Letting & Estate Agent Podcast Will AI kill the portals? - Ep. 2368
Oct 26, 2025
Richard Hayes, COO of Zoopla, shares his insights on the intersection of AI and property portals. He argues that AI enhances portal experiences rather than threatening them, offering smarter searches and personalised alerts. Hayes emphasizes the importance of structured data for AI's effectiveness, providing agents with valuable insights. He predicts a shift towards budget-focused searches and highlights how portals can analyze consumer preferences to benefit agents. Ultimately, AI is framed as a tool for greater engagement in the competitive real estate landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
AI Is Opportunity Not Extinction
- AI is currently an opportunity for portals to improve consumer experience rather than a killer threat.
- A portal that invests in AI can close gaps with rivals and disrupt the market through better search and engagement.
Structured Data Powers AI Search
- Large language models need clean, well-structured public data to serve good results.
- Portals that maintain structured listings will remain vital because AI consumes the most accessible data sources.
Zoopla Still Wins For Detailed Searches
- Richard Hayes says his go-to for property searches is Zoopla, not ChatGPT, because of images and listing details.
- He argues AI players aren't investing in the tailored portal experience Zoopla provides.