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Posts Tagged ‘buyers’

GOOGLE’S ‘PROJECT GLASS’: VIRTUAL REALITY FOR REAL ESTATE TOO?

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on April 5th, 2012

Yesterday Google unveiled Project Glass, a secret program designed to bring augmented-reality to the masses. Google’s new Android-powered glasses will allow you to check your email, update your Facebook, or even check-in to your favorite restaurant. The device creates a direct link to your smartphone, providing real-time information in a heads-up display (HUD).

It is the company’s first official venture into wearable computing. The team leading the initiative, including Babak Parviz, Steve Lee and Sebastian Thrun, are part of Google’s clandestine Google X labs, a branch of the company that focuses on futuristic tech and big picture concepts, such as space elevators, robots and driverless cars.

Is reality changing forever?  It certainly has on television where Reality TV has nothing to do with reality! Now with these glasses will it be able to have a spectacular Central Park view through the windows that in the past showcased a dark, hideous alley? Will buyers or renters be able to scan a QR code on a building and take a very real-looking-and-feeling virtual tour of an apartment without entering the building…..just by looking in their glasses?

It’s all very space-agey…..and almost unbelievable. Then again, whoever would have thought just a few years ago that millions would read all their books and newspapers on a little computer tablet? Our world is changing faster than ever, and this may signal the transfer of the computer out of our hands and onto our bodies.  A few years ago, millions did not run around staring at their telephones/PDA’s all day and night. Will these glasses do to our eyes what the headphones are doing to our ears? Will I-views become as chic as I-tunes?

Maybe Corey Hart’s “I wear my sunglasses at night” will become a huge hit again? And how chic a version will APPLE deliver?

 

DEAR SELLERS: PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE PHOTOS…..

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on May 10, 2011

I received an e-mail to-day from a broker at NESTSEEKERS showcasing a very attractive property in a strong location that was quite well priced…..the only problem is the photos would give even the most astute eye a hard time identifying that this is indeed a good apartment. The photographs were hideous!

What the announcement does say is that the owner is very open to ‘making a deal’….. Well, dear Mr. or Mrs. Seller, you had better be ready to make a deal, because your real estate looks dreadful and is probably worth less because of this lazy or incompetent exposure. In an age where first impressions are critical, where the world, especially the New York real estate world has become an extremely visual place, where buyers seeking real estate on line have a super-short attention span, this type of imagery is counter-productive to your mission, unless of course your mission is to discount your property as much as possible.

So, dear Sellers: please look at the photo’s your broker is displaying to the world: Many of these photos are truly horrendous! And no, its not just smaller agencies that are posting vile photos….culprits exist everywhere. Above is a picture I took of a listing a few years ago: the perfect example of a dreadful real estate marketing photo.

And to my fellow brokers: really, honestly, truly…..does it really take that much to hire a decent photographer? For all our sakes, buyers, sellers and fellow brokers….PLEASE post good, accurate photos. It’s not that difficult.