Ask Maltese internet users how they prepare for their holidays abroad and they will most likely name of Google Maps or Microsoft Live Maps to help them trace a route or find places of interest. However, these online map services have started to capture the attention of Maltese business organisations that see potential in harnessing these free map services.
Hot Property Ltd has launched the portal www.hotproperty.com.mt aimed at property owners who are willing to advertise their property address and map location. It is not an estate agent website but offers private property owners the chance to sell and rent online and make their property more visible thanks to Google Maps.
"Our business is aimed at promoting property direct from owners to get buyers contacting them directly. This in turn allows buyers to save time and money, by knowing in advance where each property is located. This is something that cannot be replicated on an estate agency's website since most property is sold on 'open agency' terms," Paul Degiorgio, director at Hot Property Limited, operators of the website, explained.
"There are many benefits of using Google Maps in property. Through our service, vendors can show where each property is located in Malta. This is enhanced with satellite images and, in the coming months, also with Google Street. We have chosen Google Maps as they have the most updated maps of Malta, both as street names and as satellite images. Other providers like Live Maps also have an interesting birds-eye view concept, but we preferred Google Maps overall. Our business model is not just based on Google Maps, although it is one of the features that distinguishes us from the rest."
Google Maps have been integrated in a unique search page connected to the company's database where prospective buyers/tenants can filter their search by price, tenure, keywords and many other features. A user can see all the properties for sale/to let in a particular locality/street etc. All this is enhanced with the latest technologies of ASP.NET and Ajax to give a better user experience.
Advertisers have all the facilities within their account to control whether the advert is displayed or not, upload new photos, check how many people clicked to see their advert, etc. Some 150 keywords are offered to owners so that they can tag the property and make it easier for users to search and find in the database. Full payment facilities with credit and debit cards are also offered.
The owners insist that at the moment this website is the only one in Malta to advertise property for sale showing the full address.
"Times are changing, and the Maltese are getting more accustomed to using the internet for its benefits of vast information resources - and for its speed," Mr Degiorgio said. "The internet has already played an important part in this sector over the last 10 years, but now we're entering a new era of advertising that can offer so much more. Our services and similar concepts will definitely contribute to changes in today's property market, especially with new legislation coming into force where more people will need to seek more information like in the case of energy performance certificates, for example.
"Although we do understand that such new concepts and technologies that we plan to roll-out within our services will take a couple of years to be widely accepted, we are (in the meantime) totally devoted and committed to offer customer support seven days a week and also ready to invest more in the promotion of such technologies and of course, our services."