NEWS FLASH: Google's free property search launches today

News Category: Industry News

The long-awaited Google mapping property search launched across the UK today, the internet giant announced this morning. The service is free and will remain so, Google emphasised, and take-up by private sellers is exepected to be very low.

It is the news that the industry has been waiting for and which the likes of Rightmove – whose shares plummeted dramatically when speculation first broke last winter – will be watching with interest. Rightmove, unlike some other portals, has not struck a partneership deal with Google.

Google Maps Property Search will be free to use, and for many agents their properties will be uploaded automatically. The service will also be free to private sellers and landlords, as well as agents, who will be able to submit their details to Google for their properties to be uploaded via Google Maps.

The service, which has already launched in Australia and the US, will also allow property portals to upload their listings directly to Google Maps at no extra cost. This morning, Andrew Foster of Google, said that in Australia, take up by private sellers had been "very low": "If someone wanted to sell private, they would have to have their own website," he said. "By far the most widespread adoption has been by agents and portals. We think it will be the same pattern in the UK."

Among early adopters here who have committed to using the new service are NFoPP’s PropertyLive.

Others include Zoopla, Spicerhaart, Countrywide, SmartNewHomes and Zoomf. While Rightmove is not on the list, Google said it would welcome new partners at any time.

Zoopla chief executive Alex Chesterman described the partnership with Google as “a big win for us” in terms of greater exposure for member agents.

Grenville Turner, group chief executive of Countrywide, said: “We see partnering with Google Maps as an ideal way to further extend our online reach. This will help the growing number of buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants turning to the internet to help make their next move.”

Another launch partner is GMG Property Services, the software group whose brands include Vebra, Core and CFP. Estate agents using these software packages will have their properties automatically uploaded on to the search facility via their software, free of charge.
 
Mark Goddard, group managing director of GMG Property Services, said: “We are delighted that GMG Property Services has been selected by Google as a launch partner for this new feature on Google Maps and we are extremely pleased how beneficial this will be for our clients.

“The aim of this new search facility is to provide an additional, free to advertise platform to increase an agent’s ability to reach a wider audience. All our customers’ properties will automatically be available on Google Maps Property Search – unless they choose to opt out – for no additional cost or effort.”

Andrew Foster, product manager of Google, said this morning: “It’s a simple and free way for property companies to make their listings even more discoverable, and have them seen on an easy-to-navigate map.”

The new feature, which is launching today right across the country, lets potential home buyers enter a city or village and see available listings represented by markers or small circles on the map. They can then refine their search by price, type of property, bedrooms and bathrooms. The map will automatically update with relevant listings when panned or zoomed to another suburb, and when the search criteria are changed. Clicking on a marker or a small circle will provide more information about the listing, as well as the contact details of the listing agent and a link to their website.   

For information on how to add listings see: www.maps.google.co.uk/propertytools


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