Google maps were upgraded to include a new layer of results that will show thousands of properties that are up for rent or sale within the UK. The service has already been available to users in Australia and allows them to upload links to sale properties so that browsers can view them freely.

In fact, with the use of Google Maps, individuals may be able to bypass an estate agent before and simply upload their own homes but first they would need to create a realtor’s website for their home so that Google could link to it.

The site takes results from many different property sites such as Zoomf.com and Zoopla.com, as well as some of the more major estate agents such as Bairstow Eves’ Countrywide. At the moment, Google is offering the service for free.

Users simply need to enter the search terms ‘houses for sale in city’ and will be shown results in the local area with the property details appearing under the menu option ‘more’ within Google Maps. The service is funded by Google advertising sales instead of charging realtors or estate agents to advertise.

In a survey conducted before Google Street View was launched across the UK, about a fifth of those searching for homes found success using a similar service.