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New Google Maps feature helps home buyers and renters in UK16th June, London - Google today announced that UK Google Maps users will now be able to search for listings from estate agents and property websites directly on the map. Increasingly, people are starting their search for a new home online and this new feature will help connect them with the information they’re looking for, in an easy-to-navigate map format. Companies across the property industry, have already taken the opportunity to put their listings on the map, so Google Maps users can find them and then visit the companies’ websites if they are interested in a particular property. The new feature makes it easy to discover listings for sale or rent in a geographic area, across many agents and property companies. Potential home buyers can enter a city or location and see all the available listings represented by markers or small circles on the map by simply selecting “Properties...” from the More menu in Maps. 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 location, and when the search criteria is 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 help drive traffic to their website. The following companies have already taken the opportunity to add listings to Google Maps: Zoopla, PropertyLive, Ezylet, SmartNewHomes, Vebra, Property Pal, Spicer Haart, Countrywide, Zoomf “Given the importance of location to a home search, we’ve made it easy for home buyers and renters to see listings that match their criteria on Google Maps even as they pan and zoom the map to different areas,” says Andrew Foster, product manager, Google. “We know that many UK home buyers are already using Google Maps in their house-hunting, and by adding property listings to the map we’re putting everything together for them in one place.” Alex Chesterman, Founder & CEO of Zoopla.co.uk said, “Google is an important start point in the online journey for many consumers, helping them find relevant content which is very complementary with our business which combines property listings with market data and a variety of tools to help consumers make better property decisions.” Grenville Turner, Group Chief Executive of Countrywide (the UK’s largest estate agency and property services group, whose portfolio includes Bairstow Eves, Bridgfords, Abbotts, John D Wood & Co and Sotheby’s International Realty): “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.” David Bexon, Managing Director of SmartNewHomes.com, part of Trinity Mirror Digital Property Group: “TMDP is delighted to be teaming up with Google for the launch of the latest feature for their mapping service. By contributing to the listings for this new feature, SmartNewHomes.com, the UK’s leading new homes website, is building on its promise to make clients’ new homes as visible as possible online. Existing Google Maps features such as Street View already help inform thousands of UK house purchases so to have all of this information residing in one place, will certainly make it easier for househunters.” Errol Maxwell, Managing Director of PropertyPal.com commented, “Google’s mapping technology has already proved itself in the marketplace, and we have used embedded positional maps from them in our own PropertyPal.com website for some time. This announcement further underlines our commitment to providing users with a superior user experience and multiple innovative ways to search for property online” Paul Foy, MD of Ezylet.com, a leading property rental portal, says, “Property search is a tremendous opportunity for Landlords and Agents to benefit from the open market created by this visually appealing addition to Google Maps. Ezylet as a rental-only portal can now feed property from both private landlords and agents directly to Google, giving more exposure for our clients and yet another rich search experience for potential tenants. Ezylet’s free and premium property advertising clients will both be included in this exciting and market-advancing service from day one.” Mark Goddard, Group Managing Director of GMG Property Services (owners of market leading property software companies Vebra, Core and CFP), commented, “We are delighted to be working with Google on this new feature for Google Maps, which we believe will be extremely beneficial to our clients, helping them 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.” Spicerhaart Chief Executive Paul Smith said, “Google are bringing an exciting new dimension to property marketing. Its advanced search engine and mapping facilities mean we can promote properties to an even wider audience, while buyers benefit from additional information about the local neighbourhoods where they are looking. It really is the best marketing tool in estate agency.” Google Maps offers a number of other useful tools for home buyers and renters, including driving directions to help find properties to visit, Street View to let them virtually visit potential neighbourhoods and check out local amenities. Now they can also directly search for property on Google Maps. -Ends- For more information please contact: Google: Zoopla: Countrywide: smartnewhomes.com: Spicer Haart: Ezylet: Vebra/GMG Property Services: Property Pal: PropertyLive: AboutZoopla Countrywide Countrywide’s network of expertise helps more people move than any other business in the UK and is a leading provider of estate agency, lettings, mortgage services, land and new homes, franchising, auctions, surveying, conveyancing and corporate property management services. SmartNewHomes.com Ezylet Vebra PropertyPal.com
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