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You May Find This Creepy, But It Had To Be Done!

By
Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

 

I'm not a stalker but technology can make me appear a little creepy.

  

I got a voice mail message from someone interested in getting an estimate for a new deck at their home. I recognized the number as a local residential number, and since I was in the office, I did a reverse search to see if the number had an address available publicly. Usually, if the number is in the phone book with an address, it is available for a reverse search. There was an address, so I Googled it, while returning the call.

 

 

When I called back, I got their recorder, so I left a message. Since I was already on Google I checked for directions because it was in a wooded area and signage is scarce in some of these places. Although it was a mountainous area, the home was on a two lane highway and Google had a Street View of that road.

 

Since Street View was available I dragged the little Google Guy to the street in front of the home. BAM, there I was looking at the home even before talking to the resident. Then the phone rang, it was the home owner returning my call.

 

So in the time it took for me to call the home owner and them to call me back (seriously not more than 2 minutes) I was able to get the address, find a route to the home, and see what the home looked like from the street. I find that a little creepy.

 

But to be honest, this isn't the first time I've used this type of thing. Google has done an incredible job of getting to many streets in many cities. Using this technology helps me to see things that may not be explained on the phone - like we have a steep driveway, the back of the house is 30 feet above the ground, or there is a gate at the street.

Part of my job is to be prepared for the project. Being ready for the first visit may be the difference between getting or missing the opportunity to do that job. I am willing to do these sorts of things even though they may seem a little creepy at first.

Please do not let my behavior stop you from calling me. Call from a blocked number, or a cell number if you find this too creepy.

Enjoy this day!

 

 

 

 

 By the way...

When looking on Google, if the streets are yellow, there is a street view.

 

CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

okay a lil creepy... LOL~ j/k I believe you will show how dedicated you will be to the job. hope it turns out for a good contract ;) that's thinking out of the box! google to the rescue!

May 18, 2011 08:22 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks Lauren.

At this rate Google will probably be going door to door doing Home Views. I may one day not have to leave my office.  :)

May 18, 2011 08:26 PM
Steven Wright
Home Real Estate - Aurora, CO
CRS - Home Real Estate - 720-989-5283

It is good to be able to see what you are walking yourself into before getting to the property.

I like the street view option in Google.

May 18, 2011 08:50 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Good Morning Tom, my opinion is that a little research goes a long way towards contractor and agent safety.  You never know what you will run into.

May 18, 2011 09:47 PM
Phil Leng
Retired - Kirkland, WA
Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Tom,

It is creepy.

It is also the world we live in.

We don't do anything with anyone we don't know without checking them out first

PHil

May 18, 2011 09:55 PM
Tracie Cope
Granville, Newark, Heath, Buckeye Lake & all of Central Ohio - Granville, OH
ReMax 360 - www.LCountyHomes.com

I have used Google similarly, I don't think it's creepy - it's just using what we have available to get a job done.

As a real estate agent, I will also search the court records before going out on a listing appointment.  I want to know if they're already in trouble or have been in trouble previously. 

May 18, 2011 10:49 PM
Jon Solomon
Owners' Ace - Tampa, FL
Owners' Ace | The Homebuilder Guru

Not creepy at all.  Now if you were able to zoom in live - that would be creepy.  No pictures of people are visible.  Look at it like the new version of the old yellow pages - backwards and with pictures.

May 18, 2011 11:28 PM
Gary Pike
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers - Powder Springs, GA

I don't think it's creepy in the professional since but from a personal privacy view it is.  I would rather not have this information out there but it is to late now so it might as well be used.  Don't forget though that some of this data that is being collected was done so by breaking laws, a total disregard for them, and that is worrisome.

May 19, 2011 01:39 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Steven - I like the feeling of being comfortable knowing what to expect before I arrive. Big Google Street View fan!

Dan - Thanks Dan for making me feel more at ease with my actions.  :)

Phil - It's comforting to level the playing field a little bit. It is the world we live in!

Tracie - Alright, compounded creepiness! Just kidding. The way I see it is, if its available why not use it.

Jon - Zooming in live - sort of a "Big Brother watching" thing. That would be creepy!

Gary - I'm not sure which laws you are talking about, and hope that I did not do so in this post.

May 19, 2011 02:03 AM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

isn't google just the best thing ever?? I think there is a lot of good, but we do need to be aware of how "accessible" we are

May 19, 2011 02:29 AM
Jeremy Wrenn
Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC
VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

Tom, even better than that around here in Wake County, NC:  the County has a website that I can look up the property owner by name or address

Even more creepy!  I use it all the time, but wonder what someone that has no scruples can do with that info!

May 19, 2011 03:13 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

I routinely use this service, especially to look at the roof type and ensure that the ladder I plan to bring will do the job. Occasionally I rack-up a longer ladder because of it.

May 19, 2011 03:18 AM
Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections
IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA
Experience the IHI Difference

Who would have believed that it would ever be this easy to research and find one another? Creepy, perhaps. Convenient, definitely.

May 19, 2011 06:23 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate
There's absolutely nothing creepy about being professional. If we have an opportunity, we always get all of the publicly available information we can access before talking to any potential client. Creepy is all about intent.
May 19, 2011 07:42 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Sheila - You are right personal information needs to be protected.

Jeremy - We used to be able to do that here in California, not any more.

Robert - It is useful, that's for sure. I found my truck on a job site while counting the number of buildings at an apartment community.

D & B - The ability to reach people today is unbelieveable. My boys are getting tired of the "I remember when the fax machine revolutionize the way we do things" story.   :)

Dick - True. Well said, but why do I feel like I'm hiding in the bushes and watching you?

May 19, 2011 03:58 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I also find it creepy. However, I do look forward to the day when I can use Google Earth and Google Street to do a complete home inspection from the comfort of my office. JJJJ

May 19, 2011 04:00 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

That would be great. And since Google is there recording everything, maybe Google can go ahead and write up that report for you. Then you can retire!

May 19, 2011 04:57 PM