While 2018 has been a year of uncertainty for many, for us at Equity Release Supermarket, it has been a time of positive change.
We began the year with a clear vision: to bring equity release into the digital age. By doing this, we knew we could speed up the equity release process, give better support and make important information easier to find (three key factors our customers have highlighted to us in the past). It would also bring something completely new to the market – and we were more than ready for the challenge.
As a result, in 2019 we will be unveiling a number of initiatives that will make the equity release process simpler than ever for our customers.
A fresh focus
The first was the launch of our new website just before Christmas, where customers can enjoy improved navigation, easy-to-use online dashboards, clear plan comparison tables and high-resolution visuals, all of which are compatible with mobiles, computers and tablets.
Perhaps most importantly, our new site makes the equity release journey more transparent than ever. Our online portal, for instance, is the first digital dashboard in the industry that allows customers to easily view and track their application progress. We are also the first in the market to allow customers to meet their local adviser (which complements our existing Live Chat services), so that customers can get the support they need, whenever they need it.
It is this “customer-first” mentality that is particularly pertinent to us here at Equity Release Supermarket. Our founder, Mark Gregory, explains:
“At Equity Release Supermarket, we’ve always moved with technology and kept up to speed with the digital revolution. But we haven’t adopted technology for the sake of it or for purely commercial gain. We’ve been very careful to ensure that all the digital services we offer are beneficial to our customers.”
Along with offering a better digital experience, our website will also become a knowledge hub for prospective customers, with everything from in-depth articles, FAQs, short videos, and downloadable guides and factsheets available for free.
Similarly, our latest range of lifetime and retirement mortgage calculators make life easier for customers who want an ‘at a glance’ understanding of how much they could borrow or how making monthly interest repayments could reduce the final amount to be repaid. They are really easy to use: customers simply add in their property value, age and postcode and are prompted with how much they could realistically release. Best of all, customers can do this completely obligation-free - there is no need to speak to an adviser or organise a face-to-face meeting before you receive a result.
As Mark explains, it is essential information such as this which the industry has, until now, neglected.
“Time and time again, our customers give us feedback to say they came to Equity Release Supermarket simply because we provided the information and tools they were looking for. Moreover, I believe that our industry needs to be more progressive and in certain circumstances, I don’t see why for the right type of consumer, they shouldn’t be able to select and apply for an equity release plan digitally.”
This is the way we at Equity Release Supermarket see the market moving; towards a more accessible, more efficient, on-demand service that gives customers not just what they need, but what they deserve.
Take a look at our new site and fresh look here.
The good news for our customers is that our new website is just the first phase of our growth plan, and across 2019 we’ll be bringing to market a number of leading- edge projects which we believe have the potential to change the equity release market forever. Watch this space!
