During a recent all-day home showing trip my relocation client remarked that in France nearly everybody had a GPS device to find their way around. His comment must have been prompted by my u-turn and look of disgust on my countenance.
Of all places I’ve lived – and there are many – Seattle and environs have to be the most confusing when it comes to finding your way. Here, instead of names we use numbers and directions, i.e., NW, and location designations like ST, AVE, CT, LN, PL, etc. That would be all fine and good if the roads were all straight but since they are not, at every turn the roads change numbers, so 150th becomes 149th, then 148th back to 149th, and so on. Add to that the “start-and-stop-and-start-again-roads” and the different naming conventions from one municipality to the next and the study of maps becomes one of your most time-consuming habits.
To prepare myself for a home showing tour with a client my first choice is to preview the homes ahead of time. When time does not permit that, I use several map books and local maps, both printed and online. The directions that come with listings on the MLS are not always helpful, especially when they assume you have been parachuted into the neighborhood: “234th Ave SE, left to 15th Lane, second home on the right.”
New construction listings often lack directions altogether. I can’t help but suspect that this has something to do with the “keep-out buyers’ agents strategy." But I digress.
GPS research – Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
My client’s comment about GPS devices prompted me to look into buying a GPS device. I did some research on Amazon and several techy sites, but the more I looked and read the more difficult it became to make a wise decision. My first choice, based on customer reviews and price was the Garmin StreetPilot C340 but then my son recommended the device better have Bluetooth capability. After finding a newer and more expensive Garmin (StreetPilot 2820) that has this capability, the user reviews were not nearly as good (“lacks features of lower-priced models’).
I am in a bit of a hurry for any and all recommendations by fellow AR technology connoisseurs. If all fails, I could always run to the Costco member warehouse and get a Magellan GPS that they have in stock.
My client from France will be back in town this week.
© 2006, Gerhard N. Ade
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