Rightmove Desktop - and the point is?

14 May 2010
Posted in Online Marketing

Yesterday Rightmove announced the launch of Rightmove Desktop, an application you can install on your PC to browse listed properties, rather than using the website.

Yes, I'm left wondering what the point is a little bit too..!

It's good looking, slick and fast. You can save five different searches for alerts to pop-up the moment a new property is listed. You can save favourite properties and it remembers your recently viewed properties too, all without sharing an email address.
But why they didn't just add some of those features to the website and really open up the MyRightmove login? Using it, I kept coming back to the question, why would anyone prefer an app to the website?

The photos are only minimally bigger (and not big enough), the floor plans are too small to be very useful (no browser zoom available) and there's no Google Street View, no agent search and only minimal branding.

All of which leaves me wondering where this is heading a little bit. Is it simply a pre-cursor to a Rightmove iPad application. Or to a tool which can help agents show comparables while on valuations?

We'll have to wait and see but I fear this might just be a bit of mis-directed PR fodder.

rightmove

Leave your comment:



What you said:

Callaways estate agents brighton and hove
08 June 2010 10:42:21
This just shows why Rightmove are number one, and why every estate agent and letting agent needs to be with them. There brand is massive and introducing extras like this just shows how creative marketing can forward your company. Shame though for all the agencies as its not cheap to be on property portals and property portals also seem to be killing the private seller as its not possible for private sellers to use rightmove (good news for agents though).
The Modern Estate Agent
08 June 2010 13:06:30
Nice to see a local agent reading and commenting on the blog - thank you.

To be fair to the other portals, Prime Location released an iPad app on the same day, but I do know where you are coming from. Rightmove might be pricey, but they provide a fantastic audience.

Martin
Anonymous
25 July 2010 13:50:58
I have long wodered about the need for a private seller portal. Since the HIPS scheme has been removed , only now needing an energy certificate - do you really think people would like to wsell directly?

I own a software development company and could probably knock one out in about 6 months.

My gripe is this - I recently enquired after 10 properties - I wanted to purchase as investments. Not a single agent has responded to me - ALL communications sent through RightMove.
I believe that private sellers will be a lot more on the ball if someone is interested in buying their home!

Works well in the USA with www.buyowner.co.uk.

Any thoughts?
The Modern Estate Agent
26 July 2010 11:11:58
Thanks for the comment.

Will people sell their home privately? Yes.

Many of them? Well, no. Not as it stands.

Tepilo have been relatively successful, with their celebrity backing, but I think (happily) it will always remain a minority of sellers willing to go that route.

Sounds like you just need to talk to better estate agents! :o)

Martin