Google today launched its Google Real Estate Map search. As you can see from the picture below it is fairly basic and data comes from Google Base, which has still not been launched here in Australia.
If you want your listings on this site, make sure you talk to your provider or go to http://base.google.com . There is also a blog for Google Base at http://googlebase.blogspot.com
After receiving an email from Google, it seems this has been on Google Maps for 2 years.
UPDATE: Apparently it a “Mapplet” that was created back in 2007, based on technology unveiled at Developer Day in Sydney in May that year (http://www.itnews.com.au/Tools/Print.aspx?CIID=82519) and has been publicly available in the Google Maps directory ever since.
I have never noticed it. and it does say it is from Google. Fool am I!
18 Comments
Sal Espro
As I said, Peter, this was running on and off last year and then disappeared for some reason until I noticed it earlier today.
The way Google works, let’s hope some agents get onto it and start loading to http://base.google.com to pressure them to keep it afloat this time around and via the Google.com.au ‘Search options’ as wellas Google.com (which is currently displaying the Real estate search option while .com.au isn’t).
And then let’s see how your rate hikes affect your market position Mr. Realestate.com.au!
Good selling folks,
Sal 🙂
Sal Espro
Might be time to start sticking it to Google like that part of the tech World that refers to them as ‘The Evil Empire’ (more so than Microsoft can you believe!!) Why?
They’ve taken the Real estate search option off again!!
What is going on? !
Surely Google hasn’t been pressured by News Ltd. to go easy on real estate. Just because News Ltd. owns:
Realestate.com.au,
MySpace,
True Local (who has a deal to populate Google’s local search and as a result gets higher ranking for their listings),
etc
Gutted again!! Damn you Google!!
Sal 🙁
Craig
I am considering setting up a service where agents can upload their properties to Google Base very easily. Basically they would upload to an ftp in REAXML format and it would then upload them to Google Base. I want it to be as low friction for agents as possible. I am interested in hearing people opinions on this and if they want to be a tester.
Peter Ricci
Craig, I think you will find people already have these services 🙂
Peter Ricci
Still there for me Sal
Sal Espro
Yes, for me too, Peter 🙂 (I must have tried it from .com.au – which shows how this isn’t going to have much effect until .com.au is switched on).
(Google is still the Evil Empire tho 😉
Sal Espro
Hi Craig,
Yes, I’m sure Peter’s system does this already. As the one we use (thru http://www.Newbrain.com) has it ready to go once Google Oz is switched-on.
Craig
Sal, Google Oz is ready to go. There is nothing technically or legally stopping you from uploading to Google Base now. It just a matter of saying go.
Peter Ricci
There are many providers doing this, some might not (to protect their Daddy’s) but most will.
Peter Ricci
Evil Empire? I don’t know too many that think the same. I know a couple, but they work for – yes you guessed it – other monopoly loving companies.
Peter Ricci
After receiving an email from Google, it seems this has been on Google Maps for 2 years.
Apparently it a “Mapplet” that was created back in 2007, based on technology unveiled at Developer Day in Sydney in May that year (http://www.itnews.com.au/Tools/Print.aspx?CIID=82519) and has been publicly available in the Google Maps directory ever since.
I have never noticed it. and it does say it is from Google. Fool am I!
Donald
It was my understanding that all properties had to be shown in USD. Can you confirm otherwise and could you put instructions on how you got to that list Peter?
Glenn Batten
The mapplet was probably a workaround to get the Aussie properties on the US version of base to display on the Australian version of maps.
As Sal has pointed out searching for Australian properties on google Maps US has started working again. Sal reported this late last year but as soon as it worked it stopped. I certainly could not get it to show. I could go to Google Base US and search the properties but I could not get them to display on google maps, either the US or AU versions.
It has now started working again. I am hoping this is an indicator that they are starting to setup the mapping of Australian Real Estate addresses. Obviously it is not Google Base AU nor is it Google’s real estate solution for Australia, but it hopefully is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Robert Simeon
Whatever it is no one can deny that they are obviously working on some form of real estate model tailor made for purchasers,vendors and agents (just taking their time).
In the meantime agents/agencies should be working hard on getting their websites Google compliant because never before has SEO been as important.
As for being described as an Evil Empire – that would apply to existing property portals opinion of Google. As Google already delivers more traffic and enquiries than any of the existing property portals. When I look at our Google Analytics traffic sources – direct is number one, Google/organic is number two, domain.com.au number 7 and REA at 13. So that provides a very strong clue:)
Glenn Batten
Sal,
TrueLocal’s arrangement with Google is over as announced in November last year.
http://www.business2.com.au/2008/11/27/domains-little-secret/#comment-76416
When this comes into place and if the current listings in Google’s Business Directory get removed i dont know but YellowPages now has the role.
One of many news articles discussing it:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/biztech/sensis-concedes-defeat-to-google/2008/11/03/1225560716428.html
Sal Espro
I’m in favour of anything assisting vendors to market more widely at less expense and at the moment as Robert and Glenn have discussed several times, Realestate.com.au + the other portals are actually costing a fair whack nowadays and don’t help agents market their own websites and individual properties as this detracts from their ‘fenced’ portals.
And don’t forget the + the ‘uploader/management service providers’ e.g. Hubonline, Portplus, etc etc, who could all do with severe rate reductions!
real estate
Hello Sal. I noticed your comment – “anything assisting vendors to market more widely at less expense”
Given that statement you will be pleasantly surprised at what we are doing at PropertyNow.
I share your goal and we are definitely doing something about this.
There are some other sites also trying to make an impact in creating a better deal for house sellers in Australia. One of those businesses is called Private Point.
So you see, all is not lost .
At PropertyNow we’ll be looking at the possibilities of Google Base very closely as we try to level the playing field a little.
Keep the discussion going chaps and in the best tradition of Don Chipp , lets try to keep the bastards honest.
As for the whole evil empire thing, we all contribute to the power of the mighty G.
Google will remain the sole leader for as long as it can provide the most relevent search results to it’s market.
The minute they slant results or show obvious or blatant favouritism in the serps they damage their own effectiveness and they know that.
I think they know that well and that’s possibly why they are taking their time in exploring the real estate side of things in Australia.
Andrew Blachut
PropertyNow
Craig
Here is an interesting review of how Google is replacing the Yellow Pages. I can see a very similar setup doing the same for real estate in the future.
http://lancewiggs.com/2009/02/05/finda-and-yellow-they-had-already-lost/