Need Feedback On New Search by Map Function

[LandsOfAmerica]

We just launched a new "search by map" function across our network. There's nothing like it online currently and we want to make sure to improve it if anyone has an constructive ways in which to do that, so go here - http://www.lakehousesofamerica.com/a...rlandbymap.cfm, look around, and let us know what you think!

[nvawin]

It had a problem when I tried to view it in Firefox 3.5.5 for Macintosh. As the page was loading, I got an error message about how some script was not functioning properly. So you might want to double check it in multiple browsers on both computer platforms.

Win

[LandsOfAmerica]

That's strange. We have tested in on a few Macs running Firefox with no issue. Is there anything unique about your operating system, browser, or internet connection? If you don't mind, can you try one of our state sites, like http://lakehousesofwisconsin.com? Just click "Map" under the Search By options.



If you have any further data on this please let us know.

Thanks!

[nvawin]

Ok. I did not get the same message in Firefox this time when loading that site. Don't know what script it was trying to load earlier that was failing and unfortunately, I didn't take a screen shot at the time to show you. But it seems to work fine now.

Win

[LandsOfAmerica]

Great, I'm glad it works for you now. What do you think of it?

[nvawin]

What do I think? Well, to my taste, the site(s) is just way too busy. For comparison, take a look at www.homesdatabase.com - a consumer web site for our MLS in the Washington/Baltimore area that can be branded by an individual agent or broker. See how clean the look is.

Then perform a search for Falls Church, VA, for 3+ bedrooms and 2+ baths between 500K & 800K. Now look at the Results page with a lovely map and how clean it looks.

To me, on your site, the left column on the pages with the 50+ small links going down below, the "Browse Lake Houses..." link section with 132 links on the lower part of the Home page, the large amount of white space on the Map page below the iFrame displaying the map on the right and properties on the left... due to the long left column of 50+ links before you get to the "footer" with it multitude of links too, all make the site (or your other templates) just too busy. It may accomplish the goal of letting the visitor know there are more properties they can view or more sites they can visit, but it doesn't make that site visually enticing or look very "modern". Too many choices!

It is great to offer a "quick search" on the side, but not when it now includes 50 links! Perhaps a better way would be something like you would see at any of my real estate sites like - www.terrysellsknoxville.com - where instead of a Quick Home Search, it would be just be called "Quick Search" and you include in the form all of the other towns or locations.

Remember that visitors make up their mind about a web site in about 5 blinks of their eyes (sometimes before it has even finished loading). If it looks too crowded or too out of balance with unnecessary white space, it doesn't really invite them to move deeper into the site. Instead, they are already heading for the exit by clicking their back button. ;-)

Just my thoughts...

Win

[Mark Washburn]

The map with that many pins just seems really busy to me. It might be better user experience to click in on state before you start displaying all those pins. Maybe have the total # of listings by state available in a hover/mouse over.