Do you use Google Maps for your real estate research?
I love Google Maps.
(Actually, I love most anything Google, but that’s probably beside the point.)
Google offers a cool little YouTube video tour of Google Maps that illustrates its many personal and business uses, as well as a getting-started, Google Maps User Guide that describes the basics of the online tool.
What I’m wondering is to what extent real estate agents are using Google Maps in their work. Do you use Google Maps? Have they made life easier for you and your clients?
I was just reading Joel Burslem’s article, written just slightly over a year ago, at the Future of Real Estate Marketing blog, and he’s as excited about Google Maps as I am — more so even, as he points out the real-world application of the technology, whereas I’ve just been using it primarily for personal use.
Joel reports that Google is definitely stepping into the real estate arena, beginning to populate Google Maps with real estate listings that can be searched geographically. Obviously consumers will be using this technology, especially as it becomes more and more sophisticated.
Joel Burslem already is.
When he finds a home he likes,
“the very first thing I do is click over to a new tab, Google the address and pull it up on Maps.
From there, I can get a clear view of the street layout (access to freeways etc.), the terrain (how close is it to a park). I love Street View which gives me a first person look at the neighborhood. I start Googling local business to see how far the closest pub, pizza joint, drycleaners, etc. is from the home. I can also pull up instant directions to see how long my commute might be.
Sure I could do some of this on the originating source’s site. But like with all my other Google searches, I love the speed and clean look and feel to Maps”
Pretty slick, eh? I’m thinking of the potential this has to keep real estate agents up-to-date and informed about the things their prospects care about.
So, are you using Google Maps as a help in your research?
Is it making life easier and helping you add value to your clients?
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Flickr Image by Stephen Mackenzie, under a Creative Commons license
