Location, Location, Location
The famous phrase is often used to describe real estate. That “perfect” location may be is not the same for every buyer and varies based on a variety of different factors. A new site tries to help them on this mission. Optimalhomelocation.com trys to suggest the perfect home location by analyzing where you go most often including work, the gym, shopping, etc.
Users enter in the location of places they frequent (other than their current home location). The site then calculates the central home location. They are then asked to enter in the order of the places the frequent (gym, work, Starbucks, movie theater, etc) for each family/household member.
The Optimal Home Location is then suggested.
The goal of the site is to provide potential home buyers a look into what their commute will be like for each family member (go green!), neighborhood demographics and affordability, and information on local resources such as schools, libraries, Starbucks, etc.
Home buyers can print out a report with this information. The site provides interesting information for people who know exactly where they commute to and from and don’t necessarily intend to change these locations if they move.
My sense, however, is that home buyers who know where they are commuting to and don’t have any intention of changing schools, gyms already know their ideal home location.
The buyers who most need a tool to help them identify the perfect location are either new to the area or are most likely plan to change their commute patterns, making it difficult to use the tool.
It looks pretty but without more detailed neighborhood information, I don’t see it being terribly valuable. Perhaps coupled with neighborhood blog posts with slideshows and more detailed information, it could be a useful tool.
