We've been developing map property searches since 1999, and using Google Maps in our searches since Sept 2006 – look at latest aussiehome.com site to see heat maps and 'plot best home open route' for map applications on a real estate web site. Contact me on charlie [at] aussiehome.com if you want further info, cheers

First, kudos to AussieHome for getting on the front foot with Google Maps. That's genuine innovation for which the agency community owes you a debt of gratitude.

Second, a property search in Sydney displays most properties without prices; and these, in the main, appear to be auctions. I wonder if Google have made a recent change to their feed requirements.

Finally, I hear what you say about things becoming a mess, and it's a problem that's been around since Adam was a boy. I remember the first feeds I sent via CA to REA and others, which caused all sorts of problems. But over time the bugs got ironed out, as I'm sure will be the case here.

Keep up the good work. You're one of the good guys.

Anyways (!), while this is in many ways great, a few things need to be thought through and I still do not have answers for… (does anyone out there know?)

1. Google insist on prices on all properties – much like realestate.com.au – however unlike REA there is no way to hide the price from showing. Auctions, and other properties, may not want the price to show on the property (it's OK to be in the back end database so that the listing comes up appropriately in the search, but forcing it to be shown… not appropriate for everyone).

2. What happens when the same property gets into Google listings and has come from various sources, which then have varying degrees of updating prowess? It happens. Some are better at feeding than others, some systems are better updaters than others. Take it from someone who's been feeding in (and out) multiple sites since 2002 – it ain't easy. A mess could be created (very quickly) on Google – then what happens? Same property, updated differently, some saying one price, others another, another says it's under offer? Messy. I see no way that this has been clearly explained, or how they are going to deal with it.

Finally, not all portals are the same, and not all are sinister power hungry media monsters. The internet has freed up a lot of advertising wastage (70% of property enquiry now comes from the 'Net) and really the fight should not be among portals and sites, but against where (still) too much ad money is spent – print ads. And you all know who I mean when I say that!