Digital Property Group Takes Aim at Top Position
February 8, 2009 by Emma Sorensen
In a coup for the Digital Property Group (DPG), Countrywide plc, the UK’s largest estate agency group has agreed to list all its networks on DPG’s portals.
With its four portals combined, DPG is the UK’s number two player. The deal means that Countrywide’s network of over 1,000 estate and lettings agents will list their properties on primelocation.com, findaproperty.com, homesandproperty.co.uk and findanewhome.com.
The four DPG websites have a share of over 25% of visits within the UK property portal market (Hitwise November 2008) and exposure to more than 3.7 million monthly home buyers and renters (ABCe September 2008).
In statement from the two companies about the deal, Mark Milner, CEO of The Digital Property Group said: “Our work with Countrywide is essential to ensure we offer visitors the widest selection of properties as we continue to close the gap on our competition to become the UK’s number one property portal”.
DPG’s recently launched Insight analytics tool brings them in line with market leader rightmove.co.uk’s ‘Rightmove Plus’ functionality. Mark Milner of DPG said: “The launch of Insight, our new analytics tool empowers our member agents to increase enquiries and instructions in today’s property market. Amongst its many features, Insight monitors consumer traffic and produces real-time property search reports to enable agents to build a balanced portfolio which matches demand. The online software also allows agents to benchmark their performance versus the local market by postcode – an invaluable tool in monitoring real-time performance whilst targeting new opportunities in today’s challenging market-place.”
Grenville Turner, Countrywide Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with The Digital Property Group to list the entire Countrywide network on their portfolio of websites.”
“Previously, our estate agents had individual agreements with different portal providers. We are in the process of implementing a new, coordinated online strategy to ensure customers have the widest access to all of Countrywide’s properties. This partnership will enable our branches to extend their online presence and reach a much larger audience.”
Grenville continued: “Now is the time to extend Countrywide’s online presence and TDPG have responded to the needs of estate agents and the conditions they are currently facing. The property market has been waiting for a portal to provide bespoke reporting that offers member agents a meaningful insight into their local markets and adds real value to their performance management. This partnership with The Digital Property Group will ensure that we are well placed for the return of the property market, and we look forward to continuing this relationship throughout 2009 and beyond.”
Countrywide’s agents include high street names such as Bairstow Eves, Mann & Co, Taylors, Abbotts, Dixons, Fulfords, Bridgfords, Gascoigne Pees, John D Wood and Countrywide Residential Lettings.
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I wonder if they have signed up on a free or paying basis?
Weren’t they one of the original Rightmove shareholders?
[...] renewed agreement follows a deal in February for Countrywide to list properties from its network of over 1,000 estate agents on The [...]