Artificial intelligence is being increasingly embraced by the property industry, but it has yet to become a mainstream search tool for buyers and sellers, new research by GetAgent reveals.

The agent comparison site surveyed 622 UK estate agents to understand how widely AI-powered search tools are influencing property discovery and marketing activity, and how agents expect the technology to change the way homes are bought and sold.

Only 22% of agents report buyers referencing artificial intelligence when explaining how they found a property, and just 17% say homeowners are asking whether AI-powered tools are being used to help promote their property to potential buyers.

Not yet delivering

They also report that there is little evidence that AI is currently improving the visibility of property listings. Only 7% say AI-powered search tools are already delivering a benefit, while 93% believe the technology is not yet having any meaningful impact.

Estate agents, however, are convinced of the increasing importance of artificial intelligence for the housing market.

A significant 84% believe AI-powered search tools will become the primary way buyers search for property in the future, and 88% say property businesses that fail to adopt AI search risk falling behind their competitors.

The key will be ensuring they (agents) are ready to adapt as these tools evolve and become more widely adopted.”

Colby Short (pictured), Co-Founder and CEO of GetAgent, says: “Artificial intelligence has become a major talking point across the property sector, but like most new technologies, it will take time before it becomes fully integrated into how buyers and sellers behave.

He adds: “As more major platforms introduce AI-powered tools and the technology continues to improve, it’s likely that buyers will become far more comfortable using it as part of their property search and, for agents and wider businesses within the sector, the key will be ensuring they are ready to adapt as these tools evolve and become more widely adopted.”