Some frequently asked questions

Question

Will my website be compatible with my agency software?

Answer 1

We work with many different agency software providers, and receive data feeds smoothly so that we can publish your properties on your website. Almost all software suppliers provide us with property data in exactly the same format, which means we can always accept the data feeds.

Answer 2

Yes, you can make changes to your website. There is a comprehensive Content Management System (CMS), which you can log into at any time to make changes. You can edit, add or remove pages, write articles, change settings and even make changes to how the site looks. Of course, our support team are always available to help you understand how you can make those changes, and how best to use the CMS.

Answer 3

There are normally two components to our charges: a fee to cover the work involved in building and launching the site, and a monthly fee (this will vary depending on the size of your agency) that covers the licence of the technology that powers the website. This monthly fee covers the technology licence, full hosting, ongoing support, maintenance, and access to all website platform enhancements as we develop them. Our websites start from £169 per branch, per month.

Answer 4

Yes. You get access to our support team during business hours. We help with technical issues, feature questions, and best practices. We're here to make sure your website works hard for you.

Answer 5

Our agreements are usually for two years for a template design, and three years for a bespoke build. Almost all of our clients choose to stay with us well beyond the initial period, often for many years.

Answer 6

Yes, our monthly packages cover website hosting. Our systems and data are hosted with Amazon Web Services, at facilities in the UK.

Answer 7

This will depend on the size and complexity of the site you require. Typically, a site that uses one of our existing design themes (a template site) is very quick to launch, and is often only held up when we're waiting for content to be provided. A site that requires a bespoke design is likely to be a little more complex and will take longer, depending on your requirements.

Answer 8

Our platform is built in Ruby on Rails, using mySQL database.

Answer 9

Our system along with all data storage and back-up is all based in the cloud. We use Amazon Web Services (AWS), and store all data in various AWS data centres based in the UK.

Answer 10

We design, create, host and maintain your website, and provide you with full and ongoing support, all as part of the service. You will have access to all the enhancements we make to the website platform without having to pay extra. As well as a high performing website for users, there is a very flexible Content Management System for you, where you can edit the website and view all the enquiries that are generated.

Answer 11

We work with many different agency software providers, and receive data feeds smoothly so that we can publish your properties on your website. Almost all software suppliers provide us with property data in exactly the same format, which means we can always accept the data feeds.

Answer 12

The existing template designs are very flexible, and can be made to reflect your brand very well. Once you have configured the design with your logo, colours, pictures, content, staff and properties, it becomes a very smart representation of your brand.

Answer 13

Yes, you can make changes to your website. There is a comprehensive Content Management System (CMS), which you can log into at any time to make changes. You can edit, add or remove pages, write articles, change settings and even make changes to how the site looks. Of course, our support team are always available to help you understand how you can make those changes, and how best to use the CMS.

Answer 14

There are normally two components to our charges: a fee to cover the work involved in building and launching the site, and a monthly fee (this will vary depending on the size of your agency) that covers the licence of the technology that powers the website. This monthly fee covers the technology licence, full hosting, ongoing support, maintenance, and access to all website platform enhancements as we develop them. Our websites start from £169 per branch, per month.

Answer 15

A template website uses one of our professionally designed themes. You choose the theme that matches your brand, we set it up with your branding, some content and properties, and you launch. It's faster and significantly cheaper than a bespoke build, but it's still a full-featured, high-performing website.

Answer 16

Yes. You get access to our support team during business hours. We help with technical issues, feature questions, and best practices. We're here to make sure your website works hard for you.

Answer 17

Yes. You can make updates or add to your content, staff, office details, area guides, etc. If at any point you want a bespoke design or a different template, we can build that for you and migrate your data across.

Answer 18

Our agreements are usually for two years for a template design, and three years for a bespoke build. Almost all of our clients choose to stay with us well beyond the initial period, often for many years.

Answer 19

Yes, our monthly packages cover website hosting. Our systems and data are hosted with Amazon Web Services, at facilities in the UK.

Answer 20

Some of our existing designs are offered without any up-front fee at all. If you want a bespoke design, there will be a charge to design and build the site, and we will need to discuss your requirements in order to give you an accurate quotation.

Answer 21

To create your website, we will need you to provide some specified pieces of content that you want published on the site. Often we can take content from an existing website, but you will need to put aside some time to provide any additional content that you require, and to check the site as we create it to ensure it is exactly what you want.

Answer 22

Our service includes full hosting at our tier 1 hosting facility with Amazon Web Services (AWS). We do not offer domain name registration, but we can help you in that process if you need to register a domain.

Answer 23

This will depend on the size and complexity of the site you require. Typically, a site that uses one of our existing design themes (a template site) is very quick to launch, and is often only held up when we're waiting for content to be provided. A site that requires a bespoke design is likely to be a little more complex and will take longer, depending on your requirements.

Answer 24

Our platform is built in Ruby on Rails, using mySQL database.

Answer 25

Our system along with all data storage and back-up is all based in the cloud. We use Amazon Web Services (AWS), and store all data in various AWS data centres based in the UK.

Answer 26

We design, create, host and maintain your website, and provide you with full and ongoing support, all as part of the service. You will have access to all the enhancements we make to the website platform without having to pay extra. As well as a high performing website for users, there is a very flexible Content Management System for you, where you can edit the website and view all the enquiries that are generated.

Answer 27

Lead Manager is software that improves how your team qualifies, nurtures and converts your inbound leads. It turns your website and portal enquiries into actionable, prioritised prospects, helping your team focus on the ones that really matter.

Answer 28

Yes. Lead Manager identifies hot prospects faster, meaning your negotiators can act quickly on the right leads. It also unlocks revenue from cross-sell opportunities like mortgage and conveyancing referrals, turning passive leads into profit.

Answer 29

Absolutely. By automating lead capture and lead qualification, and assisting with effective follow-up, it drastically cuts down the time your team spends handling unqualified enquiries, freeing them to focus on the leads most likely to convert. This can be particularly effective for busy lettings agents. Some of our larger clients have studied the time savings and estimated them at 6 minutes per lead handled.

Answer 30

Yes. Lead Manager surveys can be customised to include questions to identify leads that are ready for mortgage advice or conveyancing, making it easy to pass them to your partners or in-house advisers.

Answer 31

Agents use Lead Manager to convert more leads into instructions, more quickly and more profitably. It helps them qualify leads automatically, identifying hidden vendor opportunities in the applicant flow, reducing admin and duplication, tracking performance, and ensuring no valuable prospect slips through the cracks.

Answer 32

Not at all. Homeflow Referrals integrates seamlessly with our existing Homeflow Lead Manager system and your lead sources, including portals and your own website. There’s no complex setup or additional tools required, just activate the feature and start earning from day one.

Answer 33

Because it turns lost leads into profit. Instead of ignoring out-of-area enquiries, you can earn from them automatically, strengthen relationships with trusted partner agents, and add a new revenue stream, all without extra work for your team.

Answer 34

When a new lead comes in through portals like Rightmove or Zoopla, Homeflow checks if the property is within your service area. If it’s not, you can confirm the customer is happy to be referred. With one click, the lead is passed to a vetted agent via the Relocation Agent Network, and Homeflow manages everything from tracking to payment.

Answer 35

Yes. Lead Manager enables you to send emails to multiple leads at once, perfect for follow-ups or event-based outreach. You can tailor your message and track who engages.

Answer 36

Yes. You can quickly bulk close leads to keep your pipeline tidy. This is ideal for clearing out old or unresponsive enquiries without losing their history.

Answer 37

Definitely. You can route leads by branch, tailor surveys per location, and track performance centrally, making it ideal for both single-office agencies and and larger multi-office businesses.

Answer 38

Yes. Lead Manager works with any website, and is tightly integrated if you use a Homeflow website. Whatever website you use, it processes website leads alongside leads from other sources, such as portals.

Answer 39

By automating follow-up, qualifying leads early, identifying hidden opportunities consistently, and focussing your team’s time on the right prospects, Lead Manager increases the chances of winning more business, faster.

Answer 40

Yes. Leads are scored using our Lead Quality Score (LQS), which uses intent signals such as urgency, budget, timeframe, and answers to key questions. The hottest leads are surfaced so your team can jump on them first.

Answer 41

Yes. You can tailor the questions based on the specifics of your process, market, or branch. This flexibility lets you gather the insights most valuable to your team, whether that’s property preferences, selling intent, or financial position.

Answer 42

Lead Manager can integrate with your existing telephone system, so calls can be recorded and stored against the lead for future review. This also provides additional reporting, as you can see reports on both calls and other contacts made by your team.

Answer 43

When the system identifies multiple leads from the same customer, it groups them together and encourages the same agent to handle that one customer account. It gives you options to bulk handle the leads as a group, and to close multiple leads into your CRM onto the same applicant record.

Answer 44

Lead Manager integrates with your CRM (if supported) via API. Once a lead completes a survey, their data, including responses and tags, is pushed into your CRM for your team to follow up.

Answer 45

Yes. It’s fully customisable with your agency’s logo, colours and messaging, including tailoring the questions in the surveys, so the experience stays consistent for your clients.

Answer 46

Surveys are short, branded questionnaires sent automatically after a lead submits an enquiry. They help you gather extra detail to qualify the lead, assess their intent, and tailor your follow-up, all without adding friction and ensuring your team can focus on the best prospects first.

Answer 47

Yes. It works effectively for both sales and lettings. You can configure rules, questions, and workflows to suit either side of your business. Busy lettings agents use the Lead Shield feature to help identify the potential tenants most qualified to proceed quickly.

Answer 48

Yes. It’s designed to help your sales team manage inbound enquiries effectively, follow up intelligently, and close more instructions. Perhaps most valuably, it can help identify and highlight valuation opportunities, from within the general viewings lead flow. It can also book multiple sales viewings in one call with our property match feature.

Answer 49

The free plan covers the core valuation journey - instant sales and lettings valuations, confidence levels, unlimited leads, and the prompt to book an in-person appointment. The Professional plan adds valuation output adjustment, a customisable video message on the results page, the ability to capture home improvement investments, and phone support.

Answer 50

Yes. The tool is fully white-labelled and mobile-friendly - styled with your colours, fonts, logos, and even your team's faces. All plans include a custom brand logo and button colour. Professional and Enterprise plans extend this to custom headings, labels, text, and call-to-action button styling. The result is an experience that feels like a natural part of your website, not a third-party add-on.

Answer 51

We provide a confidence rating dependent on how many data points were used in the valuation, and explain in plain terms the steps taken by the algorithm. In the rare case where there isn't enough data to produce a reliable result, the tool won't attempt a valuation - instead it gracefully invites the user to book an in-person appointment with a member of your team. Vendors can also provide their own information, such as home improvements, to help fine-tune the figure.

Answer 52

No. Homeflow Valuations is extremely easy to install whether your website is provided by Homeflow or anyone else. It takes just one line of code to add the tool to your website. If your website is powered by Homeflow, you'll also benefit from tighter integration with your staff profiles and Lead Manager.

Answer 53

Yes. The base version of Homeflow Valuations is completely free - no catch, no obligation, and no trial period. The free plan includes unlimited leads, sales and lettings instant valuations, confidence level ratings, and the prompt to book an in-person appointment, all at no cost. Paid plans are available for agencies that want deeper customisation and additional features.

Answer 54

Enquiries generated through Homeflow Valuations can be viewed in Lead Manager, where you can profile leads further with automated surveys, and you can ensure that no leads fall through the gaps.

Answer 55

Enquiries generated through Live Chat are automatically captured in Homeflow Lead Manager, so your team can see and follow up the opportunity. It connects the conversation happening on your website with the wider lead management process, so visitors can go through automated surveys, and helping ensure valuable opportunities aren't lost.

Answer 56

Live Chat can use information about your business alongside the visitor's activity on your website to provide more relevant answers. For example, understanding what property they're looking at and where they are in their website journey can give the conversation useful context, rather than treating every visitor in exactly the same way.

Answer 57

Yes. Live Chat is available around the clock, so visitors can get an immediate, knowledgeable response whether they're browsing during the working day, in the evening or at the weekend. It means your website can continue engaging potential customers with intelligent, prompt conversations, even when your branches are closed.

Answer 58

Live Chat helps you engage potential customers earlier, while they're actively browsing your website and considering their next move. Instead of waiting for someone to complete a form or pick up the phone, you can start a useful conversation there and then, helping convert more of your existing website traffic into genuine opportunities, faster.

Answer 59

Very easy. Adding Live Chat to your website requires just one line of code, while the configuration is handled within Homeflow. That means there's very little work required from your team and no complicated website development project. If you're using a Homeflow website already, we do everything (and it's very quick).

Answer 60

No. Live Chat can be added to your website even if it isn't powered by Homeflow. If you do have a Homeflow website, Live Chat can access more context about your business and the visitor's journey through your site, helping it provide even more relevant and useful answers, but Live Chat works very well on any estate agency website.

Answer 61

Homeflow Live Chat is an AI-powered chat assistant for estate agency websites. It engages visitors while they're browsing, answers their questions instantly by intelligently using the context of your business and the visitor's activity to help turn more of your existing website traffic into leads and opportunities.

Answer 62

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising places your agency at the top of Google search results immediately. You pay only when someone clicks your ad, and campaigns are targeted to the specific local searches most relevant to your business, being the buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in your area.

Answer 63

Unlike SEO, PPC delivers immediate visibility. Your ads can appear at the top of Google from the moment a campaign goes live, driving traffic to your website straight away.

Answer 64

No. Homeflow's PPC service is available to any estate agency, regardless of which website provider you use. Our PPC team are Google Partners and AdWords Certified, with deep expertise in running campaigns for estate and lettings agents across the UK.

Answer 65

PPC costs vary depending on your location, competition, and campaign goals. There are two components: our management fee for setting up and running and optimising your campaigns, and your ad spend budget which goes directly to Google. We tailor campaigns to your budget and focus on maximising return on every pound spent.

Answer 66

Yes. Most property searches are location-specific, so ranking well for local terms is critical. We build keyword strategies around your specific patch, ensuring your agency appears prominently when people search for estate agents in your area.

Answer 67

Our SEO service covers keyword strategy tailored to your local market, on-page optimisation, technical SEO, content development, and ongoing performance reporting. Everything is focused on improving your visibility for the searches that matter most, targeting buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in your area.

Answer 68

SEO is a long-term strategy. Most estate agencies begin to see meaningful improvements in rankings and traffic within three to six months, with stronger results building over time. Unlike PPC, the benefits of SEO compound, meaning the rankings and authority you build today continue to deliver results without ongoing ad spend.

Answer 69

No. Homeflow's SEO service is available to any estate agency, regardless of which website provider you use. Our strategies are built on Google best practice guidelines and can be applied to any estate agency website.

Answer 70

Starting an estate agency means registering the business, meeting compliance requirements such as anti-money laundering checks, and setting up a website and valuation tool to generate leads from day one.

Answer 71

Most new agencies see steady progress within their first 6 to 12 months, though this varies with local market conditions and how quickly the founder builds visibility and trust.

Answer 72

Before word of mouth has had time to build, visibility and trust have to be earned deliberately. A credible, fast-loading website and an easy-to-find valuation tool do a lot of that work early on, giving vendors a low-commitment way to engage with your agency before they've decided who to instruct. Networking with local mortgage brokers and solicitors, and being genuinely present in your local market, tends to matter more than paid advertising in the earliest months.

Answer 73

Plenty of successful agencies now start and stay home-based, using online tools for valuations, lead management and client communication. It removes a significant early overhead. A physical office can help in certain markets, particularly at the higher end where clients expect a place to meet, but it's rarely essential in the first year. The right answer depends more on your target market than on convention.

Answer 74

No. There's no legal requirement to hold a qualification before starting an estate agency in the UK, though a recognised course such as Propertymark's CELA can add credibility while you're still building a track record. What genuinely matters from day one is compliance: redress scheme membership, AML registration and the other requirements new agents need in place before they can trade.

Answer 75

Most new agencies launch on a budget of somewhere between £5,000 and £20,000, depending on the scale of the operation. That typically covers company registration, professional indemnity insurance, your website and initial marketing. If you're operating without a physical office, costs at the lower end of that range are realistic. Building in a buffer for the unexpected is worth doing, whatever your starting point.

Some frequently asked questions

Bespoke Websites

Template Websites

Lead Manager

Valuations

Live Chat

Google PPC

SEO

Startups

Service that delights our customers

Don’t just take our word for it

Some frequently asked questions

Bespoke Websites

Template Websites

Lead Manager

Valuations

Live Chat

Google PPC

SEO

Startups

Service that delights our customers

Don’t just take our word for it

Interested in learning more?

Get in touch with us today