Archive for the 'Home Search' Category

NWMLS Revises Online Data Display Policy

The NWMLS Board of Directors recently approved a revision to its data display policies that will take effect July 3, 2008. The change is not overwhelming but is significant in that additional, pertinent information will be made publicly available, namely the listing price history and the cumulative days on market (CDOM). I know Redfin is feverishly working to incorporate the new info. No word from the major companies (Windermere, CB Bain, John L Scott), however, they do not currently publish all available data as it is.

John L Scott’s Sold Email Feature

Buyers, sellers and real estate enthusiasts can now receive up-to-date sold property information via email. John L. Scott Real Estate, the first company to publish sold property data, has added a sold email feature.

Users can now easily keep track of Seattle’s housing activity. Whether you’re a buyer or seller you can sign-up to receive notification when a property has closed and at what price it sold for. Since the information comes directly from the NWMLS it’s the most up-to-date available.

Sold property email

To utilize the feature, sign up for a John L Scott’s Property Tracker account and create a search using the Interactive Map search option.

Related:
Improved search information on John L Scott
Neighborhood Wizard search feature

Improved Sold Information on John L Scott

John L. Scott has also launched an enhancement to its interactive mapping tool on www.JohnLScott.com. Now, visitors to John L. Scott’s website can view sold home information right along side homes for sale (see below). John L. Scott originally launched comparable sold property information in 2006 which appeared on its own mapping interface, but with this latest enhancement, consumers can view all homes for sale as well as those that recently sold on one interactive map.

Sold properties will now show along side active properties; solds in red and actives in blue.
John L Scott Sold Listings

In addition to the map, a list option is available:
John L Scott Sold List

By default, the sold listings are included in the search results. Users can remove the sold listings by unchecking the “Show Sold Properties” box:
John L Scott Remove Sold

In fact, I would suggest unchecking the box before viewing the listings in the Gallery view otherwise the solds will be included:
John L Scott Gallery View

Home Search On Your Desktop

Soon home buyers will be able to view home search listings right on their computer desktop. John L. Scott Real Estate is launching a Desktop Delivery tool that’ll enable home buyers access to the most up-to-date home search results. Users who download the gadget will receive new listings that meet their home search criteria on their desktop. The tool updates every two hours and works only with Vista.

According to Lennox Scott, John L. Scott’s CEO, “Visitors can download a gadget for any (and every) saved search, enabling them to have the most current, relevant home search information right on their desktop. Scott said “It’s like having a miniature slide show of your favorite homes for sale right at your finger tips.”

Home Search Tool

In the past six months, John L Scott has seen a 14% increase in its Property Tracker home search accounts. With over 100,000 accounts, the company notes that home buyers want to receive new listings as soon as they hit the market. The desktop tool provides a simple and immediate means of delivering the information to home buyers.

John L. Scott Real Estate has been an industry technology leader introducing many innovative internet tools and features for buyers and sellers, including high-definition and bird’s eye view images, the neighborhood wizard mapping tool and sold comparable data.

John L Scott’s New Search Feature

Today, John L. Scott Real Estate launched an new search feature allowing users to pinpoint searches to a specific neighborhood or even a city block. The new feature is called the “Neighborhood Wizard” and works by allowing users to use a polygon tool to draw their own search parameters.

Based on Microsoft’s polygon tool technology, John L. Scott is the first real estate company to utilize this feature.

John L. Scott was the first real estate company to incorporate Microsoft’s Virtual Earth technology and provide sold listing data directly to the public, leading the real estate industry as one of the most forward thinking, innovative companies.

Using the new search feature

1. Start by visiting John L. Scott’s redesigned home page and click on a state:
jls_search_1.gif

2. Using the mouse, hover the rectangular box over the desired area to zoom to that location:
JLS_search_2.gif

3. Above the map search screen the new “Neighborhood Wizard” button appears (You can also recenter or zoom into a specific area). Upon clicking the button, the mouse will change to a crosshairs (”+”) and instructions will appear:
JLS_search_3.gif

4. Close Up of the “Neighborhood Wizard” button:

JLS_search_wizard.gif

5. Click on a starting point and drag the mouse to begin drawing the desired search area. Click on the mouse to add a new point and continue:
JLS_search_4.gif

6. To complete the drawing area, return and click on the point of origin (the blue dot) or click on the “Done” button”:

JLS_search_5.gif

7. The results will automatically appear on the map when the shape is complete. You can also use the zoom in / out and scrolling options.

JLS_search_6.gif

8. You can also refine your search future by utilizing filters on the left side of the map:

JLS_search_refine.gif

Then, view listing information by clicking on the “View property details” link.
This is a great way to narrow a search to a specific neighborhood, block or condo building, thus only showing the available properties you’re interested in.

Do you use Realtor.com?

Just taking a little poll to see if anyone uses Realtor.com to search for properties.

Do you use Realtor.com?
View Results

Thanks.