Geocode Data Boosts Real Estate Website Geographic Power
Geocode data can be very useful when positioning a home in terms of the neighborhood value.
The word “geocode” basically means adding geographical data, such as coordinates, onto a website so that a person can search for certain geographic features or points of interest. That data would also include the names of schools, businesses, parks and other entities combined with street addresses and zip codes.
Sounds like a lot of work. Fortunately, there are geocode data aggregation companies such as Home Junction that provide all of that functionality for brokers and agents.
All that the brokers or agents have to do is basically insert snippets of code or real estate plugins into their site structure, and a data feed will instantly load the desired geographic attributes onto the website. In essence, if you want to beef up your real estate website with mapping capabilities, you will need geocode data. That data can also be used for boundaries, land parcels, and even neighborhoods and subdivisions.
The Benefits of Geocode Data for Neighborhood Value
As brokers and agents know, neighborhoods sell homes. In a recent article on Realtor.com, “10 Secrets No One Tells You To Fetch Top Dollar Selling Your Home“, one of the secrets mentioned is “insider information.” That insider information they are referring to are all the amenities and perks of a neighborhood that might not be evident to a newcomer, such as the great coffee shop around the corner. Or the fun yoga studio up the street. The park two blocks over which just added a new dog park and is a fun place to meet people in the community. A shaded bike path through the woods.
But there are two ways to approach neighborhood value when marketing a home for sale.
Approach 1: Conversation
One way is to mention “Oh, by the way, there’s a fantastic Italian restaurant up the street and around the corner, etc. etc.” But that approach could be risky. Because as research shows, people will remember something more if they see it visually or read it than if they only hear it. Pictures have more impact.
It’s also obvious when an agent casually mentions a few amenities in a conversation; they risk the danger of not listing ALL of the attractive parts of town. That could mean the difference between an excited buyer ready to make an offer or someone who is on the fence and about to look elsewhere.
Perhaps the buyer is not interested in yoga or dog parks. But they do love the idea that the local municipal golf course is less than a mile away. That one feature could be the tipping point. Selling a neighborhood is an integral part of any real estate sales presentation.
Approach 2: Geocode Data
The other option is to go full blast by adding geocode data to your website and VISUALLY pointing out all the neighborhood amenities on a map along with the location of the property for sale. Point out restaurants, golf courses, fitness studios etc. With Home Junction’s SpatialMatch 2.0 real estate plugin, an agent can create a map showing several neighborhood amenities and their relation to any property in question.
That geocode data also includes other powerful amenities such as school data. This is something that will certainly catch the attention of any family. Part of the geocode data that is critical for schools are school attendance zones. These zones show the areas designated for enrollment in specific schools. They vary greatly. There are different school attendance zones for different grade levels such as elementary, middle and high schools. These school attendance zones can also shift, depending on changes in student populations.
Other segments interacting with geocode data are:
- Recent property sales
- Neighborhood demographics
- Crime ratings
- Cost of living indices
- And much more
Geospatial Presentation Adds to Real Estate Marketing
An agent with full geocode data capability can also use this information to show potential sellers how they are going to market their property. How their efforts won’t be just hype, but solid, detailed information about all the advantages of that property. Perhaps their property is located near a great private school. Or, the home is located just a mile from a major interstate highway. Every positive neighborhood attribute will add up in the minds of potential buyers and enter into the “Pros” box in their thinking. That can help outweigh any features that add to the “Cons” column.
As the saying goes, an image is worth a thousand words. When it comes to real estate marketing, geocode data on your website provides numerous ways to promote a particular property and the surrounding neighborhood.
