HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
• Updates on our website and ongoing product improvements.
• Overview of the housing market in May.
• Our new charity partnership announcement with Simon Community.
Updates Coming Soon
Watch this space
New commercial navigation
We’re excited to enhance the experience of finding commercial properties on the website. By placing “Commercial” in the main navigation, we aim to make it easier and more intuitive for users to access these listings. This is just the first step in our commitment to improving the search experience and visibility of commercial properties.
In addition, the buy and rent sections will now only include residential properties.
Recent searches and suggestions
Placing suggested search methods front and centre will provide users with the additional tools needed to easily find their perfect home.
We are adding the ability for users to quickly find their recent searches from both the Homepage and on the Search Results page. Many of us are creatures of habit and when searching for a property, our users are more likely to quickly repeat the same searches. By adding Recent Searches, we are allowing users get to their most used search results quicker than ever!
Updates Coming Soon
Watch this space
New key information and layout
As we add more key information from 3rd parties to complement your property adverts, we will make it easier for users to read. By splitting the current table into sections each user will be able to quickly see the relevant information for the advert.
We will now include, where available, the property size and the year built. Property size will default to the info provided by you otherwise the info will be provided from the EPC Register or the Land Registry. The year built will be provided from the Land Registry.
If you would like to see specific property information here, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Most viewed properties
Our audience love a nosey at popular properties and now we’ve made it even easier to identify the most viewed properties in any area. We’re promoting a random selection of these highly viewed properties on the homepage, complete with the number of views each has received in the last seven days.
Additionally, we’ve introduced a feature that allows users to sort their searches by the most viewed properties, giving them a clear view of what’s trending / gone viral.
Housing Market Snapshot
May
2024
Sales during May 2024 vs May 2023 -4.0%
3.1%
Website Users Inflation May 2024 vs May 2023
10.3% 2.3% House Prices Rents
Total ‘Sale agreed’ properties during May, 2015-2024 -4.0 %
April 2024 vs April 2023
Look out for our full snapshot in the coming days.
Commenting on housing market performance during May 2024, Jordan Buchanan, CEO of PropertyPal stated:
“The N.Ireland housing market has continued to show resilience in recent months despite the ongoing affordability pressures facing households purchasing with a mortgage. On the one hand, consumer confidence has seen a marked improvement resulting from lower inflation and robust labour market and wage levels. On the other hand, household deposit levels have increased as spending and mortgage approvals slowed, suggesting many may be repairing savings balances. Overall house prices have increased by 3.1% over the past 12 months, modestly above the rate of headline inflation. Persistent rental market supply challenges have seen the rate of rental inflation increase further to 10.3% compared to May 2023. On sales activity, there were approximately 2,300 properties agreed for sale, a level very similar to market conditions in 2022 and 2023.
The UK General Election remains an additional uncertainty facing the market, albeit, arguably less of a factor than the current monetary policy environment. Markets have pushed back their projections for an imminent interest rate cut but it still looks likely to see some reductions later in the summer.”
Marketing Overview
May 2024 Activity
This section will cover industry insights, best practices, trends and updates over the past month. We will also highlight the most popular property on social media and give you a glimpse into what we’ve been up to.
Home Buying Survey
We’ve just launched our Home Buyer Survey to explore the preferences, challenges and trends of buyers and renters across NI. This will be analysed and the findings issued to you this summer If you would like to complete this survey, please follow the link here: https://form.typeform.com/to/WA4kWflw
There’s a chance to win a £500 hotel voucher!
TikTok Testing
We’re still in the early stages of exploring TikTok’s potential and testing what works with our audience. It’s great to see so many agencies embracing this platform and doing such a fantastic job showcasing their properties! Interestingly, we’ve noticed that static images seem to be performing exceptionally well compared to video content on our channel.
To Meme or Not to Meme?
Engaging with trending topics and pop culture events on social media is an exciting way to increase engagement with your audience and to have some fun! However, not every trend will align with your brand values and social media strategy.
Here’s a few tips to help you:
1. Social media trends move fast so it’s important to respond quickly, ideally within 24-48 hours.
2. Ensure your response remains genuine and authentic to your brand. Don’t jump on the bandwagon if it’s not right for you.
3. Don’t hesitate to explore unconventional content formats and take calculated risks on social media. Learning from both successes and setbacks is key to refining your approach.
If you would like to speak to our marketing team or fancy grabbing a coffee, reach out to us at marketing@propertypal.com
May 2024 Performance
1.1M website users
25M impressions* across social media
500K post views on TikTok
220 properties featured across social media
Social Spotlight: Most Popular Property
734,516 impressions*
1K reactions
219 comments
*The number of times the content was seen, including multiple views from individual users.
Life at PropertyPal
What’s been happening in PropertyPal
Focusing on Mental Health
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, we dedicated time to promoting mental well-being among our team members. The week kicked off with a relaxing meditation and yoga session that helped us all unwind and connect with our inner calm. This was followed by an enlightening seminar conducted by Aware NI, focusing on the importance of mental health in the workplace. Titled “Mood Matters,” the seminar provided valuable insights and practical tips on how to maintain mental well-being in our professional lives.
To find out more about AWARE NI or to donate visit: https://aware-ni.org
Meet the Team
Carla, Brand Marketing Manager
Meet Carla, our Brand Marketing Manager. Carla plays a pivotal role in shaping the PropertyPal brand and ensuring our message resonates with our audience. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creative marketing strategies, Carla has been instrumental in driving our brand’s growth and visibility.
News
All the latest news from PropertyPal
Simon Community Partnership
We are proud to announce a strategic partnership with Simon Community, a charitable organisation dedicated to tackling homelessness and supporting individuals and families in need across the region.
The collaboration encourages staff volunteering, organised fundraising and ongoing support to raise awareness about hidden homelessness, a growing concern impacting 8,500 households here in Northern Ireland. Unlike visible homelessness seen on the streets, hidden homelessness typically involves individuals sleeping in cars, sofa surfing or squatting in offices. Through joint initiatives, we aim to shed light on the often-overlooked issue and encourage awareness and support that ultimately drives positive action.
Jordan Buchanan, PropertyPal CEO, commented on the partnership:
“We are delighted to have Simon Community as our official charity partner and aim to support the invaluable work they do. Social and economic factors, alongside rising costs, are exacerbating hidden homelessness, particularly in the private
rental market, which poses significant challenges for those on lower incomes. Through the extensive reach we have of over 12 million visitors annually, we are determined to highlight this issue and support the Simon Community in advocating for positive change.”
Simon Community’s new strategy, ‘Doing Things Differently’, focuses on delivering preventative measures and early interventions for those at risk of homelessness, along with practical housing solutions to break the cycle swiftly.
Jim Dennison, Simon Community CEO, commented on the partnership:
“We are very excited to work with PropertyPal in the months ahead. We know that a safe and secure home is life changing and our partnership will allow us to support more people who are experiencing homelessness across Northern Ireland.”
To find out more about SCNI or to donate visit: https://simoncommunity.org/
Some of the team enjoying a coffee morning and raising funds for Simon Community.
Pictured (L-R): Harriett Roberts, Simon Community Director of Growth & Engagement, Jordan Buchanan, PropertyPal CEO and Jim Dennison, Simon Community CEO.