Viewber network now over 1,200 as startup closes funding round

Viewber, the outsourced property viewing service and brainchild of high-profile former estate agent Ed Mead, says its network of 'Viewbers' now comprises over 1,200.

Viewbers are outsourced freelance viewing agents and 'local property experts' that are hired to carry out viewings when estate and letting agents can't attend.

The startup says its network is growing by 30 Viewbers a month and that it will reach the milestone of 3,000 viewings in May.

The firm - which was officially launched last September - also announced that it has successfully raised an oversubscribed sum in a private series B funding round.

It says the funding will be used to accelerate its national growth. This round of investment funding comes after it was announced in January that ex-Marsh and Parsons boss Peter Rollings had invested in the company.

“Buyers and tenants expect to be able to see a property when they want," says Ed Mead, Viewber's co-founder. 

"[It] enables agents to give their sellers or landlords that guaranteed service commitment."

He says that the service also provides agents with a greater geographical reach so they can 'get on with negotiating deals', rather than spending time travelling to appointments.

"There are thousands of trustworthy local people who are happy and more than capable, once vetted, of facilitating viewings," he says.  

"They get to know the properties they are showing well.”

The platform's other co-founder, Marcus de Ferranti - an ex-fighter pilot and technology entrepreneur - is in charge of managing Viewber's user interface.

Agents using the platform book viewings via a dashboard where local Viewbers indicate if they are available and willing to carry out a viewing.

The network comprises a high proportion of retired professionals, from ex-estate agents and members of the forces to teachers and local professionals. 

Viewbers are rated on the feedback they give after each viewing and as the service grows, agents will be able to see these ratings and book viewings accordingly. 

The firm says that pricing per viewing is ‘dynamic’ but that Viewbers are usually paid between £10 and £20 per appointment.