Century 21 Real Estate LLC, franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization, today announced the relaunch of its Web site, Century21.com. The enhanced site is part of a national initiative aimed at helping consumers better navigate their home buying and selling process.
With a re-designed look and streamlined navigation, Century21.com offers consumers distinctive features such as an intuitive search and an advanced map tool, transforming the way they search for properties. In addition to the more traditional display functions, consumers can choose the way they view their results. These enhanced features allow buyers to customize their searches, making the experience more personal, efficient and fun.
"The use of technology in the home buying and selling process is critical," said Bev Thorne, chief marketing officer of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. "The new Century21.com site enhances the relationship between consumers and their use of technology by providing the tools consumers need to make the most informed decisions possible. The CENTURY 21 System believes there is no replacement for an agent, but we're excited by the advancement of technology and our new site, which puts control and information directly in the hands of the consumer."
Consumers are increasingly using the Internet to search for properties. According to the National Association of Realtors' 2007 Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers, 84% of homebuyers use the Internet as an information source when searching for a new home. The CENTURY 21 System aimed to meet these developing needs by creating a single, modern entry point for property buyers and sellers, real estate hobbyists, and prospective agents and franchisees.
The new Century21.com was developed with enhanced learning tools for the user that allows for increased interactivity, speed, functionality and usability. The site offers a unique map tool that enables consumers to search for properties online the same way they look for homes in real life. Potential buyers have the option to use an interactive map to search for properties visually and identify where they would like to live, whether it be near a particular train station or school in their chosen destination.
Customizable view settings and search options empower users to self select what is important to them and choose how they want to see properties throughout the experience -- ultimately personalizing their interaction with the CENTURY 21 System. After the user narrows the search parameters, home results are given in a variety of ways such as in a grid, a list, plotted on a map or photo flow. This level of flexibility enables users to tailor their search efforts to meet their needs and preferences.