Online agency aims to offer better value and choice

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by Lin Freestone

Homes Matter, an online estate agent, is bringing together organisations from across several industries to provide better value and choice to homeowners.

The partners in the initiative include an energy supplier, leading energy efficiency installers, and home inspector and domestic energy assessor groups.

It is anticipated that other companies will join in due course, including a mortgage provider with green credentials, leading retailers and other companies across the home selling and buying supply chain.

Homes Matter will provide sellers with financial incentives to implement energy efficiency measures and arrange a Home Condition Report.

By accessing the service, sellers will be able to find information on low, fixed-cost estate agency and conveyancing services to help them improve the value and saleability of their homes at a time when house prices are falling.

Buyers will benefit from obtaining an up front Home Condition Report, along with implementation of energy efficiency measures that lower their energy bills and carbon emissions, at no cost to themselves.

It is anticipated that the initiative will provide better value and choice to homeowners and address the associated challenges of reforming the home selling and buying process, improving the energy efficiency of homes, combating climate change and helping energy suppliers meet carbon emission reduction targets.

Nigel Farren, founder of Homes Matter, has made information concerning the industry-led initiative available to the government, Energy Savings Trust, Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, Which?, and the Association of Home Information Pack Providers, amongst others.