iamproperty is developing a first of its kind online platform to speed up and improve the experience of Private Treaty sales for Estate Agents and vendors.

The award-winning Newcastle-based company has invested a six-figure sum to create ‘movebutler’ which it says will significantly reduce Agents’ admin time and increase their revenue opportunities.

It is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2021 and will be available first to iamproperty’s Partner Agents before being opened up to other Agents to sign up to.

Designed to streamline the current sticking points in the buying and selling process (compliance, conveyancing and offer verification), transactions will be facilitated end to end within the new platform, improving communication between all parties involved at every stage. It will see Agents’ fees paid faster and in turn enhance the customer experience.

There will also be the option to provide legal and mortgage services through movebutler, helping to increase the uptake of additional services and grow Agents’ revenue, while enabling buyers to make more informed decisions.

Agents will be able to receive mortgage in principle offers for buyers in just 60-seconds and review offer verification through instant eligibility checks with all of the main lenders. Another time saving function enables anti-money laundering alignment with solicitors, smoothing the way for a successful transaction and removing duplication in this part of the process.

Ben Ridgway, iamproperty’s Group Managing Director, said:

“It’s no secret that the Private Treaty process is slow and fragmented. We work with thousands of Estate Agents and already provide a platform which offers a fast, secure and compliant solution.

“The launch of movebutler will tackle the issues that Agents tell us first-hand that they are dealing with, including increasingly high levels of administrative burden, meaning they don’t always have time to delight their customers and maximise their own revenue generating opportunities. For consumers, unnecessary delays which are more often than not out of the hands of Agents can quickly turn the experience negative, creating a lack of trust and tainting the whole process.

“These pinch points will be even more present at the moment as Agents are facing increased demand coming out of lockdown, paired with the introduction of the Stamp Duty holiday which is positively impacting the market.

“Ultimately consumers are looking for speed and convenience which is what we successfully built our auction business iamsold to deliver, pioneering online auction.

“This new proposition is our biggest development, bringing together our expertise in selling, compliance and conveyancing to create positive change and solutions to benefit Agents, buyers and sellers.

“Developments are progressing well, and initial tests with Agents have had a really positive response, so we’re looking forward to launching in the New Year.”