It’s more competitive than ever to be an estate agent.
The number of agencies in the UK has increased by an impressive 24% since 2017, with many more expected to join the market in the year ahead.
While it’s positive to see continued industry growth, the increased competition for landlords and instructions is making it all the more important for agencies to take the right steps to stay ahead.
Data suggests that even as estate agency numbers grow, revenues fell substantially between 2020 and 2024.
So, where are agencies going wrong? It all begins with not having the right technology in place to automate and streamline the day to day.
When it comes to prospecting, agents who win today are the ones who can spot opportunities earlier, focus their efforts more precisely, and act faster than the competition.
Introducing Alto Prospecting (Powered by Sprift). The new intelligent solution for agents seeking a data-driven, proven approach to prospecting. Identify and convert new sales and lettings opportunities faster and smarter than ever before.
Alto Prospecting is proven to help you win 22% more instructions by spotting opportunities earlier, with reliable whole-of-market insight built directly into Alto.
On average, Alto Prospecting users see:
- 3–4 extra instructions every month
- 6+ days saved per year through automated, in-CRM prospecting
- 93%+ address matching through trusted, whole-of-market data
With Alto Prospecting, you’re always one move ahead.
What to expect from Alto Prospecting
Hours of manual admin, working with patchy data and constantly missing opportunities. Sound familiar? Agents using Alto Prospecting have said enough is enough.
Alto Prospecting gives your team a fast, focused way to turn sales and lettings opportunities into instructions, without manual effort or disconnected tools. You can focus effort earlier, act with confidence and win more without working harder.
How it works:
Find live opportunities
Instantly reveal properties and landlords that have reduced, withdrawn, fallen through or are active off-market.
Focus your patch
Use smart filters and area search to target owners and landlords most likely to act.
Start outreach
Send compliant, branded mailers in seconds using built-in templates – or create your own.
Track what converts
See responses, instructions and insight inside Alto, so every campaign sharpens the next.
Plus, everything happens in one place, from insight to outreach to instruction, all within your CRM – with Alto.
The power of landlord data
For lettings, growth depends on knowing who owns what, who is most likely to act next and getting in front of them when the time is right.
With Alto Prospecting, letting agents can:
- Access verified landlord ownership information to target the right opportunities with confidence
- See portfolio insights at a glance and understand who owns multiple properties and where
- Identify landlords most likely to switch agents or expand their portfolio, using property history and live market activity
- Combine landlord intelligence with your existing Alto CRM records for a true 360° view of your local market
This is not surface-level data. It’s practical, actionable intelligence designed to help your team start better conversations with the right landlords at exactly the right time.
A seamless experience
Powered by Sprift, Alto Prospecting delivers trusted, whole-of-market insight from multiple data sources. It’s not restricted to a single property portal, and it’s the only tool on the market to do that. It’s prospecting without friction.
That means:
- No need for third-party platforms and no manual imports.
- Landlord and property insights appear directly within the Alto CRM interface.
- Tasks, workflows and communications are automatically connected to landlord and property profiles.
- Teams stay aligned, efficient and focused on the opportunities that matter most.
Why is Alto Prospecting different?
Trusted whole-of-market dataVerified, whole-of-market insight powered by Sprift – connecting thousands of industry-trusted public and private data sources across over 30 million UK residential properties.
Landlord insightAccurate ownership records and portfolio intelligence.
Sales and lettings in one workflowOne prospecting engine for your entire agency.
Native to AltoBuilt in, not bolted on.
Real agents, real results
Agencies using Alto Prospecting are already seeing tangible results:
- More landlord instructions and faster portfolio growth
- Stronger, more personalised relationships with local vendors and landlords
- Greater efficiency with less time researching, more time closing
- Clearer pipeline visibility and forecasting
“As a new agency, we needed something that would help us build momentum fast. Alto Prospecting has done exactly that — our pipeline is growing, and it’s now an essential part of our daily workflow” – Tom Moult, Co-founder, Ashford & Moult Estate Agents
Kings Group adds £96,000 a year with Alto Prospecting
Kings Group’s Edmonton branch is using Alto Prospecting to target the right opportunities at the right time.
The result?
- Around £96,000 per year in additional instruction revenue
- Up to five hours saved per day
“Alto Prospecting has completely changed the way we work. We’re no longer guessing where our next instruction will come from. It’s helped us uncover extra listings worth thousands every month.” -Suwit Rungruang, Branch Manager
The future of intelligent, data-led growth
Alto Prospecting is just the beginning. Alto continues to innovate to help agents stay ahead.
Our roadmap focuses on smarter automation and predictive insights to make your day-to-day life easier. Less friction, faster progress, better results.
Alto’s mission remains clear: to be the CRM partner that fuels sustainable, data-led agency growth.
