Facebook Places, is there value for Realtors?

Facebook Places. What's all the hype about?

If you have been on the internet this week you know that Facebook Pages was just released, but what is it and does it offer any value to  Realtors?

Facebook places is another form of mobile marketing. 

Not sure what mobile marketing is, you will want to read our good friend Jonathan Rivera's blog series on mobile marketing.

He has been creating quite a bit of really great content around mobile marketing the past couple weeks.

Like any cool new application on the web, especially on Facebook, the buzz is all about the "privacy settings".  Though I must admit that I don't really understand the big fuss over privacy.  My opinion is …

"If you want privacy, get the HELL off
of Facebook & the Internet"

Watch the video below to see what Facebook has to say about their privacy settings for Facebook Places.

Now that you understand that there could quite possibly be a privacy concern for you to consider watch this short little video to customize your privacy setting to prevent others from checking you into a location.

Let's talk about the more relevant topic …

What value (if any) does Facebook Places offer a Realtor?

After watching each of the Facebook videos, most of the examples given are based around sharing your memories with others who visit the same location you once were. 

While these stories are all very moving and emotionally touching, most of us really want to know what the value (if any) will be for Realtors.

Here are a couple questions that I have:

• Could this be used when visiting homes for sale, open houses, etc…

Let's examine this for a moment.  Home buyers could check-in when visiting a house, either during an open house or while viewing with their agent, and see what other potential buyers had to say during their visit to that same house?

Equally, agents could check-in and offer their thoughts.  Both could be used as a very important feedback source.  For example, a listing agent and seller could discuss the comments/thoughts left by potential buyers and buyer agents who visited the house.

On the other side buyer agents and their clients could use this as a way to share feedback on homes previewed. Imagine the possibilities from a marketing standpoint …

… you see one of your buyer clients check-in at a local business that happens to be nearby a new listing that you think will be a good fit for them so you give them a call and tell them to go drive by and check it out.

• Since you can add a location, (i.e. Your New Listing / Open House), can you delete the location after you sell it?
  

I have found plenty of information that says we can add a house address and that a location can be removed if it is abusive, but nothing that clearly defines if you could add a location on a short-term basis.

What questions do you have?

Are you using Facebook places yet?  What kind of opportunities do you see Facebook places offering to Realtors?