TBE’s Year in Review: Otters Home Search Reflects on 2025 and Looks Ahead to 2026
As part of our Year in Review series, we caught up with Abbie Long MRICS, Co-Founder of Otters Home Search, to reflect on the biggest achievements of 2025 and what’s ahead for 2026.
This year has been a big one for us. Our biggest win? Becoming a RICS-regulated business — something we’re incredibly proud of. We also launched our brochure and manifesto video, now live on our website, which really help show clients who we are and what we stand for.
One lesson I’ll carry forward is simple: stay true to your vision. It’s easy to get distracted, but keeping focused on our goals has helped us grow and gain recognition. That’s been especially important with the challenges we’ve faced — from economic uncertainty to shifts in the property market and changing client needs. Adapting without losing sight of our standards has been key.
A real highlight was being named a finalist in both the TBE Awards – Best Start-Up and the Bath Property Awards – Property Agent. That recognition means so much to us as a small, dedicated team.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand our market share and introduce rental search services, which we’ll be promoting in 2026. We’re also watching trends like AI-driven tools for smarter alerts and tailored property matches. They’re useful, but they’ll never replace the human expertise and personal guidance our clients value. We’re also keeping an eye on property tax reforms, mortgage rates, and evolving buyer expectations to make sure we’re giving the best advice in a challenging market.
Our approach to staying ahead hasn’t changed: hard work, continuous learning, and listening to what clients need. With just myself and Francesca leading every project, we can guarantee consistency and a truly personal service — all underpinned by RICS-regulated standards.
Community matters to us too. We work closely with local agents, mortgage advisors, conveyancers, builders, architects, and schools to help clients make informed choices about homes and lifestyle. Those relationships make a real difference.
To find out more about Otters Home Search visit: www.ottershomesearch.com
Pictured above: Abbie Long (left) and Francesca Watson (right) Co-Founders of Otters Home Search
