Google Maps

[Thern Newbell]

I just tried the Street view link on google maps. SUPER COOL!! I can actually get an idea what the subject property looks like before I go out to see it, which makes comparable selection easier.

 

[Bill_FL]

or, you could pick what is actually comparable to the property after you have been to it, measured it and walked through it.

 

[Lawrence R.]

or, you could pick what is actually comparable to the property after you have been to it, measured it and walked through it.

Truer words have not been spoken. I am glad this was the first response.

 

[Thern Newbell]

Don't make assumptions by a two line post that I made. I do pick my comps after I have seen the property. Always have, Always will. But I try to print several sales in a given neighborhood before I visit. Inevitably, I have to print more after I have seen the property, that is why I recently purchased a laptop so I don't have to drive all the way back to the office to get new sales when the sales that I printed before hand don't match or approximate all the attributes of the subject. All I am trying to communicate is that this is a tool that can be used in our field. When you can see the subject property before you actually visit, you can identify the design, quality, and have a general idea of the size based on any available public records. I am not condoning use of this tool to circumvent any due dilligence that is required in this job, but it is nice to have an idea what you are going to go see before you see it.

I know that so many of you guys on this forum love to pounce on someone as soon as you get the chance thinking... "See!!! I Told them!!!"

 

[Lawrence R.]

Well, if you knew me, you would know I usually pounce on the pouncers.

Bill isn't one of those, either.

Also, remember, there are a bunch of people reading your post who come here to reinforce thier already bad habits.

sometimes a criticism of a ambigously worded post is designed for you to come back and clarify, so the lurkers will realize you AREN'T one of them.

That is what happened here in this case, and now there is no ambiguity.

It isn't alsways personal, and it wasn't in this case.

 

[leelansford]

Don't make assumptions by a two line post that I made. I do pick my comps after I have seen the property. Always have, Always will. But I try to print several sales in a given neighborhood before I visit. Inevitably, I have to print more after I have seen the property, that is why I recently purchased a laptop so I don't have to drive all the way back to the office to get new sales when the sales that I printed before hand don't match or approximate all the attributes of the subject. All I am trying to communicate is that this is a tool that can be used in our field. When you can see the subject property before you actually visit, you can identify the design, quality, and have a general idea of the size based on any available public records. I am not condoning use of this tool to circumvent any due dilligence that is required in this job, but it is nice to have an idea what you are going to go see before you see it.

I know that so many of you guys on this forum love to pounce on someone as soon as you get the chance thinking... "See!!! I Told them!!!"

I agree with you. Google maps is a good tool.

 

[Thern Newbell]

I just felt like the replies were making personal assumptions about the author, but maybe I should have reworded comparable selection because in hind sight that may sound like I pick my comps before I go see the property which is not true. I do try to identify and print several potential comparables before I go see a property, with the actual selection not made until after I see the property. In our state, if there is no MLS history for the subject, the county records can be very ambiguous about the type, design or quality that the subject is. In some neighborhoods, you could have over one hundred sales within a defined market area, all of which are reasonably similar in size, but vary in design or some other characteristic. With this tool, you can actually get an idea what the property looks like. Maybe it has an unusual design, or has obvious deferred maintenance, or has nice curb appeal, etc. I don't see the point in printing out one hundred MLS listings, when only 20% of them are likely candidates for comparison. Additionally, multiple trips to the field to shoot new comparables is time consuming as well as inefficient use of fuel.

 

[TC]

Mr. Newbell posts about a good tool and a couple of Crusaders jump on him. No wonder we lose posters everyday.

I've used photos from Google twice to make a point with an underwriter. One was to show a 14 foot high barrier wall located a block away from the subject obstructing its view of a cemetery; and the other was to show the UW there were other ranch style homes on the street. It would have taken me 1/2 day to do that via car, and without compensation, I wasn't about to do it.

Just because we non-Luddites use technology to our best advantage, doesn't mean we do lousy reports.

TC

 

[Thern Newbell]

One thing that I forgot to mention. With the Street View you can see what is surrounding the property too. Maybe it's got a cell phone tower in the backyard or its surrounded by dilapidated properties. There's no way of knowing otherwise unless the owner volunteers the information. Anything that assists me in performing my job, and that is free, I am going to utilize it.

 

[Bill_FL]

I appologize for the quick response. Yes I made an assumption that I probably should not have made. Normally, I do not pounce on people. As I have talked about in other posts, I am all for technology and use it. Streets and Trips has a similar feature as well. As to the picking comps thing, I just take my laptop with me in the field. Do my searches after I have been in the property. I just have this hang up about selecting comparables before seeing the property. Again, I appologize.