Google's property website lets you tour your new neighbourhood from home

12 April 2012

Housebuyers will soon be able to take a virtual walk down their new street before buying.

The service is to be part of a new property website planned by internet search giant Google.

The firm has already spoken to estate agents about the project, which experts predict could threaten existing sites and affect newspaper advertising. Foxtons confirmed it had signed up to the site.

The UK site is expected to mirror Google's Australian property site, launched last August. It combines listings with pictures of properties taken from Google's Street View service. This allows people to explore the neighbourhood around a potential home.

Estate agents today welcomed the move, although warned it could lead to the demise of many existing sites.

Benson Beard, of Bective Leslie Marsh, said: "Everyone has heard of Google, so they will not need to worry about building a brand. If it is free and good, everyone will go there."

Ed Mead, commercial director at Douglas & Gordon, said: "If it stays free, Google has a massive winner on its hands as it will get backing from estate agents now paying for rival sites."

A Google spokeswoman refused to comment on "rumour and speculation". Shares in Rightmove, which charges £325 per month for its listing service, fell more than 50p or 10percent in opening deals, but began to recover as some analysts said the Google effect had been overplayed.

Lorna Tilbian, analyst at Numis Securities, said: "Rightmove has a firmly established position as one of the UK's leading websites and has a commanding share of the four leading property portals."

Ed Williams, managing director of Rightmove, said: "We provide visibility of brand and logo. Agents are spending money on raising brand awareness, not getting more properties online."

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