Aside from real life flesh and blood human beings GOOGLE is my best friend.

I spend a lot of alone-time with Google- it’s a window I always have up on my computer screen.

In a recent post, I told you about STREET VIEW. Googles cool new 360 degree view of homes, neighborhoods, streets etc.

After a quick map lookup today, I stumbled upon “EXPLORE THIS AREA”.

Google now provides a platform for users to add their photo’s of the area, videos that relate to the search, as well as “USER MAPS”.

How Fun! Users can create various maps of the area and post directly to Google. There are maps of the Foothill Trails, parking locations for the trail systems, things and places to do things in Boise +…

Try it for yourself! Go to Googlemaps.com, type in Boise, Id (or any other city you’d like!) and look at the left hand column. Click on EXPLORE THIS AREA and play away!

Make sure to click on the pictures on the map too- we’ve got some pretty talented photographers here!

Happy Googling!

Talk soon,

I’ve always been a fan of googlemaps.com.  I was so fed up with the other map/direction website- it never got directions quite right, and I seemed to always end up in some completely off the beaten path location- nowhere near my planned destination.

And then Google offered mapping services- Most, yes I say most, of the time Google gets it right.  And they’re always adding cool new features.

First the Satellite and Terrain features, and now STREET VIEW.

WHAT IS STREET VIEW

The Street View feature enables users to view 360 degrees of static street-level images. In a Street View enabled area users are able to navigate and zoom to 16x without leaving the image window.

Now, you can enter an address (most Boise, Meridian and Eagle Idaho addresses have the Street Turn View feature- unfortunately, other areas of the Treasure Valley have yet to be taped) and then you can see the featured address (home, business- whatever), as well as click on the arrows/directionals displayed on the center of the street and “cruise” up and down the roads.  Fabulous for checking out neighborhoods, finding landmarks, looking at individual property exteriors etc.!

I absolutely love this, especially as a Realtor preparing to preview homes for my clients!  I can just type in my desired info- and presto, magico!  I’ve got a full view of the home, and the neighborhood.  I usually have a pretty good idea what folks are looking for, and this makes the search that much easier (another reason why Curb Appeal is such a biggy- ugly exterior = big no-no!).

Visit GoogleMaps Street View and check it out for yourself.  Type in your address- it’s always fun seeing your own home!  Cruise the city- maybe you’ll even find a cool new spot for dinner!

Happy googling!

Talk soon,