In the last few years, we’ve seen a number of new technologies develop to help prospective buyers in their real estate transactions. From websites for realtors, to blogs (like this one!), to online listings, buyers now have a wealth of information to find out about their potential new home. If you haven’t already, you should add one more to the mix: Google Street View.
Image: Andrew Currie / Flickr
Google Street View is a service offered by Google that lets you see 360 degree views of streets in most of the populated areas of Canada, including all of the major cities. A full map of what is available is here. The Google Street View car is on the move, and more views are being offered all of the time.
The benefits are obvious: without driving around, you can get a quick idea of what your potential new property looks like. You can also get a feel for the neighbourhood, and get a quick idea of what amenities are nearby. It also takes some of the bias out of the exterior shots you sometimes get from real estate listings. For example, some exterior shots on real estate sites might try to hide the factory next door, but Google Street View easily lets you see this sort of thing. And because the photos on Google Street View are slightly old, they can give you an idea if the property has been recently fixed up.
Another benefit is when you are looking for properties that are not in your immediate neighbourhood. P.E.I. is almost entirely covered by Google Street View, and realtors there find it is helpful in showing the properties to people who are off-island. Joel Ives, a P.E.I. real estate agent says, “You’re able to look at the houses on each side, across the street, and what the full neighbourhood offers. Parks, and other things, and also the quality of housing that could be your new neighbours.”
A company in the U.S., Trulia, has gone even a step further, and has incorporated Google Street View into its web pages. Trulia is not yet available in Canada, but those looking for a U.S. home might find it helpful.
In any case, you can easily access Google Street View by typing the address you are looking for into Google Maps. When you find the place you are looking for, pull the little man off the left-hand zoom bar, and put him down at the appropriate place.
Have fun!
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
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