Frequently Asked Questions

You can search for properties using our intuitive search interface:

• Enter a location or postcode in the search bar
• Use filters to refine by price, property type, bedrooms, etc.
• Sort results by various criteria including price and date added
• Save searches for quick access later

Premium and Unlimited subscribers have access to advanced search features:

• Draw custom search areas on the map
• Filter by rental yield potential
• Search by school catchment areas
• Filter by property features (parking, garden, etc.)
• Save multiple complex search criteria

Yes, you can save properties to your favorites:

• Free users can save up to 5 properties
• Premium users can save up to 10 properties
• Unlimited users can save unlimited properties
• Click the heart icon on any property to save it
• Access saved properties from your account dashboard
• Receive notifications about price changes on saved properties

We maintain up-to-date property information:

• Property listings are updated multiple times daily
• Price changes are reflected within 24 hours
• Market analytics are updated weekly
• Regional intelligence data is updated monthly
• Historical data is archived for trend analysis

Property Intelligence is our advanced analytics system that helps you make informed investment decisions:

• Historical price trends and forecasts
• Rental yield calculations
• Area performance metrics
• Investment opportunity scoring
• Comparable property analysis

Our intelligence features combine data from multiple reliable sources:

• UK Land Registry for property transactions
• Office for National Statistics (ONS) for economic data
• Local council planning databases
• Real-time market listings and trends
• Proprietary data analytics and algorithms

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide crucial information about a property's energy efficiency:

• Energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient)
• Estimated energy costs for heating, lighting, and hot water
• Recommendations for improving energy efficiency
• Potential savings after implementing recommendations

Note: The government has proposed that rental properties should meet a minimum EPC rating of C, though the implementation timeline is still under review. However, EPC ratings remain crucial for investment decisions as they impact property value and running costs.

The cost of improving your EPC rating varies depending on property size and current rating. Here are typical costs for common improvements:

• LED lighting upgrade: Around £180 (saves £45/year)
• Loft insulation (topping up): £20-30/m² (saves £20/year)
• Cavity wall insulation: Cost varies (saves up to £500/year)
• External wall insulation: Around £7,000-£13,000 (saves up to £710/year)
• New condensing boiler: Around £3,900 (saves up to £420/year)
• Double glazing: Cost varies (saves £140/year)
• Solar panels: Around £6,100 (saves £360/year)

Upgrading from band D to C typically costs:

• One-bedroom flat: £3,653
• Mid-terrace house: £6,400
• Detached home: £12,540

Note: Costs and savings are estimates and may vary based on property size, location, and energy prices.

Available to Unlimited subscribers, Regional Intelligence provides deep insights into area performance:

• Regional price trends and forecasts
• Economic indicators (employment, GDP, etc.)
• Demographics and population trends
• Infrastructure developments
• Investment hotspot identification

Regional data is updated on different schedules:

• Price trends: Monthly updates
• Economic indicators: Quarterly updates
• Demographics: Annual updates
• Infrastructure projects: Real-time updates
• Investment hotspots: Monthly recalculation

Our platform helps identify investment opportunities through:

• Rental yield potential calculations
• Capital growth forecasts
• Area development tracking
• Investment risk scoring
• Market timing indicators

Premium and Unlimited subscribers get access to detailed investment analytics and reports.

The Investment Score (1-5) is calculated based on:

• Current and projected rental yields
• Historical price appreciation
• Local market strength
• Economic growth indicators
• Infrastructure developments

A score of 4 or 5 indicates a potentially strong investment opportunity.

We offer three subscription tiers:

• Free: Basic property search and up to 5 saved properties
• Premium (£9.99/month): Advanced search, up to 10 saved properties, and Property Intelligence
• Unlimited (£19.99/month): All Premium features plus unlimited saved properties, Regional Intelligence and priority support

To upgrade your subscription:

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to Account Settings
3. Click on 'Subscription'
4. Choose your desired plan
5. Enter payment details
6. Confirm the upgrade

Your new features will be available immediately after upgrading.

Yes, our subscription terms are flexible:

• Cancel anytime with no cancellation fees
• Access continues until the end of your billing period
• Saved data is retained for 30 days after cancellation
• Reactivate your subscription at any time
• Downgrade to free tier while keeping your basic data

There are several ways to get support:

• Use the Feedback button in your account to report issues
• Email us at support@propertyfinder.com
• Check this FAQ page for common questions
• Premium and Unlimited subscribers get priority support response

Property Finder works best with:

• Google Chrome (latest version)
• Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
• Safari (latest version)
• Microsoft Edge (latest version)

For the best experience, please keep your browser updated.

We take data security seriously:

• Bank-level SSL encryption for all data
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Two-factor authentication available
• GDPR compliant data handling
• Regular backups and disaster recovery

Our support team is available:

• Monday to Friday: 9am - 6pm GMT
• Saturday: 10am - 4pm GMT
• 24/7 emergency support for Unlimited subscribers
• Email response within 24 hours
• Live chat during business hours