QR Codes In Real Estate: Will I Be Wrong Again?

QR Codes Tallahassee Florida ImageI recently had lunch with fellow REALTOR Don Pickett, a top-producing agent with Coldwell Banker here in town. He had just returned from his franchise's annual convention and we were discussing some of the hottest topics that were presented, and one of these was "QR Codes in real estate."

I shared with Don my questionable ability to properly assess new technology and its impact on our daily lives. For example, back in 1991, a buddy of mine asked me if I had an email account and I told him "why would I want to be able to send letters to people from my computer? I hardly send them at all now!" Needless to say, I do have an email account today :).

When I first wrote about QR Codes for real estate in December, I shared some ideas on how they would be used in real estate. Of course, I am still not so certain that these "bar code" displays are anything more than a passing trend, but based upon my record, I am keeping an open mind. So today, I will share a few ideas on where you are likely to see these pop-up in the Tallahassee real estate market.

Real Estate QR Codes On The Street

Joe Manausa Real Estate Sign With QR Code ImageWhen scanned with a smart-phone, QR codes cause the phone to load data. If the data is a URL, that web page opens on the phone. With 50% of web users accessing the internet by smart-phone within the next two years, this technology is considered to be a critical method for directing traffic on the internet.

Real estate signs on homes are a great place for QR codes to provide instant information for curious home shoppers. A rider on a sign can help a passer-by gain instant information about the property.

Tweet This Article To Your Followers On Twitter ImageFor example, a rider on the sign can point to a link that shows a gallery of inside photos or a virtual tour of a property (example at left points a smart-phone to a virtual tour of a home for sale in Tallahassee).

I think sign riders will be the top use of QR codes by real estate agents, but just showing the inside of homes is not the only way that they can be utilized. For example, they can also be used to help promote the property via social networks. The rider on the sign could just as easily allow a viewer to "share" the property via Facebook or Twitter, and all the viewer has to do is scan and submit.

So keep your eyes open for QR codes used in real estate marketing, they will be popping up everywhere. Is this just a passing trend, or will QR codes dominate the real estate landscape for many years to come? Don't ask me, I'll probably get it wrong (again).

Discussion

#1 By Karmen Williams at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

The only consideration is for those that do not have smart phones and are not interested in purchasing the phones due to costs - demographics over 50 years old for instance. Some prefer phones that have larger displays and buttons and not so much technology - the bare minimum. How will we capture that business? comScore released a report on the leading mobile phone OEMS in usage (not sold) for consumers over the age of 13, and Android/iPhone were not in the top five. The biggest barrier to a smartphone is the cost of the plan.

#2 By Joe Manausa, MBA at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

and yet, I keep reading that 1/2 of the people browsing the internet within the next two years will be doing so via a smart-phone. Regardless of cost/brand, I'm hearing that we need to be prepared for the mobile viewer. Thanks Karmen.

#3 By Joe Manausa, MBA at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

Thanks Rick, time will tell but I think we're both in the same mindset on these.

#4 By Joe Manausa, MBA at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

Thanks Darrin, we usually get a rider done locally, but we'll check that out.

#5 By Joe Manausa, MBA at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

Thank you Tracy. It seems like everybody is carrying a smart phone these days, but I still don't know if our customers are really riding around looking at homes when they could be surfing online with a large monitor...

#6 By Mark at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

Don't underestimate the potential of a QR code on a real estate sign.
Have you ever noticed the flyers are always gone? My wife and I use my iPhone to look up houses when we ride bicycles. Currently we only take a picture of the sign and look it up later at home. That is so 2009!
We don't even find many of the houses. With a QR code the "flyers" are always in the tube. Just think of all the time you save and no more worrying about a neighbor taking your flyers so his home will get more traffic!

Cozyweb

#7 By Joe Manausa, MBA at 7/11/2017 3:46 AM

I think I might be too big to scan Sam :)

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