The Art Of Being In Two Places At Once

By Stewart M. Russell

The internet has brought forth a wealth of exciting technologies and developments, but in my opinion, one of the most incredible has to be the humble web camera. Usually abbreviated to web cam, these small devices which can cost about the same as a mouse, are capable of broadcasting quite good quality images or video across the internet for anyone interested to see. We don't need to rely on photographs or the printed word to understand what a country looks like, or what it's weather is like - within a few seconds I can be looking at a live video image of almost anywhere in the world I have an interest in.

Overseas property investors have always been faced with a dilemma, even before they have chosen the country they would like to invest in. Some people will go simply for the more traditional locations, such as Spain, or places they have been to themselves personally before. This has the advantage that they know the country, and know what it is like - but what if you are considering investing in those countries that are only just beginning to be considered suitable investment locations? You can't visit them all very easily, and if you rely on glossy leaflets and websites you're left wondering whether the photo has been spruced up a little, or taken on one of the hottest and most amazing summer days they've ever had.

Overseas investors may seem to flit their attention from one country to another, from one continent to another, and the world suddenly seems a very small place indeed. Even those people who plan to go on holiday no longer seem as content with traditional resorts but instead turn their attention to little known locations that are less populated. We live in a world that is shrinking as a result of global technology, global business, cheap travel and online booking arrangements. We hardly have to leave the house to organise a trip to the other side of the world, yet there are still the miles to consider, and visiting several countries is still going to take time.

Web cams of course offer a wonderful solution here, since they are able to allow you to see a country or location for yourself, without ever having to leave your arm chair. For those looking into the idea of investing overseas, or even those looking at taking a holiday somewhere new, being able to see live footage from that place means that they can judge for themselves whether the photos in the leaflets are anything close to being representative.

There is something to be said for being able to peer through the fog and gloom of a winter at home, or through the window at work, and then with just a couple of clicks, admire the warm sun and crashing waves of the place you'd rather be. Possibly you'll be able to admire the very same view you saw on holiday yourself, or will be shortly, or it could even be the view from your very own property, if you own somewhere abroad yourself.

Web cams offer another very real advantage for those who have purchased property abroad and are planning to let it out for at least some of the time. Your customers may well be delighted with the wonderful photographs you can show them, but as with anyone, they may have doubts as to what it really is like. If you have a web cam, or access to a web cam that's based nearby, you can simply allow your potential residents to check it out, and see exactly what the place and the climate is like, at any time of the day or night.

There is a further benefit of having a web cam installed in any property you own. If the camera either overlooks your property, or is based within it so that it shows an internal view of your property, quite apart from being a major selling point for potential residents, you can keep an eye on your property whilst it is empty, and help to increase security. Most web cams allow you to take advantage of motion sensing, taking vide only when motion is detected. Obviously once the property is occupied you'd need to remove the cameras for privacy reasons.

I never cease to be amazed that whilst I can look through my window and admire dull, overcast and dreary skies, I can glance down at my computer screen and watch the tranquil blue waves roll their way across my screen onto endless miles of golden sand in Javea, with a blue sky punctured only by a solitary purple mountain peak. With virtual tours and live video from anywhere in the world, I can't even begin to image what the future may hold.

About the Author:

0 comments: