Zoopla.co.uk gives property consumers the inside track
29th June 2009
Zoopla.co.uk, the UK's fastest growing property website and most active property community, has today launched an innovative, new feature, (AskMe Questions & Answers), which enables users to ask and answer any property-related questions about homes or neighbourhoods across the UK.
AskMe Q&A is the first property community feature of its kind in the UK where questions can be posted by anyone and answered by 'those in the know' keen to share their local knowledge, including property professionals and local residents.
Users who actively engage with AskMe Q&A will be able to benefit from a wealth of free information before making any property-related decisions by asking local owners a range of questions on topics such as local schools, amenities or rental rates and by tapping into knowledge from local agents who are active on AskMe Q&A.
Property owners are also encouraged to share their local knowledge by answering questions and scoring points each time they answer a question that is rated as helpful by another Zoopla.co.uk user. Those users with the highest points in each area will be featured as Local Experts on the Zoopla.co.uk website.
How Zoopla's AskMe Q&A helps the property consumer:
Buyers - ask any relevant questions before you buy and get truly independent advice. Buyers no longer have to rely on one source for information; Ask Me! Q&A offers an active and responsive audience where information can be sourced that helps make property decisions.
Sellers - find out which agents are performing well in your area before you decide who to market your house with. Ask local professionals how the local market is performing and whether now is a good time to sell or stay put.
Owners - stay informed and up to date on your local market by having regular dialogue with local property professionals or share your knowledge with potential buyers. Join in the conversation that is taking place about your community.
Alex Chesterman, CEO and founder of Zoopla.co.uk said: "AskMe Q&A is the UK's first property community of its kind and part of our wider mission to provide free tools to our users that help them understand the property market better. We continue to drive transparency in the property market and believe that information should be free and easily accessible to everyone.
"Local market knowledge is one of the key criteria in the property decision making process. Through our AskMe Q&A feature users will be able to enhance their knowledge direct from existing homeowners and local experts and ultimately make better-informed property decisions."
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For further information, please contact PR Team on pr@zoopla.co.uk or +44 (0)20 3873 8770.
Notes to editors
AskMe Q&A categories
General, Home Finance, Home Improvement, House Prices, Renting, Safety & Crime, Schools, Selling, Transport, Using Zoopla.co.uk
About Zoopla.co.uk
Zoopla.co.uk is a unique property website offering users information and tools to help them make better-informed property decisions. Our aim is to provide the most comprehensive source of residential property market information in the UK to help buyers, sellers, owners and estate agents alike and give them an advantage in the property market.
In 2007, following the success of bringing DVD rental to the web with LOVEFiLM.com, Zoopla founders Alex Chesterman and Simon Kain realised that the UK property market had yet to fully enjoy the benefits of the internet in terms of its ability to deliver transparency and efficiency. They set out with the mission to transform the property market for both professionals and consumers by:
- offering users FREE access to instant value estimates, sold house prices and local information and trends
- enhancing estate agents' marketing efficiency by providing exposure/leads on a pay-for-performance basis
- helping users find local agents and other property professionals to assist them in the transaction process
- letting buyers make offers on ANY UK home and owners test interest in their homes before choosing to sell
- creating an environment where anyone can ask/answer questions and share their knowledge about homes
We have started by providing FREE value estimates, sold prices and local information as well as letting users add content by editing information and uploading photos. We are the UK's fastest growing property website and by far the largest and most active property community in the UK, with over a million user contributions to our website in 2008 alone. We have already launched some unique features, like TemptMe™ and AskMe™, which allow consumers to gain an insight into the market and discover information they won't find anywhere else. Our estate agent directory, FindAnAgent and our unique AskAnAgent feature allow users to contact local professionals directly for their expertise. Very soon we will begin accepting estate agent listing feeds and delivering buyer leads to agents on a no-risk, performance-based model, making Zoopla.co.uk the most cost-effective way for agents to gain exposure and develop their inventory pipeline.
Our value estimates are calculated using a proprietary algorithm (a secret formula) that we have developed by analysing millions of data points relating to property sales and home characteristics throughout the UK. The algorithm works by comparing relationships between home prices, economic trends and property characteristics in given geographic areas. Our estimates are constantly refined, using the most recent data available from public sources combined with our proprietary used-generated data and a variety of statistical methodologies, in order to provide the most current information on any home.
Zoopla Limited is a privately held company with a highly experienced and proven management team, backed by well-respected angel investors and leading venture capital firms Atlas Venture (atlasventure.com) and Octopus Ventures (octopusventures.com).
Zoopla.co.uk Awards
- Winner: 'UK's Most Promising Internet Company 2008' (First Tuesday)
- Winner: 'Best Property Website - Gold Award' (Web User Magazine)
- Winner: 'Best Real Estate website 2008' (Websiteoftheyear.co.uk)