Globrix

Globrix is a UK real estate search engine launched in 2008. It is backed by News International, publishers of The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Times, The News of the World and Thelondonpaper.

Estate agents can list their properties for free. This competes with traditional paid-listings sites such as Rightmove (joint venture between four of the UK's largest property agents), Propertyfinder (also owned by News International), Primelocation (owned by a large European media company) and other property search engines such as home.co.uk.

The website is advertising funded with companies buying geographic targeted banner ads.

Functionality

The basic property search functionality is kept simple with just one text box on the homepage. Users can search by property location (city, postcode) and features (e.g. swimming pool, garden).

Search results can be segmented by price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, type of house, outside space, nearby stations and schools and property features (e.g. wooden floors, sea view).

The site also uses Google maps to allow users to look for property by location. Users are able to drag and zoom the map, with relevant properties automatically placed in view.

Founders

Globrix was founded by Dan Lee and Ian Parry, both ex employees of UK-based search company Autonomy and the Norwegian search company FAST.

External links

[http://www.globrix.com/ Globrix homepage]

[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bc401968-824e-11dc-8a8f-0000779fd2ac.html News International invests in search engine] - Financial Times

[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/home-search-sites-have-a-new-kid-on-the-block-786342.html Home search sites have a new kid on the block] - The Independent