Prudential Preferred Properties Introduces New Concept in Online Customer Communication

RISMEDIA, Oct. 20, 2008-Prudential Preferred Properties has announced a new consumer-friendly online information tool called “Preferred Market Watch.” According to the company, Preferred Market Watch helps real estate customers make better decisions in a changing marketplace by providing dynamic charts for listed properties and free, automatic, weekly online reports specifically for every community and zip code in Chicagoland’s Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties.

“In an environment where 84 percent of buyers search the Internet rather than making a phone call, we created Preferred Market Watch to give buyers and sellers more complete, more up-to-date online information than they’ve ever enjoyed before,” Michael Pierson, President and Chairman of Prudential Preferred Properties, explained recently.

Preferred Market Watch-PruPref.com/MarketWatch-moves with the marketplace, completely replacing old-fashioned services that are compiled and distributed on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. Now, via the Internet, everyone interested in Chicago neighborhoods or Chicagoland communities can view town or zip code specific charts that are updated weekly. Preferred Market Watch also organizes and automatically releases reports with easily understood statistics outlining trends in median prices, inventories, square footage, market activity, DOM (Days on the Market), all with interpretation, and much more. Preferred Market Watch allows consumers to keep tabs on the pulse of local real estate market activities, much like professional sales associates do.

“We recognize that people want easy, instantaneous information about specific neighborhoods or communities,” Patrick Bergner, senior vice president and Director of Marketing observed. “Preferred Market Watch does this automatically. Results are updated weekly on PruPref.com and e-mailed on a weekly basis through Preferred Market Watch Reports.”

Preferred Market Watch is like having a personal research department tailored to your preferences. Exciting and beneficial on many levels, it takes information previously not available to customers and puts it right at their fingertips. Listings on PruPref.com in Chicagoland’s Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties are accompanied by charts specific to that listing’s location. Each custom report contains charts and graphs illustrating market trends, accompanied by easy-to-understand explanations. It helps save agents’ time and opens discussions with their clients by automatically answering questions at the top of consumers’ minds, such as: ‘Are home prices in my area going up or down?’; ‘What is the average number of days on the market in my area?’; ‘What are price ranges in specific zip codes?’; and ‘Are there many homes available in my price range in certain areas?’.

While most currently available public real estate marketing analyses are based on older information, the Preferred Market Watch tool is current and ever-changing. It adds value to Prudential Preferred Properties’ services, helping customers make more informed decisions based on current information. “In our continued efforts to keep Prudential Preferred Properties at the forefront of Chicagoland real estate, we are excited to be leading the way into a new era of information access and interactivity,” Mr. Bergner added.

For more information, visit www.PruPref.com/MarketWatch.