Rightmove boosts traffic with new Google Maps-based feature

Draw-a-Search tool makes Rightmove a prime location for house hunters

Property web site Rightmove has seen registrations increase by 15 per cent following the introduction of a feature called Draw-a-Search, which is based on Google Maps technology.

The feature allows home movers to search for properties in a particular area by drawing their own geographical boundaries. Users may then save and edit the areas that they have searched and return to them at a later date.

The search function uses a postcode, area name or radius.

Donal McBreen, application architect at Rightmove, said the technology helps make the site "interactive and user-friendly".

McBreen added that the Google Maps API Premier technology was chosen because the maps were up to date and because users are already more familiar with Google Maps than other mapping technologies.

The Draw-a-Search feature now accounts for 800,000 daily property searches on Rightmove and the company can use data gleaned from the searches to identify popular areas, as well as understand how flexible property seekers are in terms of the area of their search.