I am always fascinated with techie stuff, and when someone showed me that there was a Scanner app available for my Android phone, I had to explore the capabilities of this new bauble. Reading bar codes is not that exciting, but some link you to product sites and Google searches. Ever since I read some articles on QR codes a while back, I have been fascinated with the concept. I just read that the codes have been around since 1994. How can I use this stuff for real estate? Does anyone know what those strange looking picture squres are (see photo), or what the consumer can do with them? Will real estate buyers scan them for information on listed properties?
Just Google QR codes, and you will find a number of sites where you can generate them free.  The scan result can display a picture, URL, text or a combination on your phone. Seems like a great concept. My QR code could lead to a home flyer, website, promotional stuff about me or my company. But if I start using them, will anyone scan them?
I found a pretty comprehensive article about QR and real estate at about.com. The concept is pretty simple, you put one of those QR codes in the yard of a listing, in conjunction with a For Sale sign. How cool is that? It eliminates flyer boxes and gives the consumer instant detailed information about the property.
In my early experimentation, which is, so far, limited to my own HTC Hero, I found a few drawbacks to QR use for curbside real estate information:
- Inconsistent time taken to read the code – sometimes my phone will pick up the code in a couple of seconds; sometimes it takes as much as 20-30 seconds of scanning and rescanning to produce the result. Not good for busy streets or fast traffic.
- Scanner apps don’t seem to be as advanced as the technology – I thought a 12″ square QR would be readable for a reasonable distance. My scanner doesn’t zoom, so the range for the 12″ square was 5 feet away, which means it has to be placed pretty close to the curb, or I need to upsize. Gotta get bigger codes. I made a small QR code with my personal info as a novelty for a recent conference. Most who tried to scan it couldn’t for one reason or another. It worked perfectly fine with my phone. So I guess I can safely say there are definite hardware inconsistencies.
- People, at least in these parts, don’t seem to know what the QR codes are. This doesn’t bother me, as many already think I am pretty much on the fringe anyway.
So, I am going to continue to work with the QR codes until everyone gets a scanner app and starts scanning and reading them. My next step is QR codes with Easter Eggs – scan it, get the info, and get some kind of prize. I would really appreciate your comments and suggestions.
So here is a larger version of the sign above. A pretty simple message. Scan it and see what you get.
Got a buyer for this one?
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Yay!! I love it when smart people like us embrace QR Codes! Here is my take on the QR Code revolution for the real estate industry (in case you’re interested): http://www.jessicahickok.com/archives/947
Thanks Jessica. And thanks for sharing your post. We will have to do some QRing at #REBCNASH. I have been thinking about this stuff for a while. Just not sure how much customer interest there is. I guess i will link to custom landing pages so I can get some metrics. I love the concept
Yay!! I love it when smart people like us embrace QR Codes! Here is my take on the QR Code revolution for the real estate industry (in case you're interested): http://www.jessicahickok.com/archives/947
Thanks Jessica. And thanks for sharing your post. We will have to do some QRing at #REBCNASH. I have been thinking about this stuff for a while. Just not sure how much customer interest there is. I guess i will link to custom landing pages so I can get some metrics. I love the concept
I was able to post one to my facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/ExitMidSouth and snap a shot of the laptop screen and it read it without error.
I was able to post one to my facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/ExitMidSouth and snap a shot of the laptop screen and it read it without error.
Yay!! I love it when smart people like us embrace QR Codes! Here is my take on the QR Code revolution for the real estate industry (in case you're interested): http://www.jessicahickok.com/archives/947
Thanks Jessica. And thanks for sharing your post. We will have to do some QRing at #REBCNASH. I have been thinking about this stuff for a while. Just not sure how much customer interest there is. I guess i will link to custom landing pages so I can get some metrics. I love the concept
I was able to post one to my facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/ExitMidSouth and snap a shot of the laptop screen and it read it without error.
For the first time, a client just asked me to design a listing sign and property flyer with a QR Code printed on them. A few things I like about QR Codes:
1) They allow me to scan something that I can later check out on my own time.
2) Organic characteristic of the technology – ever had to re-print listing flyers because of a price change? Now an agent can put a QR code directing the consumer to a property website where they can find the price. Directing the consumer to the website for the price as opposed to printing it on the flyer allows you to change the price without re-printing flyers.
3) It demonstrates that the agent is tech-savvy. Even if you aren’t that tech savvy – QR Codes are EASY to pull off and gives the impression that you’re on your tech game (and you should be if you expect to survive in real estate).
More thoughts for practical application of QR Codes can be found on my blog: http://tinyurl.com/23nu3d7