PRSS - Proposed open XML standard for the exchange of property information

[michael]

The idea behind PRSS is to create a single standard Open XML standard for the syndicating property information for the real estate industry following on from the successful RSS (Really Simple Syndication) format.

We hope to create a standard format that will be very simple to use yet robust enough for the demanding user.

This is the first proposed draft - please comment

<prss version="0.1">
   <channel>
      <language>en</language>
      <title>Seaside properties in Spain</title>
      <description>Available seaside spanish properties</description>
      <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain</link>
      <image>
         <title>The spanish seaside</title>
         <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain</link>
         <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain.jpg</url>
      </image>
      <item>
         <reference>30490900REQ</reference>
         <title>Our house</title>
         <link>http://www.mysite.com/index.php?p=232</link>
         <summary>A wonderful peaceful fishing townhouse</summary>
         <description>This is the description blah blah blah</description>
         <issued>2004-10-13T23:59:59-04:00</issued>
         <modified>2004-11-13T23:59:59-04:00</modified>
         <prices>
            <price>
               <bed>1</bed>
               <currency>GBP</currency>
               <term>Freehold</term>
               <status>Available</status>
               <money>129000.89</money>
            </price>
            <price>
               <bed>3</bed>
               <currency>EUR</currency>
               <term>Leasehold (100 Years)</term>
               <status>Sold</status>
               <money>120000</money>
            </price>
         </prices>
         <type>Resale</type>
         <categories>
            <category>Apartment</category>
            <category>Penthouse</category>
         </categories>
         <location>
            <country>GB</country>
            <state>Berkshire</state>
            <city>Bracknell</city>
            <town></town>
            <postcode>120900</postcode>
            <address></address>
         </location>
         <images>
            <image>
               <title>The spanish seaside</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain2</link>
               <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain2.jpg</url>
            </image>
            <image>
               <title>View of hills</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain1</link>
               <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain1.jpg</url>
            </image>
         </images>
         <atriibutes>
            <attribute name="Garden">Yes</attribute>
            <attribute name="Park space">3</attribute>
            <attribute name="Pool">No</attribute>
            <attribute name="Bathrooms">3</attribute>
         </atriibutes>
      </item>
      <item>
         <reference>30490900REQ</reference>
         <title>Our house</title>
         <link>http://www.mysite.com/index.php?p=232</link>
         <summary>A wonderful peaceful fishing townhouse</summary>
         <description>This is the description blah blah blah</description>
         <issued>2004-10-13T23:59:59-04:00</issued>
         <modified>2004-11-13T23:59:59-04:00</modified>
         <prices>
            <price>
               <bed>1</bed>
               <currency>GBP</currency>
               <term>Freehold</term>
               <status>Available</status>
               <money>129000.89</money>
            </price>
            <price>
               <bed>3</bed>
               <currency>EUR</currency>
               <term>Leasehold (100 Years)</term>
               <status>Sold</status>
               <money>120000</money>
            </price>
         </prices>
         <type>Resale</type>
         <categories>
            <category>Apartment</category>
            <category>Penthouse</category>
         </categories>
         <location>
            <country>GB</country>
            <state>Berkshire</state>
            <city>Bracknell</city>
            <town></town>
            <postcode>120900</postcode>
            <address></address>
         </location>
         <images>
            <image>
               <title>The spanish seaside</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain2</link>
               <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain2.jpg</url>
            </image>
            <image>
               <title>View of hills</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain1</link>
               <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain1.jpg</url>
            </image>
         </images>
         <atriibutes>
            <attribute name="Garden">Yes</attribute>
            <attribute name="Park space">3</attribute>
            <attribute name="Pool">No</attribute>
            <attribute name="Bathrooms">3</attribute>
         </atriibutes>
      </item>
   </channel>
</prss>

Everything in blue is your value.
You can have as many attributes as you want.

[homeinformationpacks]

Hi Michael,

Nice idea - but I think you need to also cater for rental properties.  So you should maybe consider adding something for availability (i.e. dates).

HIPS

[michael]

Ok people, this is version 0.2 of the PRSS XML standard.

Based on user's feedback, I have added support for attachments (files, video, etc - anything electronic that is not an image) and rental properties.

<prss version="0.2">
   <channel>
      <language>en</language>
      <title>Seaside properties in Spain</title>
      <description>Available seaside spanish properties</description>
      <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain</link>
      <image>
         <title>The spanish seaside</title>
         <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain</link>
         <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain.jpg</url>
      </image>
      <item>
         <reference>30490900REQ</reference>
         <title>Our house</title>
         <link>http://www.mysite.com/index.php?p=232</link>
         <summary>A wonderful peaceful fishing townhouse</summary>
         <description>This is the description blah blah blah</description>
         <issued>2004-10-13T23:59:59-04:00</issued>
         <modified>2004-11-13T23:59:59-04:00</modified>
         <prices>
            <price>
               <bed>3</bed>
               <currency>EUR</currency>
               <term>Per night</term>
               <status>Available</status>
               <sleeps>7</sleeps>
               <availabilities>
                  <dates>
                     <date start="yyyy-mm-dd" end="yyyy-mm-dd">
                        <price>120</price>
                     </date>
                     <date start="yyyy-mm-dd" end="yyyy-mm-dd">
                        <price>120</price>
                     </date>
                     <date start="yyyy-mm-dd" end="yyyy-mm-dd">
                        <price>120</price>
                     </date>                     
                  </dates>
               </availabilities>
            </price>
         </prices>
         <type>Rental</type>
         <categories>
            <category>Apartment</category>
         </categories>
         <location>
            <country>GB</country>
            <state>Berkshire</state>
            <city>Bracknell</city>
            <town></town>
            <postcode>120900</postcode>
            <address></address>
         </location>
         <images>
            <image>
               <title>The spanish seaside</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain2</link>
               <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain2.jpg</url>
            </image>
            <image>
               <title>View of hills</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/spain1</link>
               <url>http://www.mysite.com/spain1.jpg</url>
            </image>
         </images>
         <attachments>
            <attachment>
               <type>File</type>
               <title>Floor plan</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/myplan.pdf</link>
            </attachment>
            <attachment>
               <type>Video</type>
               <title>Video front view</title>
               <link>http://www.mysite.com/myvideo.avi</link>
            </attachment>
         </attachments>
         <atriibutes>
            <attribute name="Pool">No</attribute>
            <attribute name="Bathrooms">3</attribute>
         </atriibutes>
      </item>
      <item>
                        blah blah blah ....
      </item>
   </channel>
</prss>

[PJ7139]

Fantastic idea! Although, you’ll almost certainly find there is a major stumbling block in XML feeds when it comes to country and region mapping. Every portal I’ve looked at has a different criteria making it difficult to try and map to their data set. Most portals won’t allow free text fields and unless you have a pre defined fixed list for the mapping of data this will be an almost impossible task.

[SPAM DELETED]: The rest of your post was SPAM!

[houseinthesun]

Very good initiative. If we can have an xml standard that most companies will use, it will make the property portals work easier. Today, there are many to maintain.