You might think Connells was busy enough at the moment, but the company has been busy signing a new five-year deal with Zoopla that will see it be the first agency to try out the portal’s new tech.

Connells says the agreement will not extend to Countrywide’s 60 brands and 600 branches that it is due to acquire in two weeks’ time.

Connells and Zoopla also have a long track record – the estate agency was one of the key national chains to invest in the portal in 2010 along with LSL and Countrywide, and it was given an early preview of the new and planned tech. Connells also signed a tech deal collaboration deal with Zoopla, Countrywide Fixflo in 2016.

As part of the new deal, Zoopla’s new product suite – which was launched last week – will be trialled across the agency’s branch network while future launches will be developed in tandem with Connells.

“We’re highly impressed with Zoopla’s investment in product development and welcome the opportunity of helping shape further innovations to aid us in our quest for further market share growth and to strengthen our offering for the benefit of our branch teams and customers,” says Connells’ Group Estate Agency Chief Executive David Plumtree (pictured).

Andy Marshall, Zoopla’s COO says: “2021 will mark a new era for Zoopla as we raise the bar and set a new standard in industry innovation.

“Our significant investment in product and software coupled with our long-term strategic vision, which we are unveiling to our customer base now, has given Connells Group the confidence that Zoopla will be its perfect partner for the months and years to come.”