Andrea Kirkby

  • FeaturesAfter virtual furnishing image
    Features

    Can photo enhancing really help improve your Rightmove stats?

    The quality of your photographs can make the difference between a quick sale and a property that sits in inventory for months. KeyAgent, for example, claims one agent who used its photo-enhancing app PropertyBox, managed to boost their Rightmove stats by 15-20 per cent. KeyAgent also points to research from AXA which shows that when people were asked to guess the value of a one bed flat, their estimates increased by 21 per cent once it had a photo makeover. Yet many agents are still doing the bare minimum – and their photos show it. Meanwhile the world of photography has embraced technology and that means, as Tom Durrant of Doctor Photo says, “Things are moving on, and pretty quickly, as well.” Blending the virtual world with the real world is the big trend right now – not just showing houses as they are, but as how they will be, or could be. For instance, Doctor Photo carries out facelifts on photos that go beyond Photoshopping a bit more contrast or correcting the white balance; Tom calls it “our digital surgery service.” That can mean decluttering, editing out cars parked in front of the house or wheelie bins that have…

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    Features

    Lock up your data!

    The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is imminent – the new regulations come into force on 25th May. Workshops are filling up, consultants’ diaries are blocked out, yet, says, Andrea Kirkby, some agents haven’t started preparing for compliance.

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    Features

    Burning topic – Lettings fee ban

    With a lettings fee ban on the way, marketing more landlord and tenant insurances could, says Andrea Kirkby, be a hot topic for agents.

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    Features

    Will deposits reform achieve its intended goals?

    Debate rages, frustration grows, but, says Andrea Kirkby, is the proposed legislation really a force for good?

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    Features

    Boarder controls

    The electronic ‘tenant passport’ is proptech’s challenge to traditional referencing. Andrea Kirkby asks if this a game-changer.

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    Features

    How did the big property portals take over the industry?

    Andrea Kirkby takes a tour through the property portals 10 years on...

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    Features

    Anti-money laundering – comply or die!

    …can save your business! Recent legal cases on conveyancing fraud and Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance suggest that you take AML compliance very seriously, says Andrea Kirkby.

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  • Features
    Housing Market

    And was Jerusalem builded here?

    No, not yet. The Government’s initiatives to build more homes on England’s green and pleasant land don’t seem to be working, says Andrea Kirkby.

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