Like many industries technology is helping real estate. Video and camera technology is allowing an immersive experience so buyers and sellers can evaluate properties from their couch or office. Will this technology replace real estate agents and showings?
I believe in the value of video and 3D viewing experiences, and a review of MoveWithGary.com shows my commitment to various technologies. It’s my view these provide an augmented experience to professional pictures helping consumers extend a preview or walkthrough to hours if so desired.
That said, nothing so far replaces a home visit. Buying a home is an emotional experience for non-investors. A buyer needs to “sense” a home…feeling whether the home is “warm & welcoming,” smelling the home (is it a fresh smell?), listening for noises (road noise, or floors creaking (some worry about a squeaky floor, others consider it charm) and in general taking in the home.
Buyers know if a home is right for them once they walk-in. It’s a visceral experience…not one derived from spreadsheets or analysis. Technology has a role in the research of a home, and like a car you still need to take a “test drive” to make the final decision.