmove’s new Online Agent Valuation tools fills an opportunity gap for agents, enabling them to connect directly with potential sellers who want to get a more detailed understanding of their home’s value, but would prefer to engage digitally first.
Rightmove research shows that being responsive and communicating well is the number one reason why homeowners choose an agent when selling, with 97% saying it is essential or very important. With Online Agent Valuation, agents have the opportunity to showcase how responsive they can be from the first interaction.
The product has been built with agent input from the outset, ensuring it meets agent needs and supports their existing processes.
Christian Balshen, Rightmove’s Director of Agency Partnerships says:
“Online Agent Valuation is a truly exciting step for the industry and a leap towards the next generation of instruction winning products for estate agents. Many prospective sellers have told us that they like to communicate digitally first, and this gives our partners a unique opportunity to engage with them in this way. Responsiveness came out on top as the most important thing for a potential seller when selecting an agent, and Online Agent Valuation allows our partners to demonstrate this from the outset. With a new addition to our suite of valuation tools, those with a home to sell have even more choice in how to connect with an agent, and agents have more opportunities to win the next instruction.”
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