Why Rightmove & Zoopla Aren’t Enough: Smarter Property Marketing for UK Sellers
Most agents list your home on Rightmove and Zoopla then wait. At Avocado Property, we do more. Our #BeatThePortals strategy builds interest before launch with targeted marketing, warm buyer outreach, and social buzz. The result? More viewings, better offers, and less time on the market.
When you’re selling your home, the first thing many sellers ask is: “Will it be on Rightmove and Zoopla?”
The answer yes, of course. But here’s the truth most agents won’t tell you: putting your property on the portals is the minimum a good agent should do. If that’s their main marketing plan, you’re not getting value. You’re getting noise.
At avocado property, we believe in flipping the script. While portals play a role, they’re just one (small) piece of the puzzle. Our bespoke, trademarked strategy, #BeatThePortals is built to drive interest before you go live, reduce competition and generate more motivated buyers from day one.
Let’s break it down.
Are Agents Required to Use Portals?
No, estate agents are not legally required to list your home on Rightmove or Zoopla. But most do because buyers expect it and the portals provide a huge shop window.
But here’s the catch:
• Rightmove and Zoopla don’t sell your home; they just advertise it.
• Your listing competes with hundreds, even thousands of others.
• Portals work best when buyers are already browsing, not when you're trying to build buzz or urgency.
So, while the portals are important, relying on them exclusively is a missed opportunity.
🛑 The Portal Trap: What Happens When Everyone Lists at Once?
Think about it. On launch day, your property is one of hundreds hitting Rightmove. You get a quick surge of views… and then it fades and then it falls off a cliff... If your home doesn’t grab attention immediately, it slides down the rankings and into the digital noise.
This “list it and leave it” mindset is what holds many sellers back and here’s why:
• Buyers see it’s been online a while and assume something’s wrong.
• Price drops are used as the only strategy to reignite interest.
• Sellers lose momentum and motivation.
Been there? Here’s what you can do about it…
🚀 Enter #BeatThePortals: Proactive Marketing That Starts Before You Go Live
At avocado property, we don’t wait for buyers to find you, we go out and find them first.
Our #BeatThePortals strategy is built on early engagement and targeted exposure:
• Heads-Up Alerts – First agents contact potential buyers in the database before you go live. These are warm leads, with clear criteria. Basically, people looking for homes just like yours.
• Missed-Out Marketing – Agents target buyers who recently lost out on similar properties. They're motivated, ready and often quick to offer at the right price.
• Social Media Teasers – The approach builds intrigue and buzz and is supported via video social media, walkthroughs and sneak previews to qualified local audiences.
• Agent Advocacy – Your agent doesn’t just upload a listing, they pitch it. They actively call and message buyers who are a perfect fit.
By the time your property hits the portals, the momentum had been created. The result? Interest and urgency.
📊 Portals as a Support Act - Not the Headliner
Let’s be clear, avocado property absolutely use portals. Rightmove, Zoopla and On The Market are part of the UK property market ecosystem. But they’re not our strategy. They’re a tool.
Here’s how we use them wisely:
• Timing your portal launch to coincide with pre-market buzz.
• Listing when there’s interest, so you get more clicks, calls, and viewings from day one.
• Using data to monitor engagement and if momentum dips, acting fast to refresh visuals, messaging and buyer targeting.
That’s what marketing should look like in 2025, not a dusty listing lost in the back catalogue of every other property in the UK!
🔄 Why This Matters to You as a Seller
When you list with a portal-first agent, you’re passive. You’re hoping buyers stumble on your home.
When you list with avocado property, you’re strategic because agents:
• Build anticipation before launch.
• Drive action through multi-channel promotion.
• Keep your home fresh in buyers’ minds, right up to offer and completion.
This approach results in:
✅ More qualified viewings
✅ Higher competition between buyers
✅ Better offers in shorter timeframes
And if the market changes? Avocado property agents shift gears, not blame.
🧠 Final Thoughts: You Deserve More Than “List and Wait”
In today’s fast-moving market, exposure alone isn’t enough. You need smart, strategic marketing that adapts, excites, and engages the right buyers.
With avocado property, you get a team that’s invested in your success backed by data, driven by motivation and fuelled by #BeatThePortals thinking.
If you’re ready to list with purpose, not just presence, let’s have a conversation.