Coastal Real Estate and Lifestyles

I’m just switching automatic email listing alert vendors to ad more search features and incorporate Google Maps.  Sitting here next to a warm fire in the fireplace, my Christmas tree lights twinkling, both adding more light to the room already aglow from my large computer screen, I’m testing, testing…and oops, an inaccuracy from a Google Map!

My husband chimes in, “I really like this house…”.  I check it out…I am familiar with it and share what I know.  I’ve met this very nice Agent, Genella, as we networked with each other while I worked on another listing in the same area last year.  As I’m talking about it and commenting on its location, he says, “No, it’s on the west side.”  Looking back to the screen to the Google Map and, sure enough, the pointer says it’s west of Highway 1.  The listing is actually on the east side of Highway 1.  This is not good.  I expect accuracy from the tools upon which my clients and visitors rely.

Picture this scenario:  You’re searching online - over 90% of us in the Bay Area do - and you think this house is worth a trip to Half Moon Bay, or to a nearby neighborhood, to visit.  If you’ve already decided that you want to be on the east side, you may quickly move to the next house on your screen because of location.  Because….Google Maps are always correct, aren’t they?

As data becomes more and more available, it’s natural to assume accuracy.  It isn’t always so.  You still need to do your homework - beyond the internet - and have a resource on the ground who does the same.  The inaccuracy may be from Google, but it also may be from any one of the technology providers involved that come together to make this product available to us for its intended purpose:  search real estate listings online.  Our role as real estate professionals does not allow us to assume as accurate everything that our tools deliver to us.