I have been using realestate.com.au and domain.com.au to look for property and the most annoying thing that I have found about real estate portals in general is finding a listing that has no pictures of the inside of the property and no location on the Google map. How hard is it!?

Some of my observations are as follows:-

a) Go into any property and there is no branding of the agency – the salespersons name is larger than the agency name (I note that there is provision for a logo – but ours certainly doesn’t appear). I think they need to learn a little on the PR front and do a little research in terms who are the bigger players in each respective area – making personal contact might be a start.

b) There seemingly isn’t any ability or provision to be linked directly to be agent’s own website.

c) Even on the page displaying the list of properties from a search, I believe there should be a small agents logo (a la Domain/realestate). I think most agents are proud of their brand and to simply be listed in the same font/colour as other agents in ones area doesn’t do it for me – in my opinion it’s a failure on their part to recognise that not all agents are the same – there is no differentiation and I am sure many agents would feel it undermines their brand.

d) Do they give anything back to agents that support them? Even under the “SELL” section, one would think that they would at least provide a list of agents in an area that support their website. Ironically, under selling tips they suggest that “you should ask an agent how often they will communicate with you” – perhaps they should adopt this principle themselves.

I believe if they don’t address some of these these issues the more domimant agencies will cease supporting the site resulting in them being a second tier player competing with the justlisted’s and homehound’s.

As I have said previously, consumers searching a particular area quickly get to know which portal/s (likely realestate and/or domain)All agents from that area (or the ones that matter) list their properties.

Why would one visit a site where only 60 – 70% of properties are listed when this market is already well serviced – at the end of the day, is the myhome site that different to realestate or domain?

Surely all a consumer really wants to know is that they haven’t missed any properties.

It begs the question whether the dominant and smart agents shouldn’t be the ones being paid to list their properties!

Afterall, nothing is free in this world.

I look forward to hearing about your revelation. I’m sure that it will be worthy of the build up.

Enjoy the water Sailor boy.

Actually, I am after opens out on my boat for the weekend. Don’t get too excited I said boat not float !!

For a shock broker you spend so much time on a real estate blog. None the less I will have so much more to announce next week on the real estate industry – hint. A huge industry online award and no, it was not RWM !!

It

Well tomorrow night is – your night !! Not that I will attending however – if any Business2 bloggers are on Oxford Street please tell which float you will be sitting on

That aside it is quick, but still too much rubbish everywhere, it just need a makeover to lay everything out cleaner….

I know MyHome come here each day

If they do not fix these issues it just shows how pig headed they are. I spoke to a reporter today and MyHome CEO apparently said that their site is far advanced than any of the others technically……

Still trying to find somewhere on the site where this actually shows…..

Still 1995 design is kinda retro I suppose….That seems to be in with furniture….

I will implement more each month, but I am a limited budget……