Letting Web Business Leads the Way with iPhone Technology
Released
on: January 14, 2010, 5:24 am
Author:
Letting Web
Industry: Real Estate
Lettingweb.com has become the first letting only UK property
website to introduce an iPhone application with a Global Positioning
System (GPS) to identify the user's current location in relation to
available properties to rent in that area.
Users of the Letting Web iPhone App can
also view a photo slideshow and the property's particulars on their iPhone, call
the agent with an enquiry, forward details to friends or e-mail immediately from
their phone so there's nothing for them to remember later. For the agent, the
chances of receiving an enquiry are greatly improved as it all happens instantly.
Richard Matthews, Marketing Manager at Lettingweb.com, said:
"As a technology business we are focused on providing the most innovative and
practical solutions for our letting agent customers. As many home hunters use
iPhones, we decided to invest in the technology to make searching for a property
easier and faster. This should also translate to higher enquiries for our member
firms.
"We tested the application with a group of home hunters and almost 400 users
downloaded it during testing. Since then the app has received some very favourable
reviews on Apple's iTunes website. This technology is now available to view all of
the 5,500 Scottish properties to rent each month on www.lettingweb.com".
Lettingweb's statistics for 2008 and 2009 based on over 5,000 properties every
month, show the supply of rented accommodation in the first half of both years
outstripped demand making it a tenants market. The reverse happened in the second
half of both years with demand being greater than the supply of rented properties.
However, industry experts believe rental prices are going to increase in 2010 due to
a drop off in supply suggesting a landlord market for the beginning of the year
which would go against the trend of the past two years.
Mr Matthews added:
"If demand outstrips supply and the market gets competitive for the best
properties, home hunters with our iPhone application will be able to access details
of rented properties on location quicker which gives them an edge over others using
more traditional methods."
Lettingweb.com works with the majority of letting agents in Scotland to provide
highly sought after flats to rent in Edinburgh and flats to rent in Glasgow, but
it also has properties to rent in other UK cities including Leeds, Liverpool,
Manchester, Newcastle and has recently added Wales and Northern Ireland to its
portfolio.
Mr Rob Trotter, Senior Property Manager, at DJ Alexander, the largest property agent
in Central Scotland, believes it's a smart move by lettingweb.com to invest in the
iPhone technology. He concluded:
"Accessing websites and property details via handhelds is the way forward. People
expect to see property details in a user friendly format and this is what this
application delivers. This technology is not a passing phase and those businesses
that embrace it and deliver what customers want will be more competitive in the
marketplace."
- ENDS-
Notes to Editors
About Lettingweb
Based in Edinburgh, Lettingweb.com was established in 1999 and is now the largest
marketplace for private rented property in Scotland, including flats to rent in
Aberdeen and flats to rent in Dundee, with circa
6,000 properties to rent posted live per month through the majority of Scottish
Letting agents (circa 300 member firms). Lettingweb represents nearly 450 agents in
the UK as a whole.
Home hunters registering with the site specify their ideal property by type, price
and location. They are then provided with real-time e mail or SMS updates of new
properties ensuring they receive the most up to date and relevant information to
help with their search.
Lettingweb media contact details:
Richard Matthews
Marketing Manager
Lettingweb.com
14 Albany Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3QB
0131 557 7768
www.lettingweb.com
2010
