Product Roundup: Zillow, Zoopla, AtHome, SeLoger, View.com.au, Domclick

This week's product roundup is a big one. We'll start in Asia and Oceania this time...

AtHome.jp launches new communications tool for agents and renovation companies

Japanese portal AtHome.jp is trialling a new tool that allows its member agents to communicate directly with renovation companies from its portal, as well as centralizing its property management via the AtHome Business Base database of property information and property management services.

The new tool, named ‘Restoration Connect’, also allows circa 61,000 agents to visualise the progress of restoration projects.

View.com.au integrates apartments & developments listings into its portal

The Australian challenger marketplace View.com.au has integrated all apartments and developments listings into the Buy section of its portal.

Meanwhile, the portal has also announced the launch of View Project Profiles, a dedicated landing page for developers on view.com.au in addition to their listing on a-d.com.au for no extra cost.

Antony Catalano, Executive Chairman at View Media Group, said:

"This is another step that demonstrates the power of the VMG group and the opportunities that exist through cross-pollination of the businesses.

"Apartments & Developments will continue to do the fantastic work it does in providing a portal that targets high intent off-the-plan buyers that delivers a very low cost of sale for Developers & Project Marketers but now they also get the added value of access to the mass audiences that view.com.au offers. This will deliver a more cost effective solution and better results than other offerings in the market."

The challenger portal, launched by the View Media Group in 2023, claims it is quickly accelerating its traffic, citing Google data as the source for 1.8 million web visits in May 2024—but not everyone is so sure the portal's claims hold water...

Zillow upgrades agent search capabilities

The U.S. portal giant Zillow has pushed a suite of upgrades to its agent-search tool.

New features include prominent videos, links to the agent's social media, and additional agent metrics.

The "find-an-agent" tool is free for all visitors to Zillow's site, and the portal says the upgraded functionality will increase agent visibility to home sellers and facilitate better decision-making.

Zillow's press release says:

Zillow was an early innovator in agent profiles, understanding the value of displaying reviews and information for buyers, sellers and agents alike. Now, as we continue to elevate home buying and selling, we’ve updated our find an agent search tool and agent profile pages with a fresh look, new content and metrics.

With these updates, Zillow is building on its history of investing in tools that help all agents differentiate themselves and grow their brand. Agent profiles on Zillow are available to all agents, not just Zillow Premier Agent partners, for free. Agents can keep their profile page up to date to make sure their accomplishments shine and to help shoppers and sellers get to know them.

Zoopla adds more AI functionalities... and a new search filter

UK number-two portal Zoopla says it delivers additional property insights at scale to consumers through new onsite content and personalised emails using AI.

The portal now uses machine learning to recommend other areas that Zoopla users might be interested in via its area guides. It also says it is currently working on a suite of informational and educational content about the selling process, set to be distributed to users in the coming months.

Rich Hayes, Chief Operating Officer at Zoopla comments:

"Every 1.5 seconds a key home decision is made on Zoopla and a key reason for this is the unrivalled market insight and guidance we provide to Zoopla users.

"This is a key differentiator for Zoopla and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve this and drive more high-intent buyers and sellers for agents as a result."

Meanwhile, Zoopla has also added a new filter on its property search by freehold and leasehold.

Zoopla added the new search type after user feedback: would-be buyers asked the portal for the option to see a property and know exactly whether they would own just the property or the land it is built upon.

In a post on Linkedin, Ben Amos, senior product manager at Zoopla, commented:

"...it's been an epic journey to add new filters and expand the capability of search. We have continually listened to the needs of consumers and now we can really start to delight. More to follow in this space for both web and app."

SeLoger announces launch of Boost Social Immo for agents using social media

French market leader SeLoger has launched a new social media package for agents.

Boost Social Immo allows real estate professionals to automatically highlight a certain number of real estate ads per month on social networks, promoting them to internet users who have searched on SeLoger or other platforms. SeLoger will also send a monthly report on the performance of highlighted listings.

According to a press release, 43 million French people spend at least one hour on Facebook and/or Instagram per day, adding a certain level of obligation for agents to leverage social media to attract traffic and leads.

Franck Le Tendre, Vice President of Operations at SeLoger, commented:

"Boost Social Immo responds to a concrete need on the part of professionals who lack the time to seek out this quality audience on (social) networks. They will find here what they need to maximize their visibility and increase their chances of finding a buyer quickly while saving them precious time. We also offer personalized support to better understand their impact and performance indicators." [Translated from French]

For more than 20 years, Groupe SeLoger (seloger.com) has been France's leading real estate portal, including spinoff portals for commercial and new build properties, SeLoger Construtiuire, SeLoger Neuf, and SeLoger Bureaux & Commerces.

It is one of Europe's oldest real estate platforms (founded 1992) and consistently ranks number one for web visits in the French market. SeLoger is owned by real estate powerhouse AVIV Group— which has a market-leading presence in Belgium and further interests in Germany, Spain, Israel and the US.

Domclick prepares to launch digital financial assets for real estate investments

Domclick, the Russian portal owned by the nation's largest bank (Sber) has announced it is set to launch digital assets as an investment vehicle to help people save for a mortgage.

According to a press release published on its blog:

Domclick will soon have the opportunity to invest in CFA (digital financial assets) tied to the cost of a square meter at the construction stage with reliable developers. This will allow investors to receive a guaranteed income with growth potential, safely and without intermediaries.

Digital Financial Assets (DFA) are digital analogues of conventional assets that exist and circulate in an information system based on blockchain.

With the help of DFA, an investor can purchase a portion of expensive assets (e.g. real estate, securities, precious metals) in digital format. This allows access to a wider choice of investment instruments and reduces the number of intermediaries.

Packaged as 'lots', investments cost 1000 rubles (USD 11.5) and the portal guarantees a 3% return per annum and has projected returns of up to 18% per annum.

The release goes on to say:

You can start saving with 1,000 rubles and constantly buy more lots, increasing your portfolio. And when the amount is enough to enter into a transaction, the bank will count your digital financial assets as an initial contribution.