London Estate Agents Using New Technology; Google Property Finder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 17, 2010 -- Google has yet to formally announce its intentions, but according to the BBC Britain is about to get a property service similar to the one Google is currently running in Australia and parts of the USA. Launching next year, Google will allow estate agents to list their properties in a layer on Google Maps complete with Street View pictures and detailed listings. Prospective buyers and renters can then browse properties from the comfort of their own homes.Of course most estate agents websites and data bases already offer this facility, but Google go a step further.

Already happening in Manhattan, Miami Beach Florida and San Francisco Civic Centre (to view click here) where you can find houses currently on the market, search nearby for schools, restaurants and public transport, see the property in Street View to explore the neighborhood and find directions between the property and your favourite places.
Sarah Beeny of Channel 4's property ladder said: "If it does what Google says it will, then it brings the buyer and seller closer together and that could mean removing blocks in the way, and that could mean no longer having to pay extortionate fees to estate agents."

However, only Estate Agents are able to list their property for sale or rent on the site and properties are listed for free, with pictures taken from its Street View service and listing details on a map. And haven't prospective home buyers been able to view properties from the comfort of their own homes for years? Any good Estate agent will have an easy to negotiate web site with an up to date data base of property listings. In much sought after areas the use of Facebook and Twitter to alert prospective buyers of a new instruction brings the estate agent right at the forefront of new marketing technology.
So rather than viewing the new Google Property sites as a competitor, it seems likely that a good Estate Agent will embrace it, incorporating it into their marketing strategy, for the benefit of all.

Google property finder     google street view     london estate agents