Technology has fascinated, inspired and impacted people dramatically since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th Centuries. This trend continued into the 20th Century with the technological developments in the entertainment, communications and computing sectors. Real estate, like many other business sectors has embraced developments such as the 3D virtual reality, the internet, and smartphones and tablets.
While 3D presentations have gained some traction and popularity recently, the development of 3D went in and out of favour with the public a number of times subsequent to the stereoscopic convergence patent in the 1890s. Consider some of these technological evolutions:
- Stereoscopic camera 1900;
- Dual strip projection and red/green anaglyph glasses 1922;
- Polaroid filters 1936;
- Colour stereoscopic film 1952;
- Single strip format 1960s;
- Stereovision 1970s;
- IMAX 3D and polarized glasses 1980s
- HD Video Reality Camera System 2003
Computers have been employed for decades and they have gone through a number of transformations including:
- Electro-mechanical 1938
- Electric programmable 1943
- Digital 1945
- Stored program 1949
- Digital with RAM 1955
- Minicomputer 1960
- Desktop 1968
- Microprocessor 1971
- Personal computer 1975
- Laptop 1981
- Multimedia 1992
- Smartphones and Tablets 200s
Similarly, what we now call the internet was developed through a number of iterative technological developments such as:
- Packet network systems 1960s
- APARNET 1960s and 1970s
- Computer Science Network and World Wide Web Theories 1980s
- Internet 1990s
Today we have, at a personal level, access to the new generation of communications devices, the internet, and virtual reality technologies such as 3D imaging. Increasingly, people are plugged in to their personal devices and accessing data and information through the internet and exchanging it and sharing it with others. Within the real estate sector, there are things like Virtual Realty Home Tours, Augmented Realty Tours accessed through smartphones and tablets to view 3D models and floor plans, and photos, HD video, and descriptions of homes on the internet.
Sometimes lost in the sandstorm is that technology is merely an enabler. At the end of the day, people still make the world happen. While we can see some elements of a home portrayed on the internet as accessed through our personal devices, we often do not get a real sense of the home without seeing it in person. You cannot walk into a virtual reality home tour and get a warm inviting feeling of the home but you can when you view the home in person. Think of it another way. Technology has made it easier to navigate to fishing spots, find fish and see them on displays, but it does not ensure that they will bite or that we will catch them. They are many other real world experiences that must be considered for success. Real estate is no different.
While you may be able to ask a question about a home through a website, a person at the other end must provide the answer. That person is often a real estate agent who is the sole proprietor of their business. As with any other business area, realtors have different levels of education training and experience from which to develop knowledge, expertise, and skills. With the capabilities they possess, they should be able to provide you with information and advice to help you buy and sell homes and be able to refer you to other competent professionals such as lawyers and home inspectors who are also involved in the real estate process. Knowledge of real estate law, expertise in writing contracts, and skill in negotiating are just a few of the many things that real estate professionals should possess. Some are basic, many are intermediate and some are advanced.
Aim high for peace of mind when buying or selling your home and most important investment. When you need someone with expert knowledge of and significant experience within the local homes for sale and market area, turn to Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty.
