The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has welcomed four new member organisations this month: Novus Strategy & Consulting, Armalytix, Survey Shack and Openproperty.
These organisations have joined OPDA with the aim of improving the homebuying process by making digital property information more widely available across the mortgage and property industries.
Maxine Wilson, CEO at Openproperty, said: “The property transaction process in this country has long been broken.
“Having spent over 30 years at the coalface of the industry, I can honestly say the experience for consumers has been nothing short of horrific.
“The stress, the delays, the red tape — it’s simply unacceptable in the 21st century.”
Wilson added: “What excites me about ODPA is their laser focus on tackling the structural issues — not just the symptoms.
“Real change only comes when we get to the root of the problem, and OPDA is doing just that.”
Survey Shack provides a self-survey app for residential properties, which is designed to help sellers, buyers and estate agents complete guided condition assessments.
Brett Ray, co-founder at Survey Shack, said: “Survey Shack was built to challenge the status quo of property surveys, using technology to make essential condition data more accessible and actionable.
“Our aim is to educate homeowners to get sale-ready and enable residents to carry out vital property health checks – in doing so, we improve outcomes for buyers, reduce delays for agents, and provide a new standard that reflects the needs of future generations.
“OPDA’s mission aligns perfectly with ours, and we’re proud to support a faster, more transparent, and digitally connected property market.”
Mike Ward, executive chair at Armalytix, said: “Motivated by the belief that there is a better way, Armalytix has been working with the brightest and most forward-looking legal firms to use smart technology for precision client data information.
“Joining OPDA is a natural extension of this, being able to work with the best minds from across the sector to fulfil the potential of open property data and make it work for all.”
Novus is a consultancy working with lenders, conveyancers and proptechs to help them achieve greater digital integration so that property transactions can be completed more quickly and efficiently.
Claire Van der Zant, CEO at Novus Strategy & Consulting Ltd, said: “Novus is proud to join the Open Property Data Association (OPDA) in our shared mission to re-engineer the property industry for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially home buyers and sellers.
“Being part of the OPDA and contributing to the development of open data and technology standards is not just an opportunity for Novus; it is a vital commitment.
“With a unique vantage point across the property ecosystem, Novus is in a prime position to support OPDA’s efforts and, through close collaboration with its members, facilitate the adoption of these standards.
“This will be key in driving Horizontal Digital Integration (HDI), unlocking new levels of growth and innovation across the industry.”
