Realmap.com.au today launched its beta trial and my first impression is wow!
This is how you create a real estate mapping system and whilst the CEO has told me it has some teething problems, I am still trying to find one. Some listings do not contain data, but this is probably more of a problem with the data being fed than the actual site!
The site has a nice clean interface and has some interesting partners. The first thing I noticed was the home page is that the interface is aimed squarely at Google or what?
Agents listings will be free for at least 6 months and then a small fee based service will more than likely begin. The site has a number of sample agents and sample suburbs for you to browse through. Each agent also has their own home page where all of their listings appear.
Through development partners the site has also included information for visitors such as local agents, childcare, education, shops, transport and other information.
The site is a classic web 2.0 application, where all information is continuously loaded within one screen.
House Icons appear on the map identifying property prices by colour and you can zoom in and out using the Google Tools.
So what is my opinion? I think this is the best mapping site on the planet, bar none and I have seen and used most of them!
Everything zooms nicely and a great touch is that all listing details goes back to the agents home page.
The site will launch nationally either late December or early January and whilst there will be some teething problems I can see this site growing rapidly within 12 months to be the number 3 site in Australia!
My company will soon be exporting to this site but if you want to get on board now through another supplier many of my competitors are ready to go such as ARO Software, PortPlus, ReNet, PropertyMode.
Oh, and if you think I have shares or any interest whatsoever in the site, just remember this, I do not!
So go there yourself and tell me what you think!