Roost - Latest Comments in Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

John, Remax Vancouver WA — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:27:28 -0000

I'd like to ad my own personal frustration with the Google service. As a listing agent with a Google Base account I'd like to be able to have my entry for a listing address have priority over my brokerage's automatic feed. My broker's feed comes from the Vancouver MLS -- which has a somewhat severe character limitation in the public remarks field. I can input a lengthier and more conversant description into my Google Base ad however, with the broker's auto-fed listing having priority my ad is rarely seen. Thus, I've stopped using this feature of Google Base. I'd use it again if they'd get the prioritization cured, and I know home shoppers would obtain better information.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

property — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:09:33 -0000

Despite some obvious shortcomings - as well documented by many in this thread - Google real estate search is certainly getting better... I believe what one needs to focus on is what Google, in essence is achieving - not only Google I might add- and that is making real estate information more freely available and accessible. Google - and others - are providing both the real estate professional and the consumer with badly needed choices. No one should feel compelled to use any one service! We are all better off thanks to Google!!! Ben the social-m dude @propertychannel

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Justin Bowers — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:52:26 -0000

Agreed, and ditto. I just really want to buy 1 share. Just 1 so I can say I got it. BTW, I love that search tool you have on your homepage. Saw it a few days ago and think it's great! Nice presence you have.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Derek Overbey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:43:31 -0000

Oh we do embrace a lot of what Google does. We integrate street view into our site. I just wanted to bring to light that people may not get what they are looking for when searching for homes specifically using the real estate search function on Google Maps. At the end of the day Google will be here for a long, long time but for a company that prides itself on it's search results, I think they have a ways to go in regards to real estate. Just one man's opinion.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Justin Bowers — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:21:25 -0000

In Washington State, there's some issues with Realtor.com. If an IDX feed at a brokerage is not being used (there was a limit to 2 downloads per broker, now there's 3), then 1 of them can be dedicated to Realtor.com. All 3 MLS data feeds for IDX are taken at my office with preferred IDX providers, so Realtor.com is not an option. I say this because we have a seller that simply insisted his place be on Realtor.com. We just can't do it, but his impression was that it was the largest database of homes. Still after explaining that it's not the largest database and buyers don't limit themselves to just Realtor.com, he just did not understand. Therefore, because of Google's rep, and what's research has shown with Bing, anyone in real estate (sales, web design, whatever) should certainly think about embracing.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Derek Overbey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:01:53 -0000

I couldn't agree more Ira! I think it was one of the things they talked about. I'm looking forward to hearing what @tcar might have to say.

Derek

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Derek Overbey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:00:25 -0000

I learned from the best Mr. Simonsen! hee hee I just want people to realize that not everything is what it seems on the surface. You have to dig a little deeper and get past the Google label to see if what you are really getting is the best stuff possible. And yes this is why Roost exists.

@doverbey

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Derek Overbey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:57:12 -0000

I agree this might be the case if we were talking about widgets but we are talking about homes here. I still have to believe that as consumers get more savvy, they will demand better data when it comes to probably the single largest purchase they will ever make. This is why I am trying to bring some attention to it. It might be in vain but I have to try. Thanks for your comment.

Derek

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Justin Bowers — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:21:21 -0000

For the most part I don't think the general public has any idea what IDX or MLS is. Therefore, I see Google Map search being even more impressionable then Realtor.com. As agents we've been trying to explain the poor results of that site for 10 some odd years. So, I'm not sure the accuracy will be any issue over it's success or affect the struggle anyone with an IDX feed will have when it comes to attracting business. "Google" is still in it's infancy as far as I can see it. Therefore, I see it as an exciting opportunity. I don't think I've every seen Google come out with anything that has really ended up being dominated by anything else other than the terrible terrible Blogger product. I'm buying!

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Mike Simonsen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:19:07 -0000

Excellent analysis doverby. My suspicion is that, like any search engine results, people inuitively realize pretty quickly that the quality is lousy and move on elsewhere. There's a reason goog gains search market share every day: it's results are the best. So for real estate results, the traffic will not grow, and the influence will be minor until they figure out a way to get full data.

That's why roost exists, right?

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

serkes — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:57:48 -0000

I did a quick search of zip code 94708

Our listing http://2564buenavista.com was accurate - the data came from a postlet feed I'd done.

Another listing (not ours, but in the MLS) had a price which was 1/3 lower than that actual list price. I believe that it was the 1st loan amount rather than the purchase price. It also indicated it was a "pre-foreclosure" (probably correct) and came from a 3rd party (I think a foreclosure site) rather than the IDX.

Great concept, but definitely needs data integrity. Isn't this one of the things that NAR was talking about during the mid-year convention?

Ira

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Braxton Beyer — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:46:21 -0000

Great point. As several have mentioned before, a local agent site always has the most complete and up-to-date set of listings.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Dan Woolley — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:35:54 -0000

A quick search of my neighborhood showed lot's of old, outdated information - both listings and prices - most likely due to syndicators sending the data to Google but never refreshing it. This will be very frustrating for both buyers and agents.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Carolyn Burns, REMAX Partners — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:32:59 -0000

I have reviewed the real estate listings on GoogleMaps and found it to be flawed. Many listings are not being shown. Appears that most listings are only those from ad subscribers on GoogleMap. If GoogleMaps wish to be accurate, they should include all listings from the MLS (Realtor.com).

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Derek Overbey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:31:36 -0000

Thanks Clint. That means a lot coming from you!

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Derek Overbey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:31:03 -0000

No problem Clint. Like you, I just wanted to spark some discussion because sometimes we just look at the shiny new toy but never look under the hood. Hopefully others will chime in on this very interesting topic.

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Clint Miller — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:20:51 -0000

Awesome analysis of the GoogleMaps real estate search capability

Re: Will Home Buyers Find What They Want on Google Real Estate?

Clint Miller — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:20:07 -0000

I read the mashable article and posted it several times in Twitter trying to spark some discussion. Im glad that someone is looking into this and I appreciate the time and effort you took to analyze it the way you have...Much appreciated.