Google Real Estate vs realestate.com.au

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I've been reading a lot lately about the recent addition of real estate to Google maps in Australia and a lot of discussion has been generated over its value to the real estate industry, not to mention the general public who use the internet to search for property listings and rentals.


So far, to my knowledge, of the main portals only myhome and homehound have uploaded listings to Google, although I’m sure that realestate.com.au and domain.com.au internally have been in discussions about the merits of uploading all their listings to Google.


Google will have a full time job controlling the quality of listings available, and making sure that old, outdated or sold stock is removed, just look at the issues that myhome.com.au faced when it first launched in the market with trying to maintain quality with its listings. Keeping the listings current and fresh will only be part of the problem for Google, removing sold properties and watching out for the lead generators, that is 3rd party players who will list a property and then sell the lead on to the agent.


During a presentation to one of the major franchises on Tuesday night I was asked my opinion on this very subject and in follow up discussions with a number of people in the industry, this is it seems, more about the potential changing of the guard than anything else.


There is a feeling in the real estate community that Google may just break the monopoly of realestate.com.au.


Well, I thought I’d provide you with a link to an article that Simon Baker, ex CEO of realestate.com.au has written on his blog about this very subject, will it work for Google and what, if any impact will it have on realestate.com.au in the future.


To read the article click here