The Next Generation of Mobile Real Estate Marketing – Geofencing
I love that I get to talk about technology day in and day out. And because I am always on the lookout for the next ‘latest and greatest’ tech gadget – I am constantly amazed by the ideas I see!
Recently, I received an email referencing this article on what of the hottest new topics in mobile technology in regards to real estate: geofencing.
“A Geofence is a virtual perimeter on a geographic area using a location-based service, so that when the geofencing device enters or exits the area a notification is generated. The notification can contain information about the location of the device and might be sent to a mobile telephone or an email account.”
As it stands right now, geofencing is used to notify someone when someone (like a child) leaves a geographic boundary. Some employers use it as well as a tracking device for sales territory. The auto industry has used it as well to keep track of cars in a fleet.
So how does this relate to real estate? Imagine this:
“It’s Saturday morning. Joel and Rebecca are walking their dog through a neighborhood in Austin, TX. As they walk, they chat about the movie they saw last night, what they’re going to make for dinner, and the big trip they have planned for next weekend. You wouldn’t know it by listening to their conversation, but the couple is also house hunting.
They cross Brodie Lane when Joel’s cell phone buzzes in his pocket. It’s a text message. Joel says to Rebecca, “We’ve got a match from our real estate company. It’s only four blocks away. Let’s go see what the house looks like.”
Within minutes, the couple is outside the 714 Longview Rd. home. It happens to be exactly the type of home they wanted, in the exact neighborhood they wanted to live in. They call their real estate agent to set up a viewing.” (an excerpt from the above-mentioned article)
How is this possible? By combining geofencing, mobile phones and GPS technology.
I can see a HUGE possibility for this is real estate AND for web developers. Why? Because as of right now this technology does not exist for real estate! Personally as avid smartphone user, I would love to have this feature on my phone – especially if I was house-hunting.
I remember a couple years back when my husband and I were looking to buy a home. We’d drive around neighborhoods and say “We love this area – I wonder if there any homes for sale in this neighborhood.”
How cool would it be to have a mobile feature from our real estate agent: if we were in a neighborhood we were interested in – we could instantly be notified of homes for sale. There are a tremendous amount of possibilities.
From a marketing standpoint – any brokerage or agent who was able to get this technology would have a huge advantage – especailly if they do any targeted marketing to the Gen X and Gen Y group that are accustomed to this type of technology.
People are definitely talking about geofencing – here is the latest stream from Twitter with people chatting about it!
What do you think? Is this something you think would be value when you promote your unique marketing services to a seller or buyer? Leave me a comment or feedback below!
Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News
Ed Daniels - Metrowest Boston Real Estate | Mar 24, 2010 | Reply
I find myself thinking that the concept is really cool but also that it is one of many techno fads out there.
One thing that I force myself to do is think about how that next generation operates in a home search. I think they use technology at a whole new level.
Home shopping by walking the neighborhood hoping for a text about an available home is a bit silly to me. Map based MLS searches makes much more typical.
Dean Ouellette | Mar 25, 2010 | Reply
Question I guess is how is this different than me setting up a search for someone for their neighborhoods and having an email go to them when a new house is on the market in that hood?
Link Moser | Mar 25, 2010 | Reply
I actually have been out house hunting, checking out new neighborhoods and wished my GPS could show me what homes are for sale around my current position. Even better would be a smartphone app that integrates GPS with an online map, overlayed with current homes for sale. That would be useful.
maria | Mar 26, 2010 | Reply
just thought i’d let you know that all of your archive links just redirect to the home page.
Paul McEwan | Mar 26, 2010 | Reply
We already have something like that in Vancouver Canada. It can’t narrow down and define the search but it shows you what’s for sale within a mile of your location. AND describes the listing with a pop-up or full details. AND Before you go walking in a particular area you can move the location to find the best way to walk (most listing matches). All listings. The contact info is the Realtor’s domain you used to do the search.
It’s not an app. It’s a domain you go to provided by your Realtor.
Does Geofence bring up privacy issues for anyone but me?
bill | Mar 26, 2010 | Reply
Hm, geofencing for the purposes of being notified of real estate listings raises a whole slew of privacy concerns. It is essentially a “big brother” technology variant.
And why would a customer give up this privacy? To gain what benefit? Being notified of a listing while walking into a geofenced area feels very random to me. I would like to be aware of information I am interested in, especially the kind that can cost me or save me thousands of dollars, without stumbling into it.
I think this technology may need a better “story” to be applicable to real estate without straining.
Katie Lance | Mar 26, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the feedback everyone!
Katie
Abbotsford Real estate | Mar 26, 2010 | Reply
This is a great innovative concept. It will definitely make the real estate market better because there are some people who work so much that they don’t have much time to go looking for a new home and if they are at home or outside, they could find one much faster and easier.
Tod | Mar 28, 2010 | Reply
There’a a danger here, though. Overzealous marketers could easily create a plethora of apps that do nothing but geo-spam (did I just invent that word? ) people as they walk by properties.
Tod
http://SocialMediaMarketingForRealtors.com
Allison Ables and Associates | Mar 29, 2010 | Reply
That seems a little too intrusive. Great technology- but I’m not sure too many people would go for the example.
vireal | Mar 29, 2010 | Reply
What about Smarter Agent? Isn’t it this smartphone app? It looks like to me!
I think this is a great technology and these guys have a well done product.
Trey Langford | Mar 30, 2010 | Reply
Wait till flash hits mobile phones? That will take marketing to the next level. They say in 3 months.
Trey
Fred Light | Mar 31, 2010 | Reply
Hmmm….. how is this different from apps that are already on the market, like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhTJmgFwXI0
You can search for properties on your phone… you can see what properties are for sale within a mile or two of where you’re standing….. you can see photos, descriptions, etc.
This technology is available NOW… and offers far more for a buyer than something like this, which just smells like a gimmick to me.
Katie Lance | Apr 1, 2010 | Reply
Good points everyone – this is certainly a somewhat controversial subject. As technology evolves it will be interesting to see what is developed. Thanks again for your feedback!
Katie
Marti White | Apr 26, 2010 | Reply
What is Smarter Agent? That sounds interesting to me.
Desert Mountain AZ | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Sounds pretty similar to a portal search system that we currently use in Arizona. We enter the criteria into the mls and it emails the client any new properties that meet their needs as they come on the market. Best of all..it is free to realtors.
NH Real Estate | Feb 24, 2011 | Reply
Sounds like a pretty cool technology. Obviously people would have to have the GPS on their phone “on” in order for it to work, which I think most don’t for battery preservation purposes. Either way I like the idea.