Camilla De Cesare launched home-buying assistant app, hntr, two months ago after finding the whole process of purchasing her first home overwhelming.
“I started looking to buy in December 2021 and eventually bought in 2022 in Baron’s Court.”
As De Cesare worked full time – like many first-time buyers – she had to organise viewings for the weekend and, on one Saturday, saw a total of eight properties. The process was further complicated by three of the male agents she was dealing with having the same first name, and the same for two of the female agents.
“Trying to keep track of all those homes, the estate agents, booking confirmations, questions to ask, photos, calendar reminders – it was chaos.
“I had a spreadsheet, notes in my phone, emails everywhere, and a camera roll full of out-of-context photos. I thought: surely there’s a better way to manage this?”
There wasn’t, so she did what all the best frustrated customers do: she invented one herself, an app called hntr (like hunter, as in, house).
The hntr app helps users in three ways. Firstly, it pulls in links from different property portals and lists their major features, such as number of bedrooms, bathrooms and the location, to create a Property Profile.
You can then add your own personal must-haves, for example, ‘Does it have a garden?’ ‘What’s the distance from Tube?’ and see how the property measures up against these.
You can then track whether you’ve booked a viewing and there are push notifications set up to remind you of the time and contact details.
What hntr looks like for the user
Handout
For when you’re at the viewing, hntr allows you to record answers to 10 pre-set questions, such as ‘Is the property freehold or leasehold?’ ‘What is the internet speed?’, as well as add your own. These act as a prompt of what to ask the agent.
If you want to take your own photos and videos, you can upload these to the app and then share all the data with a partner, whether they made the viewing or not. You can also rate the property, add personal notes and mark your level of interest.
In the future, it’s hoped that an AI element will be added that will run the properties against each other to see which performs best against your criteria.
The second element of the app is a Budget & Cost Tracker that kicks in once you’ve had an offer accepted.
According to the Aldermore First-Time Buyer Index, 63 per cent of first-time buyers spent more than they had planned and nearly half couldn’t afford furniture right away.
The tracker allows users to set their budget and input their actual spend, then tick off items as they are paid for.
“I wasn’t prepared for the costs of buying a home… The tracker splits out the costs at each part of the buying journey, whether that’s the survey or the legal fees. It’s there to help buyers feel in control.”
The final element is the Purchasing Checklist that allows purchasers to make sure they do everything that they need to and do it in the right order.
“I didn’t know that there are two different surveys that take place: one by the mortgage company and another that you organise,” says De Cesare.
This is also how the app is monetised – there is a trusted and vetted solicitor, surveyor, mortgage broker and home insurance company that pay hntr a referral fee should anyone be directed to them via the app.
All the recommended suppliers operate UK-wide and, while the app helps you send a pre-written email, after this, the rest of your interactions take place off-line via the usual channels. “It’s a win-win: buyers get guidance when they need it, and hntr earns without adding to their burden.”
The app is available on iOS and Android, to anyone in the UK, but the buying process in Scotland is slightly different so the Purchasing Checklist will not apply.
Currently, the take-up has been entirely organic and is very London-centric, with two per cent of London first-time buyers, equating to about 1,000 users. There’s a 40 per cent conversion rate and users tend to check the app 2.5 times a day.
The goal is to have 10 per cent of all English first-time buyers using the app by the end of the year, that’s around 30,000 users.
“I have had people on TikTok and Reddit message me saying they are neurodivergent, and they didn’t think home buying was a possibility given how overwhelming it all seems and hntr is giving them the confidence to start the process,” adds De Cesare.
In addition to providing a useful tool for first-time buyers, hntr, which is self-funded, also donates 10 per cent of its revenue to youth homeless charity Centrepoint. This is particularly meaningful because an estimated 354,000 people are experiencing homelessness in England, which is nearly the same as the number of first-time buyers annually in England.
“It’s important to me that the app gives back… How amazing is it that you can use this app to help you buy a house but then also help someone else find a home too?”
Five more must-download apps for first-time buyers
Chip: This AI auto-saving app analyses your spending and income and then pulls small, manageable amounts from your bank account into a savings account. The idea is that you’re saving without realising it.
Taskrabbit: From assembling IKEA furniture to mounting a TV, this handyman service allows you to book a tasker to help with the inevitable little jobs that come with owning a home.
RIGHTMOVE: Rightmove’s dominance in the UK property market can’t be underestimated. Be sure to set up alerts so you know as soon as any properties that meet your criteria hit the market.
AroundMe: A great app if you’re moving to an area you don’t know. AroundMe highlights amenities such as chemists, petrol stations, banks and supermarkets, near where you’re buying.
Sortly This app makes the packing process (almost) stress-free. You can create a moving checklist and take photographs of items, as you pack them, so nothing is left behind and unpacking is quicker and easier.