Real estate site Trulia.com has launched a new visual aid for property searches, dubbed Trulia Snapshot.
The visual search tool pulls out a handful of map-linked property photos in a given area and allows users to customize the selected properties based on a price range or whether the listing is stale or fresh.
A scrolling bar of photos is pictured at the lower end of the screen, along with a corresponding scrolling tool that allows users to select a price range.
Users can also click on a series of tabs to view "Most Expensive," "Least Expensive," "Newest" and "Oldest" properties.
Scrolling the pointer over a property image displays the home’s address in large type and the amount of time that has passed since the property was listed.
Clicking on an image displays more detailed information, including the price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a brief description of the type of home, age of the home and the name of the brokerage company.
Users also have the option to press a "play" button marked by an arrow in the upper left side of the screen to view a series of properties in a given market area.
Trulia earlier this month announced a series of new free features including a tool that allows agents and brokers to upload a photo and contact information to accompany property listings, and "Stats for Sellers" that allow users to gauge Web traffic to homes displayed at Trulia.
And Trulia was among the first real estate Web sites to incorporate Google’s street-level imagery, where available, in property searches at the site. RealEstate.com and DotHomes are also among the sites that feature street-level imagery.
Trulia reports that Stamen Design, a company that worked on Trulia Hindsight and Trulia SearchPaths visualizations, assisted in the development of Trulia Snapshots.
***
What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send a letter to the editor.
