RISMEDIA, August 24, 2007-Smart Realtors(R) know time is at a premium and purchasing a home is one of the biggest investment decisions most people make. Developed to help make listings stand out and to position the Realtor as the one-stop-source of local information, Realtor.com introduces five new listing features that deliver fresh, dynamic and comprehensive information quickly and efficiently.
These five new features, including posting up to 25 photos per listing, Neighborhood Information Tabs, home tours via videos, an “Open House” button leading to listing details and contact information, and the “New!” and “New This Week!” indicators, can be accessed on the Detail Listing Pages of Showcase properties at Realtor.com, the most visited real estate search Web site.
“84 percent* of today’s home buyers say compelling photos and detailed property descriptions are the most important features to have when searching for a home online,” says Realtor.com President, Errol Samuelson. “As the industry leader that understands what consumers want, we’re eager to offer Realtors the tools they need to showcase a listing so it stands out and attracts prospective buyers quickly and efficiently. Through these new features, consumers can find listings faster and have a better feel about a home before they reach an agent or broker, which we feel benefits
everyone.”
Photo Gallery Tab — Up To 25 Photos
Realtors can now present a slideshow of up to 25 images of a property, up from the original six, that complement detailed property descriptions. Photos can be pulled from MLS feeds automatically or submitted by listing agents, and can be viewed in larger sizes on the Photo Gallery & Listing Detail Pages. Consumers access photos by clicking the “Photo Gallery” tab on the top of the listing detail page to experience a more comprehensive view of the home.
Neighborhood Information Tab
House hunters can now explore and learn important details about prospective neighborhoods while searching for their dream house by clicking the Neighborhood Tab. Current and detailed neighborhood information, now available with a click of a button, includes neighborhood demographics, local schools, places of worship and businesses displayed with colorful and insightful charts and maps.
Home Tours Via Video – Anytime assistant
Realtors can now “show” a listed home anytime to a consumer via videos that give detailed and dynamic information about a property. Video tours are uploaded directly by agents and can be produced professionally or shot by agents themselves, giving potential buyers an “insider’s view” of a home before stepping on property. Video tours, which can also be “shared” with friends through links, are unique “experiential” tools that increase information while saving time for both buyers and sellers.
“Open House” Button — Up-To-The Minute Details and Access
The new clickable “Open House” button, a re-launched feature, is now visible on the search results page, listing detail page and map search pages. This upgraded feature allows Realtors to schedule and display multiple Open House dates on the same listing. These pages list open house events that appear within 15 minutes of being posted and provide information such as date, time, and location, as well as agent contact
information so house hunters can easily contact agents with questions. The newly enhanced ‘mouse-over’ pop-outs show even more detailed information about Open House events.
“New! and “New This Week!” — Find It First and Fast
Prospective buyers are interested in seeing what listings are new to Realtor.com. The “New!” and “New This Week!” labels that now appear on the search results page and listing detail page for all newly listed homes on Realtor.com do that and save time. A listing is displayed as “New!” when it appears on Realtor.com for the first time. After the first day, this notation changes to “New This Week!” and remains on the property ad from the 2nd day through the 6th day and is removed on day 7.
For more information, visit http://www.REALTOR.com.
*2006 National Association of Realtors “Profiles of Home Buyers &
Sellers”
(1) comScore Media Metrix, July 2007
