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Zoopla’s premium listings for agents and developers highlighted in relevant search
results and display more photos on results pages so that they stand out to users amongst other property listings. Early results from trialling the
Zoopla.co.uk has launched its latest marketing product, Premium Listings, designed to give its members enhanced exposure and visibility for selected property listings. Premium Listings will be
INNOVATION Chesterton Humberts launches PRIME service
Chesterton Humberts has launched
PRIME, a specialist property management service aimed at managing, expanding and adding value to portfolio landlords. Working alongside the
company’s Property Management team, PRIME will handle portfolios of more than three properties. In addition to the standard property management services, PRIME clients are offered a property sourcing service, financial management services and refurbishment advice to help them add value to their properties.
PORTALS Adzuna: Find a home, find a friend
Classifieds search engine Adzuna (
www.adzuna.co.uk), founded by the team behind Gumtree and Zoopla, has launched a property section. The new website http://
property.adzuna.co.uk brings together half a million property for sale and to rent listings from the top property portals. It also adds fast, filtered search and house price statistics. But, says Adzuna, the real
sizzle is called Friend Map. The map, based on the Facebook API, lets users see a map of where their friends live and check-in, and ask them questions about the area. Once the user has chosen an area, the property listings are just one click away. Adzuna’s tool is
www.the-negotiator.co.uk
the first to plot friends’ whereabouts as part of the house hunting process. Doug Monro,
Co-Founder of Adzuna, commented, “We’re really excited about launching in property and proud of the Friend Map feature. Our research shows that it particularly appeals to young professionals in major cities who have a choice of where to live. Seeing your Friend Map for the first time has a real wow factor and it’s surprising what you learn about your friends.” Adzuna founders Andrew Hunter and Doug Monro met
PRIME will also look after ‘managed-only’ properties for landlords who choose to let their properties through another agent, but want Chesterton Humberts to take charge of the ongoing management. Seeking a more hands-off approach, landlords are turning to quality providers to manage their portfolios. In the past year, the number of properties Chesterton Humberts manages on behalf of clients has increased by 22 per cent. The management style the PRIME team employs is dynamic and proactive; with each member familiar with all of their clients,
contributing their individual expertise to provide comprehensive, consistent and intelligent advice to clients. Associate Director, Nicola
Lavictoire says, “Our personal and unique service extends beyond our own corporate interests. Since we meet our clients face to face, earn their trust and build strong relationships with them, we understand their needs and are able to tailor our management of their properties accordingly. Our landlords are attracted not just by our bespoke service but also the fact that we act as a single point of contact.”
product with agents reveal that Premium Listings on Zoopla receive 70 per cent more page views on average and generate more than twice as many enquiries than standard listings. Zoopla members can purchase
Premium Listing credits and easily manage which properties to apply these to via their Zoopla
Pro account, where they can also monitor performance. Jon Notley, Commercial
Director Zoopla, said, “We have developed this new marketing product directly in response to requests from our members. Traffic and enquiry levels on Zoopla are at an all-time high and Premium Listings provide a notable further uplift and allow agents and developers to select which properties they most want to highlight on our website to attract even higher levels of response.”
DEPOSIT PROTECTION
Scotland gives green light for deposit scheme
Mydeposits Scotland says that it has moved a step closer to becoming a government- approved tenancy deposit scheme in Scotland, having been given the green light by the Scottish government to proceed to public consultation. The new law will require
landlords and letting agents to lodge a tenant’s deposit with a government-approved scheme, one of which may be Mydeposits Scotland. The money is held by the scheme for safe keeping until the end of the tenancy. The service will be free for tenants and landlords. At the end of the tenancy the
landlord/agent and tenant can apply to the scheme for release of the deposit. If the tenant doesn’t agree with how the deposit money should be split, Mydeposits Scotland will offer free dispute resolution. Eddie Hooker, Chief
Executive, Mydeposits Scotland, said, “Mydeposits has already protected 1.2 million deposits in England and Wales and we look forward to bringing our experience to Scotland. Landlords and agents must
ensure they understand how tenancy deposit protection works and how to properly protect their tenants’ deposits within the time required, as there will be penalties under the law for those who don’t comply.” Mydeposits Scotland has
entered a period of public consultation from 27 February – 8 April. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed
scheme should visit: www.
scotland.gov. uk/
working at Gumtree in 2005. They stayed in the local internet space for the next 5 years and finally hatched the Adzuna plan in 2010 on the back of an envelope in a central London pub. The site was launched in July 2011.
Publications / 2012/02/ 6734 www. mydeposits scotland.
co.uk
Eddie Hooker
TheNegotiator l April 2012 l 7
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