Important Google Maps Update for Older REW Websites
Hi everyone,
I wanted to make everyone aware of an upcoming Google Maps change that will affect a small number of Real Estate Webmasters websites.
Google is retiring older Google Maps functionality in August. As a result, websites running on older versions of our platform will lose map drawing functionality and, in some cases, portions of their Google Maps integration unless they are updated.
If you’ve received an email from us about this, your website is one of the affected sites.
The good news is that every affected customer has a solution available. Which option is best depends on the platform your website is currently running.
If You’re Already on Renaissance + GKE
If your website is already running on Renaissance and hosted on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), you’re already on our current platform.
We’ll complete the required compatibility update at no charge.
The update still requires some manual work from our engineering team, but it’s straightforward on the current platform and we’ll take care of everything for you.
No action is required unless your Account Manager contacts you.
If You’re Running Renaissance on Older Google Compute Engine (GCE)
If your website is running Renaissance but is still hosted on Google’s older Compute Engine (GCE) infrastructure, you have three choices.
Option 1 — Upgrade to the Latest Version of Renaissance (Recommended)
This is the option we strongly recommend.
The latest version of Renaissance already includes the required Google Maps compatibility update and gives you all the benefits of our current platform, including:
- Better performance
- Improved security
- Ongoing platform support
- Easier future compatibility updates
- Access to our newest technology
- Access to all of the features, improvements, and performance enhancements we’ve added to Renaissance over the years
For many customers, this upgrade is available at no additional cost.
If your website includes significant custom development, some additional work may be required. Your Account Manager will work with you to determine the most affordable upgrade path possible.
Customers who choose to renew their agreement can often reduce the upgrade cost substantially—and in some cases, bring it close to zero. A renewal is not required, but it often gives us more flexibility to help.
Option 2 — Patch Your Existing Website
If you prefer to remain on your current version of Renaissance, we can generally apply the required Google Maps update.
Because these websites are still hosted on older GCE infrastructure, the work is more manual and typically requires approximately 2–4 hours of billable programming time.
This solves the immediate Google Maps issue but doesn’t move your website to our current platform, meaning future compatibility changes may continue to require manual work.
Option 3 — Do Nothing
You always have the option to make no changes.
However, once Google retires the older functionality in August, the map drawing tools and portions of your Google Maps integration will stop working.
If Your Website Predates Renaissance
If your website was built before Renaissance, it’s generally seven or more years old and is now considered a legacy platform.
Unfortunately, these websites don’t have a simple compatibility patch available.
Addressing the Google Maps change typically requires four or more hours of custom programming, depending on the complexity of the site.
More importantly, these websites continue to rely on older hosting environments, software frameworks, and versions of PHP that are gradually reaching the end of their supported lives.
This isn’t unique to REW.
Every software platform eventually reaches a point where the underlying technology is retired.
We don’t control Google’s product roadmap or decide when Google retires older cloud infrastructure—we simply have to adapt when those changes occur.
Today, there are fewer than 40 REW customers remaining on non-Renaissance GCE platforms. These websites represent the final generation of technology that came before Renaissance.
Rather than investing additional money into aging technology, we strongly recommend moving to the latest Renaissance platform.
We currently have engineering resources available to help customers upgrade before future technology changes become more urgent. We also have promotions available that may substantially reduce upgrade costs. While a renewal isn’t required, customers who choose to renew can often receive even greater assistance with the transition.
Why We’re Recommending You Upgrade
This announcement isn’t intended to pressure anyone.
Our goal is simply to help our customers stay on a supported platform before technology changes create unnecessary disruption.
Upgrading today means:
- Your website moves to a modern, actively supported platform.
- The required Google Maps update is already included.
- Future compatibility updates become significantly easier.
- You’ll gain access to all of the features, improvements, and performance enhancements we’ve added to Renaissance over the years.
- Your website remains on infrastructure designed to evolve alongside Google’s technology.
- You’ll dramatically reduce the risk of future downtime caused by aging infrastructure reaching the end of its supported life.
Waiting until the last minute often makes upgrades more stressful and, in some cases, more expensive—particularly for heavily customized websites.
We’d much rather help you complete the transition now than have to rush through it after another critical technology change.
Next Steps
If you’ve received an email from us regarding this update, please reach out to your Account Manager to discuss your options.
Our recommendation is simple: upgrade to the latest version of Renaissance on Google Kubernetes Engine whenever possible.
We’ll handle the technical work, make the process as painless as possible, and help you choose the solution that provides the best long-term value for your business.
As always, thank you for your continued trust in Real Estate Webmasters.
Morgan Carey
Founder & CEO
Real Estate Webmasters
