Realestate.com.au are now trialling Google Maps, which is a sure sign that they will be dumping there mapping system altogether shortly. This comes just a few months after the the CEO of realestate.com.au Simon Baker pretty much poured cold water on mapping and real estate saying this on his weblog….CEO Corner
“We have all heard alot about real estate sites and mapping recently with many articles being written in newspapers and magazines. While some pundits may be seduced by the sexy maps, when it comes to those that really matter, the buyers and sellers visiting the real estate sites, it is pictures and slide shows that really count.”
I think it is a good sign as Realestate.com.au’s mapping system was pretty ordinary and developing their own custom solution would just waste millions of dollars, especially when there are solutions readily available for free that are so much better and will continue to improve.
This will just be the first stage of the mapping system and it does not warrant a review as yet as this was done fairly quickly, but as they release new features we should see a really good mapping system. I just hope the make it resizable!
Before the end of the year a new mapping website that shows amazing promise will be available and I have been given access to it. The new Australia Wide wite will be FREE for agents as the operators have decided they can make their money from advertisers who want to be where buyers are.