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Mobile Real Estate Technology - Is It Necessary?

AccessU2 claims to have the easiest 24/7 mobile real estate information access for buyers.... Is this really the way buyers will be shopping for homes now and in the future? That's what they're saying. I like that they have incorporated text and photos for cell phone users, (which pretty much includes the entire planet) but how much impact does this type of technology really have when considering buying or selling your greatest investment?

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So is this more a tool for the seller or the buyer? Is it possible this is the next "Mobile Shopping Network" via the cell phone? Or, is this just another fancy service for the consumer at your expense? I have seen many of these types of services come and go, like the 800 Number Sign Riders, and the Talking House. Remember iBeam? In a world of SMS, IM, and Twitter text messaging, maybe this one will be different. Maybe it's just too soon to tell?

The iPhone in this video tells me this must be a fairly new technology being offered out of Colorado.

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Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager on 05/27/2008 06:58 PM

Comments (53)

cell phones, real estate, technology

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53 Comments on Mobile Real Estate Technology - Is It Necessary?

MAY

2008

I think it is just a "bells and whistles" approach to seem like you are doing more for clients. Will it sell a house? Unlikely! Even if the person is in front of the house, they have an almost zero percent chance of instantly seeing it...so they'd still have the opportunity to go home and look it up on the Internet.

Wait, maybe I should add a cavet...

With today's cell phone technology, I think it is more flash. In the next few years as cell phones move to boardband data speeds as a default, I see it becoming a more valuable tool. Today, I think the only real benefit would be being an early adopter and appearing ahead of the technology curve.

just another fancy service for the consumer at your expense
just another fancy service for the consumer at your expense
just another fancy service for the consumer at your expense
just another fancy service for the consumer at your expense

Back in the days before everyone had a computer, I did have 3-4 fax machines that I gave buyers so we could get docs executed timely.

It is amazing what they have nowadays. I would guess our MLS could do the same thing. We have a moble MLS for the phones so it wouldn't take much.

No doubt we are spoiled by the modern conveniences. What will they think of next?

Brad, I think texting on signs is the next big thing. There are some companies doing it, but expensive if you carry a number of listings. But, I believe GEN X Y and beyond will do it. It would also save paper.

Brad.....isn't technology great! I wonder what will be next. Thanks for sharing this.

Brad - It is difficult keeping up with all the new stuff on the market. Only time will tell as to which ones will survive.

Hi Brad, I blogged about this a while back, and in the Bay Area there are those sellers who definitley would love buyers to be able to find their home on cell phones...right now though..I'm not so sure the ROI is there..:)

Hi, Brad: Just checking in to learn something new tonight. I'll have to wait to see where this one goes... :)

I've read about it and thought this might be the next way for us to spend money. I think it might be to bleeding edge for me.

MAY

2008

Will have to stay tuned to this. I love it, but my neck of the woods is just learning what blogging is, so I have time to jump on the bandwagon.

Jesse - these are always fun to come back to in the future and see where tools like this go, or like "Toy Story" do they ever make it out on the playground. It's always interesting to get members opinions and feedback. One of the most powerful benefits of our network. Thanks. :-)

Jesse - love that you came back and shared that second comment. Shows that you're looking ahead with technology in the future and how it might play a roll with the future techy homebuyers and sellers. We may be there aready....can't wait to see and hear more comments on this. :-))

Lenn - ya think it's just another fancy service for consumers at your expense? Are You Sure?? LOL~ :-)

BTW - what ever happened to those fax machines?? I remember when they first came out, a title officer at the local title company said there would never be a place for fax machines in the Real Estate Industry. I think he went to work for eFax... hahaha!!

Gene - if your MLS offers this as a tool, I'd be taking full advantage of that, especially if it's included in your membership dues.

John - we are spoiled, and consumers are getting as spoiled as us. What will be next? It will probably be something they expect!! :-))

Missy - I'd have to agree with you, the world is going green, next gens ae coming up quickly, cell phones are in the hands of 12 year olds and up, it just makes sense that something like this could really take off, or really crash hard. Time will tell, it always does... :-)

Pam - technology is great when it brings value either to us, or our clients and consumers. Next we'll have Virtual Holograms going over contracts over fiber optic lines. haha! Oh, they already do that you say?? :-)

Jennifer - I agree, time is either a best friend, or a worst enemy to these types of services. Thanks for sharing that. :-)

BRAD - I like it. It works like the 800# with call capture, but with pictures. The only challenge is that not all buyers are carrying the types of phones that can see the photos.

It will be interesting to see if it catches on. Probably a quick fad. Why is there a need to have this info on your phone? Will you not have it once you view the home anyway?

Laura - I can't believe I missed your post on this. I wish I would have known that, I could have just commented on yours and saved a lot of time here!! lol~ I think there are a couple schools of thought here, but just wanted to survey the network to see their feelings and get a read on this. AR is the perfect platform to get opinions eh?

Hey - still waiting for that call, looking forward to chatting with ya! :-)))

Jan - nice to see you, thanks for poppin over. This is one of those tools/services that will probably work in some areas and not others. Time will tell as it always does. Hope you had a great Holiday Weekend.

Terry - cutting edge does mean bleeding edge doesn't it? That's a good one, I'll have to add that to my "Good One's" list! I hear you and get exactly what you're saying. :-)

Susie - sounds like you have plenty of time to review and evaluate this kinda thing. I don't think you're alone in that the greater percentage of our industry nationwide has yet to discover the power of blogging and what it can dd or not do for your business. :-)

I saw Coldwell Banker is encorporating with a GPS program to show their for sale listings in the GPS system of your car.

Adam - I have a feeling that soon all phones will not only have photo capabilities, they will have GPS, MLS, open lock boxes, have Mapping, Video, Contacts, and more. Oh wait, the iPhone already does!! lol~

Bill - It may be a fad, just like the pet rock, or it may be like the fax machine, pretty soon everyone's gotta have one. I do see both sides. The potential, and like you... the why? After watching the video, it made me realize that there could be a use for this in some cases and in certain geographic areas, but to claim that they have the easiest 24/7 mobile real estate information access for buyers....well, that's what sucked me in.

Whether or not that's true, we'll just have to see. As this post gets buried over time, I have ear-marked it to review in 6 months or so to see what and where this type of product and service goes.

Jeremy - I heard there's a new product that will do that with some MLS systems too. Not sure if it was REalBird or another company, but I know it's coming. MLS and GPS, do I hear wedding bells? lol~ :-)

It is another trinket that will separate those who embrace technology from those that don't. I can see agents doing a poor job and losing the seller a ton of money, because some smart buyer's agent will come along and recognize the fact the house didn't "show" well. :)

I be there...

Hey Brad...Thanks for posting the vid and info. I have an iphone and I am ~gulp~ middle aged...but love all the techy stuff of the next generation...what are those statistics again about the age of the average buyer versus the age of the average REALTOR? This is absolutely technology that turns me on. Know your customer...use what they want and see value in...work smarter not harder :-)

Kristi is right on the money with her comment. The technology that will win is what the consumers want and use. Will this be the next big thing? I'm not sure, perhaps in 3-5years. It's always exciting to see how these things develop.

MAY

2008

Kristal - excellent point, embrace or erase!! I be there too... :-)

Kristi - I think if the consumer finds this to be of value, then we better accept it, know it, use it, and provide it. It may not be the determining factor as to if they BUY a home from us or not, but it will show that we are on the cutting edge and know the tools that they like and want to use...if that's the case. Great comment, thanks.

Matt - if this type of tool really takes off, I don't think it will take three to five years. By then, tey'll have a micro-chip that just gets beamed into your head with all the property details. lol~ Seriously, at the rate new technologies are being introduced now, this will either "Fly" or "Die" in a matter of months. IMO. :-)

You're right. It's funny that you said that, because I was going to say that pretty soon all we'll have is a bluetooth headset that will beam everything into our brain. What a sight, it will look like a culture of people who just talk to themselves in public.

MAY

2008

Its always something. I don't know what to think about it. I do believe you are right. If the consumer sees it as bonus for them, they will use it.

MAY

2008

I'd say, here comes the bride....

Matt - Too Funny! Thanks for keeping me laughing, I needed that today! :-)

Leslie - True! It's the consumer that has driven many of the Real Estate tools and services we offer. This may very well be another one of those. :-)

Jer - and they lived happily ever after... lol~ :-))

JUN

2008

This does kinda seem like a nifty tool for the right area and under the right circumstances. It may very well stand the test of time and become a useful tool for consumers in our industry.

You know it's really just a tool for the service providers to extract more $$ from it's subscribers.

JUN

2008

Georgina - lol~ That may very well be, however, if consumers want it, I think they'll get it. :-)

hey Brad, I've been using these signs (10 to be exact), and am notified when someone texts the code. In 3 months, I've had 4 or 5 messages, and 3 of those were the Sellers. Maybe it's the area where I live, where cell reception isn't consistent. I also don't think Buyers care so much about that as much as hands-on & INSIDE of the house, especially once they've made it this far, geographically... Maybe impressive for Sellers and tech tricks, but so far, it seems to be of little value.

I even heard of one company that is going to make 360 deg virtual tours available for download on a cellphone...much like a game application. Interesting idea...

Mara - that's great information and feedback. Exactly what I was looking for in this post. Sharing the ideas, the tools and the reality of their value helps others to make better educated decisions on whether or not to implement these tools and ideas into their business. Thanks for taking the time to comment, hopefully it will help others who read it. :-))

Clint - it will be interesting to see how that plays out. Not sure a 360 tour would work on many cell phones, but at the rate technology is advancing, iPhones etc. that could be where we end up in the near future. It's one thing to look back and see where we've come from, it's another to imagine where we will be in the future. Technology is the one thing for sure that will continue to "Blow Us Away!" :-)

I don't know if it's me, but it says video not available any more

I can't imagine this does anyone any good, but I'm sure there are sellers who will insist on extras like this that do NOTHING.

The video works fine, it's you! :-)) Try again, maybe it had something to do with you not being logged in.

Chris - so you're saying that it's a good thing I didn't invest my entire savings into their stock options? lol~

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