ASDA today [27th April] announced it is planning to be the first UK supermarket to move into the property market. From the summer, customers in ten of its North East stores will be able to sell their home alongside the sausages or browse for a bungalow amongst the baked beans.

The service, called Homes @ Supermarkets(1), takes the concept of the traditional supermarket community noticeboard into the 21st century. From July, instead of advertising flats to let via postcards on a pinboard, ASDA customers will be able to browse properties for sale in their area via a high-tech touchscreen terminal at the front of the store. If the trial is a success it could be rolled out to other areas of the UK within the year.

Buying a house couldn’t be simpler. Customers visiting their local ASDA to do the weekly shop can stop by the terminal and browse the property listings. By simply keying in their contact details, someone at Homes @ Supermarkets will be in touch to arrange a viewing. Customers can also browse what’s on offer via a dedicated website.

Selling your house is equally easy. Customers key in their phone number and a Homes @ Supermarket representative will get in touch. One of their fully-qualified surveyors will come out to measure-up, conduct a valuation, take photos and, via a state-of-the-art PDA, will upload their home details onto the Homes @ Supermarkets database ready for ASDA customers to see in store. Conveyancing and home insurance can also be wrapped up as part of the one-stop service that will save customers both time and money.

Of course it all comes at ASDA price with sellers paying only a fraction of what high street estate agencies charge. ASDA expects to be able to save home sellers around £2000 worth of charges by offering free HIP (Home Information Packs comprising survey, search and land registry information (2)) and a low fee.

“House prices have skyrocketed in recent years and estate agents have done very nicely from it.” Said Gev Lynott, ASDA’s Financial Services director, “We’ve brought ASDA value to everything from handbags to hamburgers and we’re now doing this for house sales as well. Customers trust us to be a hub for all the local contacts and information they need. For years, postcards on our community boards have helped customers rent their perfect pad – now we’re going to help them buy it.”

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Further information:
Rachel Fellows, ASDA Press Office, 0113 241 8857
Out of hours, 0113 243 5435