Artificial intelligence (AI) is already altering the way we work and communicate, but it could soon also change the way we buy and sell properties.
The traditional method for searching for a new home has shifted in recent decades from scanning newspaper listings and estate agency windows to searching online through property websites.
Arguably the most well-known of these websites, or portals, are Rightmove and Zoopla.
But critics claim many of the traditional portals are old-fashioned and too rigid with keywords that aren’t always relevant to what users are searching for.
The main search terms on property websites are the type of property, location, number of bedrooms and price.
But several AI-powered property search smartphone apps have launched in recent months, offering an alternative way to find a home with more specific filters and potentially smarter results. Here is how they work.
Backed by Google’s AI-focused venture fund Gradient Ventures, Jitty uses large-language model (LLM) technologies to let users make detailed searches for properties.
Buyers can enter their own preferences, such as how far they want to live from a train station or top schools, plus the size and style of property.
Jitty will then read floor plans and understand photos and descriptions of homes across the internet to provide a range of listings with links to the estate agency websites.
You can save favourites and share them with friends and family and even see if you would qualify for a mortgage in principle, with broker L&C Mortgages.
Have you ever visited an area or street that you just like the feel of? There is now an app that lets you see if there are any homes available for sale nearby.
The Property DriveBuy app lets users search for properties that are on the market using geo-technology as well as estate agents working in the area.
You can look for homes that are a certain distance from wherever you are or be sent estate agency listings of available properties on a set walking or driving route.
The list can be saved and will automatically update when a new home comes up for sale.
The app currently only works in London and the Home Counties but there are plans for a nationwide rollout.
Currently in testing mode around London and surrounding areas, Mappa lets users tell an AI assistant (called Hunter) their preferences such as the type of property, location and size as well as commuting distance from work.
The tool then generates a map of results with homes based on their criteria and also provides rankings such as how far it is from good schools, shops and restaurants.