MRED Blog
REinventing MLS
Category Archives: eNeighborhoods
Could This Google Product Change the Way We Look at Real Estate?
It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but Google is said to be preparing the launch of “video sunglasses” by the end of this year. The glasses will have a mini camera in them and a transparent screen, so that the wearer can still see what’s in front of him or her. This could forever change the way that consumers look at real estate for rent and for sale.
The Google glasses are the concept of Co-Founder Sergey Brin, and are said to be one of his highest priority projects. Not much is being said of the glasses, because Google has kept the details of them top-secret in their ultra-secretive Silicon Valley experimental lab, known as Google Lab X, but there are rumors that they are almost ready to be launched. Here is what is being said of them.
The glasses themselves will look cool, like a pair of Oakley sunglasses. They will have a built-in camera that can record as the user is walking down the street, viewing a home, or having a conversation. They are also said to have a viewing screen built into the transparent lenses for the user to view. They will also be able to tap into other Google resources, such as Google maps, which is great for a person who is using them in unfamiliar places, such as on vacation or viewing a bunch of homes in a new neighborhood. From a real estate perspective, this could be a game changer. Can you imagine using them while looking at ten houses in a day, then downloading the footage to your computer to show your friends and family? You could get their opinion on which property they like best. This can also be great for home inspectors, who can use them on an inspection and then share the footage with the buyer to show them the potential hazards of a problem they found. Also, if only one spouse can view homes on a particular day, they can record the footage to show their partner. They can then decide on which homes they like best, if any. The glasses are said to be priced at anywhere from $250 to $600 a pair. As great as this sounds, there are concerns.
Many people worry that their conversations might be recorded without them knowing it. Google is no stranger to privacy issues, so many activists have already made this point loud and clear. Supposedly, there will be an indicator on the glasses that lets the public know when they are recording. If so, that should be able to solve that problem.
So will Google’s glasses be the next big thing? Or will they be an overpriced, awkward looking pair of glasses? Only time will tell, but what has come out so far looks very promising.
To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.
The Top 5 Tech Trends to Watch in 2012 for Real Estate

Marketing Tips for the New Year
While your Real Estate business is arguably good enough to speak for itself, and you are no doubt one of the busiest agents in your area, it’s still crucial for you to make sure you focus on your marketing strategy. We’re already one month into the New Year, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to rethink your marketing efforts.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you map out your marketing plan for the year.
- Request for Help and Delegate Tasks. No one can be everything to everyone. It’s exhausting. Develop a trusted circle of friends and colleagues with which you feel comfortable delegating tasks and asking for advice. The more assistance you gain, the better you’ll be at your job and marketing yourself. That means better business which hopefully means more success for you!
- Keep count and stay accountable.Set quantifiable goals now before the year runs away from you, and re-evaluate where you are at the end of every month in 2012.
- Are you on the right track to meet your goals?
- Are you surpassing them?
- What needs to change and what should stay the same?
If you have measurable goals, it will be easier for you to be successful.
- Stay Steady and Don’t Slow your Roll. Even if you are hitting marketing milestones left and right, don’t slow down or take time off from marketing. Keep your pace up! The minute you start to slow down you could spiral into getting too far behind, and then you won’t meet your goals.
- Do what works, don’t do what doesn’t. It may sound silly to mention this, but it’s extremely important to commit to memory.
While there may be pressure to spend loads of money on certain marketing trends, be patient and do your research first. Each year, the Real Estate Industry looks a little different than the last. With the advent of new technology and the ever-changing state of the economy, it’s important to pay attention and make smart decisions about marketing. If it doesn’t make financial sense for you to slap your face on a thousand billboards across town, don’t do that right now. Concentrate your efforts somewhere that makes sense for you both financially and vocationally.
What other marketing objectives are you tackling in 2012? Tell us below!
To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.