So said the first sentence in this recent article in an Australian paper. Although as you see it looks kind of different to what we expect in a barcode, this really is a sign of the times!
Imagine seeing a real estate For Sale sign that you’re interested in, and by utilizing your cell phones built in camera, take a picture of a QR Code (like this one depicted here) on the sign. This QR (”Quick Response”) technology has been in use overseas, specifically Japan, Euro zone and the USA.
Well don’t imagine, its here, although I’m not aware of any RE companies using it in NZ yet? How does it work, I’ll let the Cairns Post explain;
Potential buyers who use Next G (e.g. Nokia N95, I iPhones, etc) phones to take photographs of the codes will be diverted to a web page with relevant information about the advertised property such as price, land size and nearby services.
I actually can’t see why it couldn’t be used in the Weekly Property magazines where it could be particularly handy for visitors or travellers to an area. Giving them the ability to do further research whence they get home. Guess it would come down to resolution clarity /readability issues in small print though.
Same could be said for Real Estate shop windows, the display cards could feature these QR codes too so that browsers can find out information after hours when the agency doors aren’t open for business.
Reported in the Cairns Post, Land in Cairns director Michael Nelson said “It’s definitely a first for Cairns.” He said Land in Cairns was not a real estate agency but a web-based firm that marketed properties.
It would appear there are creative uses being thought of for further utilization of this technology each week, twitter anyone.
PHOTO CREDIT – Read Rite Web – link here
March 06 2009 | General and Sellers and Technology | No Comments »
Upon re-reading the earlier article, I believe a bit more clarification and illustrative follow-up would assist.
By detailing this example, with the many baby boomers out there, I hope this will help “paint the picture” for the photo tips I was talking about.
Councils over the last 10-20 years have encouraged comprehensive developments and considerable in-filling of the many older generously proportioned sections.
As a consequence, there are two main non-positive aspects which crop up all the time;
- lack of an outlook view, vista or panorama, call it what you will, but it is a fact that many retired folk desire an outlook to see what’s happening in the world, or just to watch it pass by, notwithstanding security implications either.
- a serious reduction in access for sunshine or daylight due to the proximity of the neighbours fence, buildings, overhanging / extra tall heritage trees, neighbours 2 storey home, general housing density, or otherwise (at least in 2009 we now have daylight rules to prevent anything like this happening again)
Keeping this in mind, picture if you will, one of those nice modern low maintenance two-bedroom redbrick townhouses, with a small easy-care yard.
Not limited to, but the prime candidates to buy this type of property are;
A] recently retired folk looking to be closer to the city/services/amenities
B] folk with reduced mobility who used to live on a hillside or in an elevated situation, who previously didn’t have drive-on flat access into the property
C] buyers downsizing from a larger family 3/4/5+ bedroom home
D] farm, orchard or lifestyle block owners downsizing to a city based residence
E] any of the above by investing in the home as an investment property with the 5-10 year goal that this will be where they retire to down the track
A proper photographic marketing shoot for this type of property would want to assist buyers visually, offering such cues as;
1] relief from the heat of summer by showing locations around the property where buyers can visualize themselves relaxing outdoors in the shade / where they can also visualize grandchildren playing in these same zones / if the location has some great indoor / outdoor combinations, spotlight these favourably in the photos. (very important for property downsizers)
2] photos of a location in the wintertime when the suns direct rays are most wanted, & hopefully many of the surrounding trees are deciduous. These photos should also feature any outlook or vista that may not have been visible when the trees had their full summer blooms going. Photos that show an outlook from the kitchen to the hills, from the lounge for an evening sunset, from the patio across the road to the park, from a sun room out into the backyard garden, or even just across the road or at the street will do wonders to perhaps inspire enough confidence in the location to attend an Open Home. (important for property downsizers, and an outlook becomes even more important, crucial, if a couple through circumstances is reduced to just one person)
3] photos of space, without over doing the wide angle thing, …you know the photo where you see fruit in a bowl and yet the oranges and apples are shaped like an eclipse and are not round. (again important for downsizers)
4] photos of any outlook, view towards the footpath / road, the proximity of neighbouring properties/parks/reserves. (crucial for new singles and long term owners of previously large properties to assist in visibly reducing any sense of mini-claustrophobia, or at least the perception of it)
5] also taken in wintertime, photos demonstrating how much sunshine enters a room, perhaps at its peak time – around the shortest day (for all groups, any visible evidence of extra natural winter sun, light and heat)
6] even a photographers no-no, a photo direct line of sight from the sun to your home or yard (like the example shown here – just don’t look in the viewfinder when you’re taking the photo)
Hopefully that makes it clearer, if you have photography related questions, fire away.
And folks its really not that hard, just make a diary note, or a reminder on your PDA or cell phone for the shortest day, around ….21st/22nd June….to pick up the digital camera and snap off a couple dozen shots, then store them or burn to a CD. I believe it could be for you some of the best invested 10 minutes ever.
March 06 2009 | Nelson and photography | No Comments »
.jpg)
