Estate agency marketing tool Spectre has launched a service that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict which houses are the most likely to respond to direct mail shots and instruct an agent.

Described by co-founder Tom Staff as the biggest change to the Spectre platform since it was launched, he says the AI tech can boost instruction from direct mail by nearly two-and-a-half times compared to more traditional methods.

The new capability uses billions of data points collected by Spectre over the past seven years to work out which addresses are most likely to be considering a home move and, therefore, are the best prospects for agents.

“The recent announcement from Foxtons shows that larger agencies are already using AI models to great effect,” says Staff.

“By building Spectre AI into our product, it means that this powerful technology is now available to all agents, regardless of size.”

Over the past two years, Street Group – the company behind Spectre – has been strengthening its data science team with several high-profile hires, including Chris Amor, their recently appointed Head of Data, as well as several machine-learning specialists.

Co-founder Heather Staff, who is also Tom’s sister, adds: “I am delighted that once again we’re at the forefront of change within the Proptech space, with the launch of a product that is set to transform the way estate agents market themselves.”

Read our interview with Heather when she visited last year’s Negotiator Conference & Expo in London.