Artificial intelligence tools have yet to gain traction among property buyers and sellers, according to research from agent comparison site GetAgent, despite widespread expectations that the technology will reshape the sector.
The survey of 622 UK estate agents found that only 22% report buyers mentioning AI when explaining how they discovered a property. Just 17% of agents say homeowners are enquiring whether AI-powered tools are being used to market their properties.
Limited current impact
The research indicates minimal evidence that AI is improving property listing visibility at present. Only 7% of agents say AI-powered search tools are delivering benefits, while 93% believe the technology is not yet having a meaningful impact on their business.
However, agents anticipate significant change ahead. Some 84% believe AI-powered search tools will become the primary method buyers use to find properties, and 88% say property businesses that fail to adopt AI search risk falling behind competitors.
Colby Short, Co-Founder and CEO of GetAgent, said: “Artificial intelligence has become a major talking point across the property sector, but like most new technologies, it will take time before it becomes fully integrated into how buyers and sellers behave.”
He added: “As more major platforms introduce AI-powered tools and the technology continues to improve, it’s likely that buyers will become far more comfortable using it as part of their property search and, for agents and wider businesses within the sector, the key will be ensuring they are ready to adapt as these tools evolve and become more widely adopted.”
Outlook
The findings suggest a significant gap between current adoption rates and agent expectations for AI integration in property transactions. The technology’s impact on how properties are marketed and discovered remains limited, though the sector anticipates substantial changes as platforms develop AI capabilities.
