Posts tagged ‘Google’
Zoopla.co.uk partners with Google
Today Google launched a new property search feature on Google Maps and we were one of the few launch partners.
We see this as a big win for our member agents as it provides an opportunity for us to offer them even greater exposure and results.
By partnering with Google, we take away the hassle from our members by automatically creating a specific Google xml feed, optimising it for best display and regularly uploading to Google.
Google is yet another addition to our already extensive network (we recently added eBay and Gumtree) of partner sites.
To ensure your listings are displayed and chosen by Google, agents must provide us with the most comprehensive and up-to-date property listings with full post-codes.
Any agents interested in listings on Zoopla and all our partner sites, contact us today!
Zoopla.co.uk Value The Most Picturesque Streets
To celebrate a year of Google Street View, Google asked the nation to vote for what they thought were the most picturesque streets in Britain.
Google’s criteria for street-selection stated that:
“The winning street should be uniquely British and visually charming. It could be vibrant, full of character, diverse, walker-friendly or architecturally interesting.”
…and Ed Parsons from Google said:
“The Google Street View Awards are aimed to celebrate the many fantastic streets that Britain has to offer, and the results reveal a diverse cultural landscape of food, fashion and beauty that puts the winning towns firmly on the map.”
More than 11,000 people voted for their favourites after the streets were short-listed by a panel of experts.
The top three streets, in order were:
1. The Shambles, York - Google Street View link
2. Royal Crescent, Bath – Google Maps View link
3. Grey Street, Newcastle – Google Street View link
We’ve added in the average home value on these streets based on current Zoopla.co.uk value estimates.
Google Street View Most Picturesque Street Shortlist 2010
| Street | Area | Average Value March 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| High Street | Chipping Campden | £683,525 |
| Broad Street | Ludlow | £582,106 |
| Royal Crescent | Bath | £512,977 |
| Grey Street | Newcastle | £346,636 |
| New College Lane | Oxford | £337,413 |
| Gold Hill | Dorset | £276,451 |
| Brunswick Square | Brighton and Hove | £274,315 |
| Pen Cei | Aberaeron | £240,923 |
| The Shambles | York | £168,048 |
| Main Street | Isle of Mull | £146,835 |
Source: Zoopla.co.uk
Google Street View live on Zoopla!
In case you missed it, Zoopla! announced last week that only days after the launch of Google’s UK Street View we have integrated it into our mapping. Street View is currently only available in 25 UK cities, covering just under 10% of the 233k miles of road in the country but a far greater proportion of UK population and therefore property.
Street view image in Nottingham
In the context of property search and market information, it’s certainly a great addition to the site experience. Street View supplements the bird’s eye and aerial property views already available, giving users the ultimate tool to research an area for buying, renting or understanding property values.
How to use Street View on Zoopla!
1. You’ve found a 3 bedroom house in Oxford that matches your criteria.
2. Scroll down the listing page, where the default Map view is shown, and select Street View at the top right of the image.
Selecting Street View on Zoopla!
3. You’re now taking a virtual tour of the street where this property is for sale. You can either get a full 360 degrees view, or take a stroll up and down.
Street View of Henley Street, Oxford, OX4
4. To get a 360 degree perspective of a street or change the directional view, drag the ‘N’ around the dial in the top left or click on the arrows, to move down the street click the white arrows on the line pointing down the centre. To zoom in or out click the + or – to the left.
NB – due to Google not being able to pinpoint the exact position of an individual property, Street View images are likely to be several metres away from the property in question or facing the opposite way.
Street View can be found on all Zoopla!’s maps. If you’re researching current home values in Oxford and wonder why a particular area is more valuable than another, Street View allows you to compare streets by selecting Map View for that search result. When selecting Street View you’ll notice that areas covered by Google are outlined in blue.
Areas covered by Street View are outlined in blue
As you zoom in further you’ll see individual streets outlined in blue and a simple click will allow you to take a virtual tour of that area.
Zoopla! are big fans of Street View and think it will add a huge deal of value to people researching property online which is what we’re all about. We hope you agree but feel free to let us know what you think.
