Classifieds ads search engine Adzuna is extending its reach into the property sphere as of today, pulling in half-a-million live properties for sale and rent from across the UK.
Its new Friend Map feature is particularly interesting, and is one that company co-founder Andrew Hunter believes will “fundamentally change the way people search for property”.
Built on top of Facebook’s API, Friend Map lets users see a map of where their friends live and check-in, enabling them to tap their social sphere and ask questions about the area. “We’re the first site to plot friends’ whereabouts as part of the house-hunting process,” says Hunter. “It’s quite literally a new way to find property.”
First up, you click to connect with Facebook when prompted, and you’ll see a map plotted with all your friends’ check-ins over the past year.
You can click on their images for more info, or the blue pins for available properties nearby. You can also enter a UK postcode to find a specific location you’re interested in.
Since launch in July 2011, Adzuna’s job search engine has grown to “hundreds of thousands” of visitors per month, and it has raised £800k in investment from Index Ventures, The Accelerator Group, Passion Capital and angel investors.
“We’re really excited about launching in property and proud of the Friend Map feature,” says Doug Monro, Adzuna co-founder. “Our research shows that it particularly appeals to young professionals in major cities who have a choice of where to live. Seeing your Friend Map for the first time has a real wow factor and it’s surprising what you learn about your friends. Following the success of Adzuna Connect in jobs, we are continuing to develop new tools that make classifieds search better.”
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