Listing Commute Time Calculator

WHAT IT DOES

Listing Commute Time Calculator automatically detects the property address on any real estate or property listing page and calculates the commute time from that property to your workplace. It uses OpenStreetMap-based routing to provide accurate driving and walking times, displays the result in a clean overlay panel, and can open the full route in a map for detailed navigation. The tool eliminates manual copy-paste of addresses and repeated map searches, saving time for home buyers, renters, and real estate professionals who need to evaluate commute feasibility for multiple properties.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension works on any website that displays property addresses, including major real estate platforms like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Trulia, and thousands of local MLS and classified listing sites. It automatically scans the page for address patterns and works on property detail pages, search result listings, and even PDF-like embedded address displays. No site-specific configuration is required — the address detection engine handles diverse page layouts and selector patterns.

HOW TO USE

Install the extension and navigate to any property listing page. The overlay panel will appear with the property address pre-filled automatically. Enter your workplace address once — it is saved for future use. Select your preferred travel mode (driving or walking), then click Calculate Commute. The tool will geocode both addresses, request routing data from OpenStreetMap, and display the estimated travel time and distance. Click Open Route in Maps to view the full turn-by-turn directions in a new tab. The calculation runs automatically when a new property page loads if you have already saved a workplace address.

TECHNICAL SECTION — DUAL-STRATEGY ADDRESS DETECTION AND OSRM ROUTING

Unlike simpler tools that rely on rigid CSS class matching, this extension employs a multi-layer address detection strategy. It first queries a curated list of 45+ common address selectors used across real estate platforms, including data-testid attributes, itemprop markers, and semantic address containers. If no match is found, it falls back to a text-pattern scanner that analyzes the page for line-based address structures containing street numbers, street types, and geographic indicators, then validates candidates using a scoring system based on pattern density. Once an address is extracted, the tool uses the OpenStreetMap Nominatim API for geocoding with localized address parsing. For routing, it interfaces directly with the Open Source Routing Machine (OSRM) public API, which provides fast, open-source routing without API keys or usage limits. The tool selects the appropriate OSRM profile (driving or foot) based on the user's chosen mode, parses the response to extract duration and distance in real-world units, and caches geocoding results per session to reduce redundant requests when scanning multiple properties.

THE PANEL — DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The overlay panel is fully interactive and designed for seamless multitasking. Drag it anywhere on the screen using the handle at the top of the panel; the position is saved per site so it stays where you left it across sessions. The panel includes a snap-to-edge feature that gently anchors the overlay to the nearest screen edge when released. Click the collapse button to minimize the panel to a compact pill showing only the current commute time (if calculated); expand it again with a single click. Resize the panel vertically by dragging the bottom-right corner to view more or fewer controls and information. Press the Escape key at any time to instantly close the overlay; it reappears on the next page navigation or refresh.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz companion extension to function, as it provides the underlying content script injection and cross-origin communication framework. No personal data, browsing history, property data, or workplace addresses are stored, transmitted, or shared. All address detection, geocoding, and routing occurs through public OpenStreetMap APIs; no information is sent to any third-party analytics or tracking services. The extension does not access or store login credentials, financial data, or personally identifiable information beyond the workplace address you voluntarily enter, which is saved locally using GM_setValue. The OpenStreetMap APIs are free and publicly accessible but rate-limited; calculations may be delayed during peak usage.