Google to launch free housing search on Maps

Posted by Adam Bunker on Fri 4 Dec 2009

Free house listings layered over Google Maps = the end for estate agents?

Estate agents must have a hard life. They’re the very definition of the ‘middle man,’ living in a world that’s forever looking for ways to get rid of the middle man. Now, to make matters worse, one of the world’s biggest companies has just offered to do their job for free.

Google has announced that it has plans to launch a service in the UK that’ll enable anyone to list or search for housing using Google Maps – the results either being overlaid on the map with pictures and details, or making use of Street View. This new string to Google Maps’ bow is set to launch next year, but the announcement itself has rocked a few boats.

- 10 reasons why Google Street View UK should stay

Following the news yesterday, shares in Rightmove plummeted 10 per cent, making it the biggest loser of yesterday’s trading. Sarah Beeny of Channel 4's Property said on the matter: "It will hurt estate agents and it will hurt property sites like Rightmove.”

She went on to say that if Google makes good on it’s claims, it will bring “the buyer and seller closer together and that could mean removing blocks in the way, and that could mean no longer having to pay extortionate fees to estate agents.

"It will certainly blow Rightmove out of the water. You can only get your property listed on that site if you are an estate agent - what Google will do is level the playing field and they are doing it for free."

Rightmove’s commercial director Miles Shipside said: "Google is a big name, but they don't always manage to follow things through on a local level.”

Link: Via BBC News