AFTER viewing a house that seemed “perfect” but turned out to be in a flood zone, one Scot has taken it upon himself to create a free website detailing property risks that major sites do not.
The website seeks to provide transparency regarding property factors that are usually not found on property sites such as Zoopla.
The service, called "thathome" aims to give the following details regarding houses that buyers should be wary of
That includes:
- Flood risk assessment
- Historical house price data
- School catchment boundaries
- Noise pollution levels
- Area safety ratings
Michael Adrian, 30, of Aberdeen who created the site told The National his own property hunt led to the creation of the service.
“My wife and I were searching for a home, and we quickly realised that while most property websites focus on the transactional side, we wanted deeper insights into the communities we were considering," he said.
“The neighbourhood itself – its atmosphere, inclusivity, and overall liveability – was just as important to us as the house.”
Adrian spoke about his goals in creating the site, and the long-term aim of its capability to provide information for Scots looking to purchase a home: “In the short term, my priority is ensuring the platform is as accurate as possible by leveraging open-source and government-licensed data.
"The goal is to create a highly transparent and honest space where buyers have a clear picture of both the property and the surrounding neighbourhood before making a decision.”
Property websites often neglect lifestyle aspects and historic information regarding the buildings for sale, which Adrian hopes to correct by displaying relevant factors.
He went on: “Area well-being and noise levels stand out as the most valuable insights, as these are the factors people ask about most frequently.
“When my wife and I were searching for a home, we found it difficult to access these aspects. Having access to this kind of information upfront can make a huge difference for buyers.”
Adrian spoke to some of the teething issues he has had with enhancing the site's abilities so far, though he has far-reaching goals for the website’s future.
“The first thing most users do when they visit the platform is check the data for their own home or neighbourhood," he explained. "Ensuring the data is both accurate and reflective of real-world experiences has been a key focus.”
“I plan to expand the dataset to include amenities, transportation, and air quality, further enhancing transparency and accuracy. My goal is to make home-buying a smoother, more informed process while keeping the platform free and accessible to everyone in Scotland.”
With Zoopla forecasting the number of house sales to rise by 5% over 2025 in the UK, homeowners can visit Adrian's website here to ensure their prospective property doesn’t have any hidden issue.
