Zoopla launches Sales Advisory Board to boost agent influence

Zoopla has unveiled a Sales Advisory Board in an attempt to give agents a greater say in how the portal is run and improve the property market.

The brand already has a Lettings Advisory Board, setup last year and said the latest independent group will “bring agents into the heart of decision making at Zoopla and maximise customer collaboration.”

However, the agent involvement may not go as far as influencing commercial issues such as portal fees.

A spokesperson told Estate Agent Today: “The board will have no say on information which is likely to affect the commercial strategy or activities of a party involved in the board.”

An announcement from Zoopla said the Board would  “support the successful and sustainable growth of the residential sales market while also ensuring vendors and buyers remain at the heart of all decision making.”

The board will meet on a quarterly basis and already held its first meeting last month.

Zoopla’s Sales Advisory Board will comprise of 11 influential figures, chaired by Your Move and Reeds Rains managing director Oliver Blake.

Other representatives include: 

•    Kate Randall, managing director, The Property Franchise Group 
•    Ian Fry, national operations director, Connells Group 
•    Lisa MacKenzie, sales director, Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward 
•    Sharon Donaldson, managing director, Countrywide PLC 
•    James Bunning, managing director, lettings and business Development, Arun Estates 

The remaining places on the board are held by: 

•    Nathan Emerson, chief executive, Propertymark 
•    Ben Quiney, chief business developer officer and co-founder, Focal Agent 
•    Jamie Cooke, managing director, iamsold

Zoopla is represented by its chief commercial officer Andy Marshall, who is also vice-chair of the board, and Richard Donnell, executive director at the business. 

Blake says: “The Sales Advisory Board represents a great opportunity for the industry to share a platform, debate challenges and opportunities to improve the moving process for consumers.

“In a post pandemic environment we have seen advancements in technology and new ways of working which, if endorsed and encouraged by industries that influence the housing market, could lead to greater collaboration from agents, lenders and conveyancers, ultimately simplifying the process of buying and selling property.”

Marshall adds: "We’re constantly looking for ways to get closer to our customers, and our Sales Advisory Board will enable us to bring agents and the wider industry into the centre of decision making at Zoopla. 

“We’re very pleased that such a respected group has joined the board and we’re looking forward to working together to create a successful industry for buyers, sellers, agents and all other parties involved in the residential property market.”

Challenger portal Boomin setup a strategic board last year to act as a conduit between it and the estate agency community.