Remember when we talked about Acreage vs. Privacy?
You have a powerful tool in Google Maps that allows you to preview properties before you ever make an appointment to view them. Using Google Maps, or even Google Earth if you're feeling adventuresome, allows you to preview the area, assess the property, and locate any positive or negative features of the property.
Using my previous post as an example, I put both the addresses into Google Maps and selected the satellite image.
Here are the maps of the properties:
You can see where I'm going with this, right? It's a quick way to check out the area and lot, and in many cases you will be able to eliminate homes or consider others simply by doing this step. You can also be aware of some hidden surprises - quarries, air fields, community parks, etc. There may be things that will impact your decision (good and bad) that are not within eyesight of the home, but are readily apparent on the map.
Pretty helpful, isn't it?
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See you there!
Great post, something to think about. I might have to try that out. Happy Holidays!
I use those maps all of the time for planning canoe trips and camping areas. You can really see the lay of the land. You can preview the area before you venture out wasting time and gas! What a wonderful use for them. I never thought of how useful it would be to a home buyer or their Realtor.
Heather - I've implemented some of the wonderful tools within Google this past year. What a plethora of useful stuff they have. Brilliant business model.
Heather, you gotta love the folks who invented Google Maps! But it's still no subsititute for real previewing!
Michael - I was thinking of how my husband and I found out about a junkyard behind a treeline on a property we were thinking of bidding on. Could have saved us the 2nd showing and putting our REALTOR through a bunch of crap, only to pull out at the last minute.
Jason, Great Googly-Moogly! Goggle (as my Dad calls it, kicks butt. Have you seen the document sharing thing?
Patricia, I think this is actually a great tool to use when Buyers have very specific lot preferences (I want to be within walking distance, I want to back up to a greenbelt, I want a treed property). For agents? We still need to preview ;)
Great post, I do this too! Thought I had a great home once and then found it was next to a cemetery!