This follows the formation of a partnership in November 2008 between the Independent Group, which dominates property publishing in print, and software company Gravity, the developer of what is said to be a revolutionary property search engine. The partnership vision is to create a single, all-inclusive platform for SA property listings.
IOLProperty GM Grant Leigh says the super-site launched with around 270,000 listings - some 100,000 more than its nearest competitor and will offer homebuyers, investors and tenants the largest selection of properties online and the best property search function at their fingertips.
“Indeed, the new generation search technology used by the site incorporates several features we believe will completely change the way consumers think about house hunting online. These include our unique ‘smart search' functionality that analyses the suburbs in which users are interested and suggests other areas they may find suitable.”
Other features include the listing date search that enables users to order their search by date, or search only within a certain date range. Also particularly useful in the current market is a function that highlights properties that have recently had their listing price changed.
Each search is also remembered in a unique search history, so users who return to the site daily can simply rerun any previous search of up to 100 suburbs across SA.
Also of interest, notes Leigh, is the site's national database of properties to let - including adverts drawn from the classified sections of company's stable of newspapers around the country. “This is extremely relevant at this time and will benefit landlords as well as tenants, many of whom need to search for accommodation in locations outside of their own hometowns and cannot easily do so anywhere else.”
As far as for-sale listings go, he says, the Gravity search engine that drives the site automatically acquires and combines online listings from hundreds of estate agency websites. Print listings from the property supplements of company newspapers such as the Saturday Star and the Sunday Tribune, and from the Property Trader family of property magazines will also be available as searchable e-publications and can also be downloaded.
“In short, wherever buyers would usually look for property, they will now find it on our super-site, which will be ‘the one' for homebuyers and sellers and this will be reinforced by aggressive advertising in our newspapers and our online network of websites,” he adds.
