News Press Releases

Doorsteps Launches Rental Property Bot for Messenger

NWS, NWSA | December 8, 2016

Consumers can now discover rental properties via Facebook Messenger

PR Newswire

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 8, 2016

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Doorsteps, powered by realtor.com^®, today announced the launch of Doorsteps bot for Messenger that allows consumers to easily share criteria and automatically receive rental listings within Messenger. Realtor.com^® is operated by News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA]; [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc., a leading provider of online real estate services.

As the rental market moves quickly, Doorsteps bot for Messenger taps one of the largest inventories of rental listings to provide daily updates and an opportunity to snatch up the latest loft or rustic inspired rental on the market. Properties are sourced from realtor.com^®.

With Doorsteps bot for Messenger, users can share the location they are looking in or share their phone's geolocation, and the bot responds with simple questions to best determine rentals that fit what the user is looking for - such as number of bedrooms, bathrooms and monthly price range. With a few simple commands, users can update their rental search criteria at any time.

Doorsteps responds to search queries immediately with a list of rentals meeting the criteria outlined, and allows user scroll through options within Messenger, viewing photos and monthly cost. Users can opt to learn more about a listing, directing them to the listing on Doorsteps, or share the listing with friends via Messenger. New properties matching the specified search criteria are currently provided daily at 10 a.m. ET, and soon consumers will be able to customize the time to best suit their needs.

"Given the competitive nature of the rental market, where moving quickly can mean landing the home of your dreams, it's important to create a rental search experience on the platforms our consumers are using in their daily lives," said Todd Callow, senior director of product at realtor.com^®. "Doorsteps has already revolutionized rentals on mobile with Doorsteps Swipe, and today we're expanding that to our first messaging platform, bringing instant rental searches to where many consumers often are – Facebook and Messenger."

Additional features and filter options for Doorsteps' bot will roll out in coming months, allowing further personalization to make the rental search experience as seamless as possible. Doorsteps will be expanding to additional messaging platforms in early 2017.

Realtor.com^® also offers a News & Advice chat bot for Messenger, so buyers and sellers can stay up to date on the latest real estate news via daily updates to Messenger. To subscribe, simply visit realtor.com^® Facebook page, click message and type "subscribe."

About realtor.com®

Realtor.com^® is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers, offering the most comprehensive source of for-sale properties, among competing national sites, and the information, tools and professional expertise to help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today helps make all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com^® is operated by News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS^®. For more information, visit realtor.com^®.

Media Contact:

Realtor.com^®
Lexie Puckett Holbert – lexie.puckettholbert@move.com