Rightmove users find it first with Instant Property Alerts
Real-time Data Feed (RTDF) has changed the way estate agents upload properties. Vendors no longer need to wait for an overnight feed this now happens in minutes rather than hours and with Instant Property Alerts (IPA) people can find it first on Rightmove.
So it made perfect sense to introduce IPA for both renters and buyers. Now home hunters can be informed about a new property matching their search criteria as soon as it becomes live on Rightmove.
We asked Rightmove Business Analyst, Ben Mathews what IPA will mean for today’s home hunter and the agents advertising their properties.
Rightmove (RM): What encouraged Rightmove to create IPA?
Ben Matthews (BM): It was really lead by the positive feedback we received from RTDF. Agents have really embraced this and anytime we talk about about the method of uploading in minutes rather than waiting for an overnight feed they ask why we didn’t do it sooner! Obviously these things take time to develop and we wanted it to be stable and ensure feed providers were in a position to support it.
RM: What benefit does this have for estate agents and letting agents?
BM: Speed to market is an obvious advantage. Our agents understand that being first online could make the difference between a quick sale or finding the perfect tenant. When they use RTDF to upload the property it will arrive in the inboxes of engaged buyers and renters instantly, these are people signed up to receive alerts and are actively looking.
Being able to tell a vendor that with a few pictures and some property details they could have their property on Rightmove in a few minutes rather than waiting hours could potentially be an instruction winner and will almost certainly show that agent is progressive and fast moving. After-all, most sellers at the moment are looking a quick sale.
RM: Have many home hunters signed up to IPA?
BM: The adoption rate of the instant alerts has been so impressive, particularly in the lettings market where 80% of new property alerts are instant!
RM: How do you see IPA fitting in with the home hunter’s journey?
BM: Over the last few years we have seen a big rise in mobile usage when looking for a new home. Being able to search for property on your smartphone via the Rightmove App then signing up to receive instant alerts straight to your phone would mean you have an engaged buyer or renter who can instantly respond to the alert and contact the agent first.
The modern home hunter understands the pace of the market, they know that properties can come online in the morning and could be gone by midday, so it’s important to find it first on Rightmove. Even in the resale market it’s important to see something early, contact the agent and arrange a viewing quickly.
RM: What advice would you give to agents to embrace this?
BM: Everything starts with Real-time Data Feed, I would recommend they speak to their feed provider who will tell them if they can upload in real-time. Obviously any Rightmove member could also contact their account manager for advice too. Once they have that up and running I would suggest they tell their vendors they can upload in minutes rather than hours that should really impress them.
