RISMEDIA, January 16, 2009-Consumers looking to move, but not sure where to begin, need look no further than the new online City Guides at FrontDoor.com powered by HGTV. According to the company, FrontDoor.com City Guides not only provide valuable decision-support content to consumers exploring a move to a new city, but also offer real estate brokers and agents an opportunity to introduce their brand and expert know-how to consumers earlier in the home research process.
FrontDoor.com’s City Guides take users on an insider virtual visit to America’s most popular areas and make scouting for new digs fun and easy. Users can now access City Guides for 21 major areas, including: Aspen, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Sonoma, Tampa and Washington, D.C. More City Guides are scheduled to be added soon.
Combining great visuals, informative articles, neighborhood videos, real estate listings and even reviews and tips from locals, FrontDoor.com’s City Guides are user-friendly research tools for both novice and experienced house hunters looking to acquaint themselves with the aspects of a city that make it unique. From the excitement of the Big Apple and flash of Aspen, Colorado, to the rich, agricultural aspects of Sonoma, California (the site of the 2009 HGTV Dream Home), the City Guides capture the flavor of small and large markets alike. What’s more, select real estate markets have their own custom pages, filled with detailed articles about the location, including information about local customs, culture, and even slang!
Check out some of the informative topics explored with City Guides:
– Facts and Figures: How does the town population skew? What’s the weather like? How old are most of the homes? Where are the schools, and what are they like? Find out all that and more with “Facts and Figures” on City Guides.
– Reviews: What are the best local restaurants? What sights are worth seeing? What’s the best place to go dancing? Which parks are nice for picnics? FrontDoor.com’s partnership with Yelp.com allows City Guide users access to thousands of Yelp’s user-generated reviews.
– Explore: Using the advanced technology of Google Maps, the “Explore” section allows visitors to check out the city from any angle, marking points of interest along the way – whether it’s the most convenient bus stop or the biggest movie theater.
– Homes for Sale: Check out what’s available in the town, using FrontDoor.com’s powerful technology to narrow down options by neighborhood, size, price, amenities and type. Then use the unique tools to calculate mortgage options, and whether it’s smarter to rent or to buy.
“FrontDoor.com knows that the home search typically begins at the city or neighborhood level, yet it can be difficult to get a sense of what it’s like to live in a particular area. FrontDoor City Guides employ rich photography, video, articles, data and local perspectives to introduce consumers to the pulse of a new city or area,” explains Rich Lacy, VP and site director of FrontDoor.com.
Adds Vikki Neil, Scripps’ VP and GM of online brands, “Knowing consumers are spending record time conducting their own research online before contacting a real estate professional, FrontDoor City Guides can introduce real estate professionals into the conversation earlier in the search process through brand sponsorship opportunities and promotion of property listings within the content.”
For more information, e-mail partners@frontdoor.com or visit http://www.frontdoor.com/city-guide.
