December 5th - 2004

Got a GPS?

Global positioning systems (GPS) are fast becoming a popular option in many new vehicles.

Global positioning systems (GPS) are fast becoming a popular option in many new vehicles. If you are in the market for a new car, you might want to consider this gadget as an addition to your technological tool kit. But even if a new car is not in your near future, you can always purchase a GPS unit that can be mounted on your dashboard or simply handheld. Many Personal Digital Assistants (see the article on PDA’s in last month's issue of REALTOR EDGE) also come equipped with a GPS.

Why a GPS?
REALTORS spend loads of time in their cars and a great deal of that time can be spent locating properties with or without clients along for the ride. GPS's use military satellite transmissions to help you determine exactly where you are at any given point in time, and come in a wide variety of sizes and offer a large range of functions. There are several GPS receivers on the market, ranging from just over $200 to thousands of dollars.

Research on the web
Before you buy a GPS it’s a good idea to read up on what one of these units can do for you. The key is to learn as much as possible about the various features and narrow your choice down based on your needs. The Internet is the best place to begin your GPS education as the amount of information available is vast. Once you’ve got a better idea of your needs, you’ll be ready for a trip to your local electronics store to get better acquainted with one of these units. If you are buying a new car equipped with a GPS, however, your options may be limited.

Whichever route you take, here are some of the features you may want to look for when shopping for a GPS:

  • the ability to load the addresses of several properties into some form of mapping software;
  • several options for finding destinations, including searching by address, street name, or a name stored in an address book;
  • a choice of turn-by-turn directions on screen or spoken commands;
  • a tracking feature for mileage, travel time and fuel expense; and,
  • map printing capability so when people express interest in a neighbourhood, you can print out a map–with your contact information prominently displayed–highlighting points of interest, such as schools, hospitals or churches.

You should also check that the GPS is compatible with other technology, such as your PDA or PC.

Share this item

OREA points heeded on procedures for CREA code changes Audits for money laundering compliance loom

For more information contact

Ontario Real Estate Association

Jean-Adrien Delicano

Senior Manager, Media Relations

JeanAdrienD@orea.com

416-445-9910 ext. 246

Ontario Real Estate Association
Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Instagram

The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.

OREA AI Assistant