Comments on: Interesting that Trulia shrunk the map… http://4realz.net/2007/12/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/ Authentic Real Estate and Internet Marketing Conversations Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jessie B http://4realz.net/2007/12/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-379 Jessie B Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:41:58 +0000 http://4realz.net/2007/12/20/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-379 Talk about timing... "attract them visually via a list or grid view for the whole city, then once they narrowed down the list, the map should become more prevalent as you have lesser results..." Today's REALTOR.com New beta has a Gallery view, which is a really nice, then provides users the ability to map each individual property. Talk about timing…

“attract them visually via a list or grid view for the whole city, then once they narrowed down the list, the map should become more prevalent as you have lesser results…”

Today’s REALTOR.com New beta has a Gallery view, which is a really nice, then provides users the ability to map each individual property.

]]> By: Real Estate Search Tit for Tat : Future of Real Estate Marketing http://4realz.net/2007/12/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-378 Real Estate Search Tit for Tat : Future of Real Estate Marketing Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:59:19 +0000 http://4realz.net/2007/12/20/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-378 [...] the new release is that Trulia, unlike Zillow, has shrunk the default size of its map results (see Trulia shrunk the map). They’ve chosen to rely instead on a hierarchal list of properties, rather than the [...] [...] the new release is that Trulia, unlike Zillow, has shrunk the default size of its map results (see Trulia shrunk the map). They’ve chosen to rely instead on a hierarchal list of properties, rather than the [...]

]]> By: Dustin http://4realz.net/2007/12/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-377 Dustin Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:20:57 +0000 http://4realz.net/2007/12/20/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-377 Jessie: Interesting, I was just <a href="http://4realz.net/2007/12/19/it-appears-lorna-has-continued-to-dip-into-her/#comment-359" rel="nofollow">answering a question from Jim</a> when I noticed that realtor.com just <a href="http://beta.realtor.com/" rel="nofollow">launched a new beta site</a>. The new site doesn't even prompt users for a map view, but rather defaults to a list view. Jessie: Interesting, I was just answering a question from Jim when I noticed that realtor.com just launched a new beta site. The new site doesn’t even prompt users for a map view, but rather defaults to a list view.

]]> By: Jessie B http://4realz.net/2007/12/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-376 Jessie B Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:04:19 +0000 http://4realz.net/2007/12/20/interesting-that-trulia-shrunk-the-map/#comment-376 In Oct. 2005 (pre-trulia / zillow) we had rolled a map search function (and google earth kmls for each property) for forsalebyownercenter.com. Although a nice touch and got lots of link love from the tech community we found that users still liked traditional list and gave them the map search function as they narrowed results. I would venture that Dustin may have insight into the usage of map search on the big R vs. traditional list also, which maybe why R keeps the option open for the user and why T is reducing the size of their map. My feelings regarding usability, the best experience is that the initial search for users is done by looking at homes that attract them visually via a list or grid view for the whole city, then once they narrowed down the list, the map should become more prevalent as you have lesser results and it’s not as overwhelming. This is where the overlays also become more useful for users. In Oct. 2005 (pre-trulia / zillow) we had rolled a map search function (and google earth kmls for each property) for forsalebyownercenter.com. Although a nice touch and got lots of link love from the tech community we found that users still liked traditional list and gave them the map search function as they narrowed results. I would venture that Dustin may have insight into the usage of map search on the big R vs. traditional list also, which maybe why R keeps the option open for the user and why T is reducing the size of their map.

My feelings regarding usability, the best experience is that the initial search for users is done by looking at homes that attract them visually via a list or grid view for the whole city, then once they narrowed down the list, the map should become more prevalent as you have lesser results and it’s not as overwhelming. This is where the overlays also become more useful for users.

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