Google Gadget

Today we released the first version of our Google Gadget for OpenHomez.com. It looks like this:

The gadget allows iGoogle users to monitor up to 12 upcoming open houses in up to 5 different zip/postal codes. Click HERE to get a copy of the gadget for your own iGoogle page.

RSS Feed Of Open Homes

Today we added RSS feeds to our Open House search results. From the SEARCH RESULTS PAGE you can get an RSS feed for that specific search by clicking on the icon in the SEARCH RESULTS description.

You can add these feeds to most any RSS reader or gadget page that accepts an RSS feed. You can embed this feed in a Web page too. Click here for a free, simple tool to generate the code to embed in a Web page.

Download GPS/Map Data

We have recently added the ability to download GPS/Map data for open house listings. Currently, the only data format provided is KML. KML files can be loaded directly into Google Maps (place the file/url in the search box), Google Earth, and a wide variety of GPS devices and mapping programs.

If the KML format does not meet your needs you might want to consider GPSBabel which can convert from KML to a variety of other GPS/Map data formats.

Look for the map icon next to open houses in a list or after the Map and Driving Directions in the expanded listing view. On the search results screen you can also download a single GPS/Map data file containing all of the listings found by your search.

Happy GPSing.

Google Earth

Recently we added a file suitable for downloading into Google Earth. Sorry, it's too large for Google Maps to handle. The file contains all current and future open house data. You can find the file at http://www.openhomez.com/data/openhomez.kml .

Caution, the file contains a lot of data and may take a long time to load. The file is refreshed nightly at midnight Pacific time.

In the future, look for new mapping functions in My Listings and your Search Results including selected data small enough to load into Google Maps.

Syndications and Exposure

One of the main goals of OpenHomez.com is to provide you a single site to post your open house information and then automatically have that information propagated throughout the Internet, saving you from the tedious task of visiting each of the various classified ad and real estate sites. We will constantly be adding new ways to expose your open house information to as many search engines and eyeballs as we can. Below is a current list of our progress towards this goal.

Current Syndications And Exposure:
OpenHomez.com Notifications and Alert System
OpenHomez.com Open House Blog
OpenHomez.com Open House RSS Feed
OpenHomez.com Google Group - Allowing user comment and feedback
OpenHomez.com Google Calendar
OpenHomez.com iGoogle Gadget

Google Base
Google Buzz
Looksmart.com(Edgeio.com) and its properties
Oodle.com and its properties

Classifieds.MySpace.com (via Oodle.com)
Vast.com and its properties
RealtyFeedSearch and its properties
Eventful.com and its properties
VillagesList.com
Posterous
Twitter
Tumblr
Yakaz.com
Technorati
FriendFeed
Dwellicious.com

Things we are working on:
Automatic feed to Zillow.com
Automatic feed to Trulia.com
Automatic feed to Syndic8.com

Send Us Your Data

Effective immediately OpenHomez.com is accepting your XML data feeds. If you have a large number of open houses that you would like to post on OpenHomez.com this option will save you some time. You can upload all of your data at once. No need to enter individual listings online. Of course all of your listings, regardless of how they were entered, are available to you online.

If you're interested in bulk upload of your data please review our XML Data Feed Instructions. If you have any questions, suggestions, or an open house existing feed available, please don't hesitate to email us.

Donations

Our donation program is now active. All of the basic services of OpenHomez.com are free for all and we do not sell or otherwise divulge your personal information. Our only source of revenue is the ads on our site and donations from our users. You can support OpenHomez.com by clicking on the advertisements of the vendors that advertise on our site or by making a donation.