Posted by Randy (SD) on April 13, 2004 at 15:59:30:
That’s all I have to say - YOU DA MAN!
GPS for locating properties? - Posted by Richie (FL)
Posted by Richie (FL) on April 13, 2004 at 06:48:31:
I know that this may be a little off topic, but I have a heck of a time finding the foreclosures that I have to visit from the listings at the court house (I’m awful with directions). Does anyone use those GPS units to find the houses that they are visiting? If so, does anyone have a particular model or brand that they can reccommend?
Thanks…
Richie
Re: GPS for locating properties? - Posted by Qinvestor
Posted by Qinvestor on April 13, 2004 at 22:26:22:
I just traded in my ole Toyota Sienna for a Volvo XC90 and it came with the navigation but it is not as automated as your system. I have to continually punch in the addresses over and over again…however once punched in they are saved. Which is good.
But I have found that a navigation unit is very very very helpful and a life saver in some cases. Two other things I would highly recommend other investors who are constantly in the “field” are mini voice recorders, and a digital camera. I have had one too many close calls on the road when caught jotting down something and trying to drive.
- Q
Re: GPS for locating properties? - Posted by Rich Hyams
Posted by Rich Hyams on April 13, 2004 at 07:06:04:
I use the Garmin Ique 3600. Its a PDA and GPS combined. The antena flips up from the back, I have it connected to a speaker and through a USB to my laptop. Its cool, I download the foreclosure list from my service as a text file, import it into the Garmin, and it tells me where to go next.
Most of the GPS units alone need to have each address manually entered, what a hassle.
Re: GPS for locating properties? - Posted by Del-Ohio
Posted by Del-Ohio on April 13, 2004 at 15:32:03:
WOW, and I thought we were tech savy by using the gps system in the Lexus to track down all the properties on the foreclosure list.
We could save a couple hours a week not having to map out our course manually. Enough time to make an extra deal, or get there 15 minutes before the less technologically advanced competition.
This is too much fun.
Del-Ohio
YOU HAVE COOL TOY’S… - Posted by Randy (SD)
Posted by Randy (SD) on April 13, 2004 at 10:45:11:
I did a google search for Garmin Ique 3600, checked out their web site - like I said you have cool toys.
suggested retail price on their web site is $589, did you by chance find it at a better price?
Re: YOU HAVE COOL TOY’S… - Posted by Rich Hyams
Posted by Rich Hyams on April 13, 2004 at 15:45:46:
I am not that good at saving money. I bought it at Comp USA for somewhere near list price.
If you think thats cool, you should see my van, I should get sime pictures online.
A 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 conversion van, bought just to do this with. It had the raised roof, TV, VCR, DVD,and all that cool conversion van stuff. I brought it to another company that took the middle seats out, moved one closer to the middle and replaced the base with a swivel base. Put under the frame a deep cycle marine 12v battery, a 1,000 watt inverter, another solonoid to charge it from the alternator, a walnut desk with two legal size file drawers, two light and a few other niceties.
I put in an HP scanner/printer, I have a cool little business card scanner, I have a Verizon wireless internet card that surfs four or five time faster than dial up. I have the Garmin cradle on a custom mount on the dash next to my cell phone and connected with a USB cable to the laptop.
Its really set up perfectly for knocking on doors. I always go with another guy, he sits back there getting comps and other info on the next house we are going to on the way there.
Re: YOU HAVE COOL TOY’S… - Posted by Bryan (NC)
Posted by Bryan (NC) on April 13, 2004 at 14:08:55:
They’ve sold as low as $409 on ebay in the past couple weeks.
Re: Or, a rational expense… - Posted by StayingAnon
Posted by StayingAnon on April 14, 2004 at 24:18:24:
Rich,
It’s interesting that you spend significant dollars to accomplish a simple objective.
Cell phone accounts, which are fairly cheap, could give you access to a “base” person, that can provide you all the same information.
If you find it cost effective to have two people “driving”, instead of being productive, power to you.
IMHO, you are better off with one, or more, “base” people with access to real-time info, rather than have a co-pilot, who can tell you where to go.
In 3-5 years, at my best guess, your set-up, with some technical modifications, will be a “standard”. Until that time, I kind of think it’s overkill.
Re: YOU HAVE COOL TOY’S… - Posted by Qinvestor
Posted by Qinvestor on April 13, 2004 at 22:22:16:
Hey Rich I think you have carved yourself a little niche there in the office mobile section of the auto business.
Now all you have to do is take your prototype and market it to companies and other investors that need mini offices on the road. And you know what else you can do? Throw in a microwave and a mini refrigerator…you can have it all hooked up in a way when you leave the wife home…you might just not return for a while! But when you…she can be sure you’re coming home with some BIG BIG deals! LOL