90 Day Challenge – Day 16 – Tools You Can Use – Meet Google Maps

Now that we understand how Google works, Google Alerts and Google Feed reader we can turn our attention to some more Google applications that can map your real estate life a bit easier.  For Today’s Challenge we will delve in to Google Maps.

Let’s start with a basic overview…

Most of us a pretty familiar with the basic mapping tools – directions, points of interest and switching between street and satellite view.  The directions in and of themselves can be a real  life saver in our business.  But Google maps are so much more than just directions!

Google maplets ( small google embedded maps) are showing up on real estate sites everywhere.  They are on every listing on ewm.com and on all of our open house blogs each week.  The maps are extremely useful to buyers who may be persuing your site to find properties.

Google has recently added “Street Views” – which is exactly what you would think – it is actual street level photography of the area.  Most of Miami has now been photographed.  Here is what it looks like…

View Larger Map

Move around on the map – that’s my house – you can roam up and down Sunset Drive to check out my neighborhood.  Pretty cool, huh?  Wondering how I did this?  Watch this video…

Later on in the challenge we will put these maps to good use.  For now your homework is to get familiar with the Google Maps application. Make some maps and walk around your neighborhood using street view.  Start here.