We take a look over some key HomeViews headlines for 2020 – a year of serious challenges as well as unique opportunities. Such uncertain times have focused attention on services that can offer real insight into how people are responding to unprecedented change. HomeViews data has provided a unique window into how developers, operators and residents are faring in the midst of the pandemic.
Many online tools, including HomeViews, have also experienced major growth as lockdown has moved property searches online. Social distancing has forced the property industry to innovate, and new PropTech solutions have been fast-tracked into the mainstream. HomeViews was able to respond with a raft of new features for both site users and industry partners.
Developers and operators have also needed to adapt and improve the services they provide for residents. Strong community, good design, outstanding service – these and many more factors were celebrated in the 2020 HomeViews BTR Resident Choice Awards. Winners and finalists were based solely on reviews submitted in 2020 in order to highlight top performers in the context of such a difficult year.
HomeViews established as a key industry data and insights provider
HomeViews partners with Knight Frank on three research reports highlighting the resident experience
Knight Frank and HomeViews combined resources on three industry reports in 2020. HomeViews’ resident insights informed the Heating & Cooling Study, released in June, highlighting the problem of overheating in new build developments. That month also saw HomeViews data used in the Institutional PRS Income Survey June 2020.
In October the widely-cited Knight Frank / HomeViews Multihousing Report 2020 revealed record levels of investment for BTR. The report also predicted a strong future for the service-driven BTR model over traditional buy-to-let options.
HomeViews partners with Dataloft on two new studies
HomeViews also partnered with established property market intelligence agency Dataloft on two new studies exploring price premiums for new build homes. Conclusions showed that well-designed new homes command an 11 per cent price premium, and that new homes in developments that include a roof terrace can command an 8% premium over comparative properties without the terrace.
HomeViews produces over 30 bespoke industry reports on the resident customer experience
More than 30 bespoke, in-depth reports were created for HomeViews partner developers and operators in 2020. These reports provide unmatched insights into the performance of individual developments and residents’ experience of living in those buildings. Award-winning developer Mount Anvil published a blog about some of the findings in its report here.
HomeViews BTR Report 2021 to launch in January. Free to download – register now!
The annual HomeViews National Build to Rent Report will provide unique insights into the UK’s BTR sector. Drawn from thousands of resident reviews, the 2021 report will offer detailed and up-to-date analysis of the BTR industry from the perspective that matters the most: that of the residents.
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HomeViews recognises the best developments, developers and operators
The Green Rooms and 10 George St named best UK/London developments at the 2020 HomeViews BTR Awards
The 2020 HomeViews BTR Resident Choice Awards took place on 19th November at the UKAA Festival of Build to Rent. Salford development The Green Rooms took the title of Best National and Best Regional BTR Development with a near-perfect overall score of 4.93 out of 5. Vertus development 10 George Street was named Best London BTR Development with an impressive score of 4.91.
Urbanbubble wins HomeViews BTR Award for Best Property Management Company 2020
Innovative operator Urbanbubble took the coveted title of Best Property Management Company in the 2020 HomeViews BTR Awards. 99% of residents said they would recommend the company, while a score of 4.74 out of 5 for Management across six of its developments also greatly aided the win.
Berkeley Homes is rated top BTS developer in London (June 2020)
In the summer, HomeViews updated its list of the highest-rated Build to Sell developers in London. Berkeley Homes came out on top, with hundreds of reviews across 22 different developments providing a comprehensive view of the company. Our rating system for this analysis took into account HomeViews buyer data not published on the main site, including customer service, delivery timetable and after-sales care scores.
HomeViews provides increased value for consumers and the industry
HomeViews visitor numbers grow by 400% as property searches move online
An assessment of visitor numbers to the HomeViews site in September revealed the year’s total to be 400% higher than for the comparable period in 2019. Traffic to the site continued to grow throughout 2020 as property hunters turned to online tools and Google recognised the quality and authority of HomeViews content in its search results.
HomeViews reaches over 15,000 verified resident reviews across 11 UK cities
2020 also saw HomeViews innovate in its review collection methods. This allowed the site to continue to expand while accommodating social distancing. As a result, the number of reviews on the site grew from 9,000 to over 15,000 and included a greater presence in cities such as Southampton, Reading and Leicester.
Number of HomeViews signed industry partners increases by 400%
Just as property hunters increasingly turned to HomeViews in 2020, a large number of property developers and operators also partnered with the site. New partners to sign in 2020 included a number of major developers, as well as a range of boutique operators.
By collaborating with HomeViews, partners are able to increase their visibility online, boost accountability and transparency, respond swiftly to reviews and receive detailed reports on resident feedback. the new features listed below have also improved the service enjoyed by HomeViews partners.
Listings, films, virtual tours and a comprehensive dashboard are added as new partner features
2020 saw HomeViews adding highly successful new features to the site in response to demand from partners and users. These features include the option for adding videos, listings and virtual tours within a development page. A brand new partner dashboard also provides a powerful data tool for partners to access their own review data and compare against industry figures.
Extensive work has also been undertaken to improve the user experience of HomeViews.com. As a result of all this, visitors are spending an average of more than 5 minutes on development pages and bounce rates on the site are remaining low.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.
