It’s all over the property news that Google is considering launching a property website in the UK, with people up and down the country giving their pros and cons and voicing their opinions.
From our point of view, as providers of property management software for landlords, here are our thoughts:
- Currently Rightmove is probably the best known online property search website - so it will be interesting to see how this affects them. Google apparently plan to allow agencies to list properties for free, whereas Rightmove obviously charge, so how is that going to affect them? Rightmove shares have dropped already, and the Google property website is just a rumour at the moment!
- Google will allow individuals to advertise their properties too - while this will obviously allow for a greater amount of properties and reach, we’ll be interested to see whether there will be any ‘quality control’ on these listings, or whether we’ll see lots of listings with no pictures, no contact details, etc.
- Of course, if you can list your house for sale or rent and avoid estate agent’s fees, then house sale and rental prices could drop, so that’s something to keep watching for.
- This isn’t the first property website to offer free listings by a long shot, but of course it has the brand and backing of a major name, so it could hit the ground running,
- More brand leaders in the online market will obviously be beneficial for buyers, sellers and the rental sector, but we’re waiting to see what Google will do to avoid this portal turning into just another Gumtree.
- It will be good to see how Google interweaves its existing technology - listings will be able to be enhanced by Google maps, Streetview etc, and details of the local area, all easily integrated.
There are some mutterings that this will spell the end of high street estate agents as we know them, but we’re not convinced on that score. Much as we love the way that the online world continues to change our every day lives for the better, we think there will always be a place for the high street estate agent and the personal touch. It shouldn’t be an either / or situation - the on and offline world should work together to give landlords, sellers and buyers the ideal situation all round.
For the record, we currently use Tepilo. Also; Netrent, Houseladder, and of course Gumtree.
What are your thoughts on a possible new Google property portal? We’d love to hear them!
Tags: Buy-to-let, landlords, property bookwork, property management software, rental property