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Voice-activated internet, big data and chatbots are popular these days, and the stream of new gadgets empowering these concepts isn’t at all ready to be dammed.
If you’re like us and love technology, then you’ll dig this list of popular gadgets — they’ll likely have an impact on your real estate business before 2018 is through, if they haven’t already. And they make great gifts, too.
Amazon Echo
Amazon Echo
First on the list for good reason, the most popular device in the voice-activated internet (VAI) domain has already established itself in the industry.
While the jury is still out on its effectiveness as a lead generator, there’s no arguing that having your brand recommended by Alexa makes for a slick bit of marketing panache. Voiceter Pro and Agent Neo are leading the charge in this space. New Echos are going to be a popular gift this holiday season.
Ricoh Theta V
Ricoh Theta V
We’re not quite ready to call this the Matterport killer, but it can show prospects everything they’d want to see in a 3-D tour, outside of exploded floor plans.
Roughly the size of a television remote control, this 360-degree, fish-eye camera captures crazy clear 12-megapixel images and has almost three times the shutter speed of the Theta S. This will allow for sharper low light photography in your client’s basement (or any poorly lit room) and far less image noise when shooting the sunroom.
Apple AirPods
Apple AirPods
If your car isn’t yet connecting your calls, then Apple’s AirPods are the next best option for your mobile listing center.
Merely opening the case triggers the pairing process, and since it’s Apple-on-Apple, don’t expect to tap “connect” six times for them to work. Siri is accessible in two quick taps, highly useful when needing to find a potential listing or confirm an appointment time. They’re also super compact and charge while stowed in their dental floss-sized case.
Gnarbox portable backup drive and editor
Gnarbox portable backup drive and editor
This is something you don’t realize you need, but trust us — you need it. It’s almost a required tool for agents who use drones and 3-D tours to market listings.
The burly, postcard-sized Gnarbox rapidly syncs and organizes photos and video content from any camera or smart device. It also has on-board wifi to stream data. It comes with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage for images and video, and also hosts its own editing software that runs in unison with an app on your device. Connect via SD card, Micro SD card, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and a mini USB 3.0.
DJI Spark drone
DJI Spark drone
This mini drone is perfect for agents new to aerial listing photography.
DJI is the leading name in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cameras, and the Spark was made to entice new practitioners. It uses gesture control and programmed flight paths to capture up to 16 minutes of 12 megapixel footage. The DJI Spark has a built-in stabilizer and automatically creates a 10-second final edit of your flight path, ideal for quick-hit marketing on social media or listing landing pages.
What a year it’s been for real estate technology, from untold millions of cash infusions to mergers, blockchain and Bitcoin.
Real estate agents have a tradition of being early adopters in the technology space (the two make each other better, after all), so we recommend tightening your seat belt for the tech ride coming in 2018.
Have a technology product you would like to discuss? Email Craig Rowe.
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