Zoopla advises agents to prepare for Boxing Day boost

Zoopla advises agents to prepare for Boxing Day boost

• Festive season is the new ‘seasonal peak’ as Zoopla anticipates an 80% growth in applicant and valuation leads this Christmas

• Zoopla publishes first ever ‘Ten Tips of Christmas’ so agents can maximise the opportunity

Zoopla, the UK’s most comprehensive property portal, is urging agents to prepare for the annual influx of home hunters from Boxing Day. The website, which expects a 60% month-on-month increase in visitors and an 80% boost in applicant and valuation leads throughout the festive period and into January, has even provided its first ever ‘12 Tips of Christmas’ to help estate agents across the UK maximise the festive opportunity.

“Much like the perfect Christmas lunch, having a successful January for agents is all about preparation and getting as much as possible done in advance,” said Andy Marshall, Zoopla Chief Commercial Officer. “Whether it’s the basics like having your stock and photography up to date and having enough staff to deal with enquiries, or something a little more complex like taking advantage of different online marketing tools, there are a number of quick and easy steps you can take. Either way, the opportunity is great and the rewards are there for the taking.

“We know from Boxing Day onwards people begin to think about the future. Whether that’s downsizing as kids have flown the nest, upsizing to meet the needs of a growing family, or a move to be closer to the grandkids, there are opportunities aplenty. There’s no better feeling than a winning start to the year, and here at Zoopla we are ready to support agents with everything they need to have a successful 2020.”

To help agents prepare for the peak period, Zoopla has published its inaugural ‘Ten Tips of Christmas’, providing some helpful ideas, both on Zoopla and in branch, to get the year off to a flying start.

1. Encourage vendors to think about price. Any price change of 3% or more will be automatically pushed out on a Zoopla email to our relevant registered users, boosting exposure and click-through rates

2. Keep your stock looking ship-shape and interesting by refreshing images in the lead up to the peak period. Christmas is all about food and hospitality so keep kitchens and reception rooms front of mind

3. Give applicants who have been unable to find a property in recent months a call to let them know about any star properties you have coming onto your books. The personal touch will go a long way

4. Why not pick a nearby charity to support? It’s great for staff morale, increases your standing amongst customers and gives you the opportunity to get some coverage in the local paper

5. Ensure features like an annex, utility room or cellar are listed as keywords. Houses are often bursting at the seams at Christmas and it helps home hunters with specific requirements to find your property

6. Zoopla’s Valuation Boosters ensure you are pre-ticked for Valuation Leads in the outcodes of your choice which can result in up to five times more Valuation Leads landing in your inbox every month

7. Raise brand awareness and direct traffic straight to your website with Area Sponsorship. With a bespoke ad appearing in every search results page in your chosen area, you can really own your outcode

8. Don’t forget about older properties that are starting to languish. Review and refresh their listings and use tools like our Weekly Featured Property tool to give them maximum exposure

9. Don't let lead times and service levels drop. It's more important than ever to be the first agent to respond to a Valuation Lead and give great service to win that customer

10. House hunting is a journey and it can be stressful. By keeping in touch with customers via text or WhatsApp you can provide the extra level of reassurance and a personal touch they need

However you prepare for the festive peak, we hope it’s a prosperous time for you and your team.

Founded in 2007, Zoopla is a successful property marketplace offering services to renters, buyers, sellers and landlords across the UK. Its website has around 55 million visits a month and 1.4 million unique users a month.

The company returned to private ownership in July 2018 after a purchase by a group led by American private equity firm Silver Lake. Since the purchase a new leadership team has been implementing a focused strategy, investing substantially in talent, technology, marketing and sales to help Zoopla improve the service it offers consumers and meet its ambitious growth plans.

- Ends -

Hello. We're Zoopla. A property website and app.

We know you're not just looking for a place to live. You're looking for a home.

Yeah, we've got over a million properties for you to browse.

Tools that let you filter them in all kinds of clever ways.

And reliable house price estimates, so you can be sure you aren't paying over the odds.

But we know you're looking for more than that.

Because that first flat won't just be a 'great investment opportunity'.

It'll be the feeling of starting out on your own.

That extra bedroom won't just mean another £20K on the re-sale price, it'll mean having your sister over to stay.

And that bungalow won't just be a way to release some equity, it will be a chance to spend more time with the grandkids.

We know that searching for a home is about more than just checking its price, location and features (important as all those things are).

What really matters is how it makes you feel.

We know what a home is really worth.

So let us help you find yours.

Zoopla is part of Zoopla Limited which was founded in 2007.

Zoopla Limited, The Cooperage, 5 Copper Row, London, SE1 2LH Registered in England and Wales with Company No. 06074771 VAT Registration number: 191 2231 33 Data Protection number: Z9972266