Why We Built a Fairer System
If you're an estate agent, you already know how the big portals handle valuation leads. A homeowner asks for a valuation, and their details get shared with agents - but who gets chosen? On the leading portals, the answer is often whoever pays the most. Agents have told us they feel the system is opaque, expensive, and stacked against smaller firms.
We built Domovita's valuation panel to fix that. Our system uses weighted random allocation - a transparent, fair method that ensures every agent on the panel gets their share of leads over time, regardless of how much they spend.
How It Works
- A homeowner uses our free valuation tool. They enter their postcode, property type, and number of bedrooms. Our system calculates an instant estimate using HM Land Registry sold prices, EPC data, and UK House Price Index trends.
- They request agent valuations. After seeing their estimate, the homeowner can request a proper, in-person valuation from local agents. They fill in their name, email, and phone number.
- We select up to 3 agents from our panel. Our system finds all active panel agents who cover that postcode area. If there are 3 or fewer, they all receive the lead. If there are more than 3, our weighted random algorithm selects 3.
- Each selected agent receives the homeowner's full contact details by email. Name, phone number, email address, property type, bedrooms, and our online estimate range - everything you need to pick up the phone and arrange a market appraisal.
- You contact the homeowner directly. There's no platform in the middle, no gatekeeping, no having to respond through our system first. The lead is yours to work.
The Weighted Random Algorithm
This is the key difference between Domovita and the big portals. Here's exactly how our allocation works:
- Every agent on the panel has a lead counter - a running total of how many leads they've received.
- When a new lead comes in, agents who have received fewer leads are given a higher weighting in the random selection.
- An agent with zero leads will always have a higher chance of being selected than one who's already received several.
- Over time, this naturally balances out - everyone gets roughly the same volume of leads.
Think of it like a weighted lottery. If you've been unlucky in recent draws, your chances increase. If you've had a good run, your weighting drops slightly so others can catch up. The result is a system that's genuinely fair over weeks and months.
Why Not Pure Round-Robin?
A strict rotation (Agent A, then B, then C, then A again) sounds fair but creates problems. If Agent A is on holiday when a lead comes in, they miss their turn permanently. Our weighted random approach is more resilient - it self-corrects and doesn't penalise anyone for timing.
What Makes This Different
| Feature | Leading Portal | Domovita |
|---|---|---|
| Agents per lead | Up to 6 | Up to 3 |
| How agents are selected | Opaque - suspected pay-to-win | Transparent weighted random |
| Cost to agents | Premium placement fees | Free for agents |
| Contact details | Often gated through the platform | Full details sent directly |
| Commission or referral fee | Yes | None - 0% |
| Can small independents compete? | Difficult - budget matters | Yes - same odds as everyone |
Only 3 Agents Per Lead
We deliberately limit it to 3 agents per valuation lead. Here's why:
- Better for homeowners: 6 agents calling you is overwhelming. 3 is manageable - you can compare opinions without feeling hounded.
- Better for agents: You're competing with 2 others, not 5. That's much better odds of winning the instruction.
- Better conversion rates: Fewer agents means each one gets more attention from the homeowner, leading to better conversations and higher conversion.
No Commission, No Referral Fee
When you win an instruction through a Domovita valuation lead, the fee is 100% yours. We don't take a cut, we don't charge a referral fee, and we don't ask for a percentage of the sale price. The lead is free. The instruction is yours.
How to Join
Joining the Domovita Valuation Panel is free and takes about 2 minutes. You'll need:
- Your name and contact details
- Your company/branch name
- Your branch postcode
- The postcode prefixes you cover (e.g. BL1, BL2, BL3, M26)
Once registered, you'll start receiving valuation leads from homeowners in your coverage area. There's no contract, no minimum term, and you can pause or update your coverage at any time.
Questions?
If you have questions about how the panel works or want to discuss it before signing up, get in touch at