Competition amongst the portals to launch innovative functions shows no sign of letting up as Rightmove confirms its latest new tool.

Just a day after Zoopla released a buyer to new build matching service, Rightmove says trials of its valuation tool have been successful and it will be a permanent feature.

Online Agent Valuation, which was first unveiled in August, is designed to provide a new way for agents to connect with potential buyers.

Digital first

Some property sellers prefer to engage digitally first, the portal says, before they have an in-person valuation.

Each valuation can be used as a way for agents to build their database, and convert more potential vendors into new instructions.

Serious home-movers have the option to provide information and images of their home to an agent, who can then give an estimated price range.

Speed up

Prospective vendors will see the agent’s response within an agent-branded page, which automatically pulls in their branch description and recently sold properties.

Agents can include a personalised message to the seller, with an AI-powered writing tool built-in that helps them speed up the process.

Rightmove says early results show an 83% click-through rate to the agent-branded page.

Online Agent Valuation is helping agents get in front of prospective vendors earlier in their journey.”

Christian Balshen, Director of Agency Partnerships at Rightmove, says: “Online Agent Valuation is helping agents get in front of prospective vendors earlier in their journey and results from the trials shows strong engagement.

“We know from vendor research that how quickly an agent responds is critical to have the best chance of winning an instruction,” he says.

“We’ve worked with several agents to design this product to make it work best for their teams who are out on viewings and valuations day-to-day”.

Rightmove reveals ‘online only’ valuation tool as sellers shun ‘person to person’

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