Co Founder, The House Shop
TheHouseShop.com — Co-Founding a Modern UK Property Marketplace
In 2016, I co-founded TheHouseShop.com, a UK-based online property marketplace designed to give homeowners, landlords, and estate agents a more flexible and cost-effective way to market property online.
The Idea Behind TheHouseShop
TheHouseShop was created during a period of rapid change in online property marketing, as consumers increasingly expected transparency, flexibility, and lower costs when buying, selling, or renting property. Traditional property portals primarily served estate agents, while private sellers often lacked equal visibility.
The platform introduced a hybrid marketplace model allowing private sellers, landlords, online agents, and high-street estate agents to operate within the same ecosystem. Listings could be added free of charge, lowering barriers to entry while generating revenue through premium promotion, advertising, and property-related service partnerships.
- Free property listings for sellers and landlords
- Marketplace access for agents and property professionals
- Premium “featured listing” marketing upgrades
- Integrated referrals for mortgages, conveyancing, and landlord services
Innovation & Marketplace Approach
TheHouseShop sought to broaden consumer choice within the UK property market by combining elements of traditional portals with emerging digital marketplace models. Rather than replacing estate agents, the platform enabled multiple selling approaches to coexist, allowing property owners to select the level of professional support they required.
A notable initiative included the Accessible Property Register, developed to help wheelchair users and disabled home seekers find suitable adapted homes — highlighting the role technology could play in improving accessibility within housing markets.
Growth & Industry Recognition
TheHouseShop gained industry attention as an alternative UK property portal and successfully completed a crowdfunding campaign that supported platform growth and development. Media coverage and industry interviews highlighted the platform’s ambition to expand consumer choice and modernise property marketing models.
The marketplace attracted listings from private individuals as well as professional agents, including properties not always available on traditional portals, reinforcing its position as an alternative digital property marketplace.
My Role as Co-Founder
- Strategic development of marketplace positioning
- Digital marketing and platform growth strategy
- Industry partnerships and collaboration
- Product and service development
- Supporting innovation in alternative property marketing models
Why This Mattered
TheHouseShop represented a continuation of my long-standing focus on using technology to expand consumer choice within property markets. Building on earlier online property innovations, the platform demonstrated how digital marketplaces could support both private sellers and professional agents within a single ecosystem.
The experience further informed the development of international buyer acquisition platforms such as HomesGoFast.com and EuropeanProperty.com, reinforcing the role of online marketplaces in connecting buyers and sellers more efficiently.
Visit the platform:
www.thehouseshop.com
Crowdfunding Initiative
To support further growth and strengthen TheHouseShop’s position as a viable alternative in the UK property marketplace, the team initiated a crowdfunding campaign designed to attract external investment and broaden the platform’s capabilities. The campaign gained industry attention and was featured by The Negotiator, highlighting both the ambition of the business model and investor interest in property marketplace innovation.
The purpose of the crowdfunding round was to accelerate platform development, scale up marketing efforts, and extend the range of tools available to sellers, landlords, and agents. The exposure generated by the campaign also helped elevate TheHouseShop’s profile within industry networks and among early adopters of alternative property marketing models.
In parallel with fundraising efforts, TheHouseShop developed educational content aimed at empowering users and industry participants to better understand digital property marketing dynamics. This included early e-learning initiatives focused on helping sellers and landlords understand how to leverage technology, optimise listings, and navigate the shift from traditional estate agency methods to online marketplace models.
While the crowdfunding round and associated e-learning programme represented a transition phase in the platform’s evolution, they underscored a broader trend: property marketplaces that combine technology, community education and flexible listing options are increasingly resonating with both consumers and professionals alike.
Read ‘Alternative property marketing platform TheHouseShop has launched a public crowdfunding campaign to raise £500,000 and has already reached half of its target.
TheHouseShop asks investors for £500,000
