Posted by Michelle/AL on 1/5/07 3:38pm
Msg #169451

Do You Know Where Your House is located?

I'm surprised by how many times I've run into situations when the Borrower is unable to give me directions to their home. I normally use MapQuest, Yahoo, etc. for my driving directions but when the Borrower offers to give me directions and sounds as if he/she knows what they're talking about, I tend to go with the directions they give me. After last night, I'll stop doing that. I usually ask for landmarks like stores, gas stations, church, etc. I'm amazed when I'm told "No...there's nothing around here like that (i.e., store, gas station)". But when I get to their home there it is, a "Dollar Store"; "Exxon" - clear as day. There was a time when I felt that men were better at giving directions than women - not any more. The women will usually admit that they haven't clue about giving me directions. Strange - but I can accept that. On the other hand, the men talk a good talk and sound very authoritative. I trust them and...wham! I'm lost. I could go on and on with specific examples but I'd bore myself before I bore you. Just promise me something. If you ever invite me over to your home for dinner, make sure you know where your house is located. Okay?

Reply by LawrenceOK on 1/5/07 3:59pm
Msg #169454

Sorry but you can't get here from there. If you don't believe me, I give real good directions.

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 1/5/07 4:06pm
Msg #169455

It's time for you to get a GPS. n/m

Reply by Michelle/AL on 1/5/07 4:23pm
Msg #169459

Jersey Boy

I have a serious question. (Meaning I'm not trying to be a wise guy.) How often is GPS updated? There's a lot of building going on in my neck of the woods so I'd hate to sign up for something that is based on a year-old database. I thought about GPS but it better be accurate 99.99% of the time or I'm throwing it out the window.

Reply by Gary_CA on 1/6/07 11:34pm
Msg #169726

GPS Updates

Garmin issues them every year to 18 months or so... that doesn't sound real frequent, but I use mine extensively and it definitely beats 99% accuracy.

Better than Mapquest by far.

If a street is newer than the last maps it just doesn't find it... then you know to do some more digging, but it rarely actually sends you the wrong direction.

Roads closed due to slides or whatever will fool it now and then, but you usually know about them.


I do property valuations as well as signings... go out take a picture of a house... about 10 a week or so. I just would not do that business without GPS.

Try it, you'll like it.

Reply by PJM/MI on 1/5/07 4:07pm
Msg #169456

LOL! I've had this problem on more than one occasion, and it is FRUSTRATING! I could tell horror story after horror story about bad directions. I really want/need a Tom-Tom as Borrower-Borrower is a big failure.
And how 'bout this.. turn at the big oak tree. (I don't know an oak from a maple).
Or "I live a little distance off the road". More like a cow path..thank goodness I have a truck, because the last "we like our privacy" borrower's drive would have sunk a car in the ruts or torn the bottom off.
Ah.. the joys of a signing agent!

Reply by Michelle/AL on 1/5/07 4:26pm
Msg #169460

Thanks for the empathy

I know not everyone has a compass inside of their head. A lot of folk still struggle with "head north on River Road". But I think everyone should know whether there's a WalMart in the neighborhood. Hmmm...think I ought to tack on an extra fee for getting lost? (I'm kidding!)

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 1/5/07 4:46pm
Msg #169464

MICHELLE/AL

I've had my GPS (Garmin StreetPilot) a little over a year now.

I've only had it give me a problem twice. Once because the street name was spelled wrong on the confirmation (mapquest wouldn't find the mispelled address either).

The other time was because the house was 2 months old. The GPS could find the street but not the house.

I LOVE MY GPS.

A few months ago my wife went away on a little road trip and I had her take the GPS with her. I had one signing while she was away and mapquested the directions to the borrowers house.... it was that day that I remembered how much I hate looking at printed directions.

GET THE GPS darlin'.... you won't be disappointed.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 1/5/07 5:06pm
Msg #169469

As the really cool dudes say: "Aiiight, Jersey Boi!" n/m

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 1/5/07 5:15pm
Msg #169470

I love directions where they say, turn where Farmer Jones' barn was before it burnt down last year; you can't miss it, we have a lot of cars in the yard; it's the only gray house on the block (for a Dec. 8 p.m. signing); etc. Got tired of all that and purchased an early Christmas gift for myself - a cell phone with built in navigation! Advantages: easy to use, decent size screen (although not as big as a regular GPS), cell phone contract was up for renewal so I upgraded for about $100 including car charger - Verizon LG 9900) Disadvantages: To make an outgoing call you have to close out of navigator, but it is fairly easy to go back in and go to recent searches and it picks you up where you are. Second disadvantage is you can answer incoming phone calls without closing out, however if you have a turn coming up, pull off the road to talk or else tell caller you'll call them back because it can't give you directions while you're talking on the phone. Still and all, better than shelling out $100's of dollars for a GPS when I also need a hard wired inverter to complete my transition to fully mobile!

Also asked for and received a high intensity, rechargeable hand held spot light for those dark country roads or people who do not light up their house numbers. You don't have to be in this business long and you develope a real admiration for the emergency services workers. Makes you wonder how many people have died because paramedics couldn't find the house easily.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 1/5/07 5:16pm
Msg #169471

PS

I also print out Yahoo maps as a back up (kind of like wearing a belt and suspenders).

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/5/07 11:19pm
Msg #169552

Had one tonite at 7:30 - "you'll come to a sharp left...then there'll be a lil ole gas station and a lil ole store....keep going - you'll see a big building used to be a nursing home"...!!! Believe it or not we found it..<G>

Reply by MikeC/NY on 1/5/07 5:35pm
Msg #169474

Jersey_Boy is right - a GPS will solve your problems, at least 99% of the time. I can only speak about the Garmin units, but they do provide updated mapping software (for a fee) on an irregular schedule - maybe once a year. IMO, it's only necessary to update the mapping if you're in an area where there are a lot of new homes going up and you start to get a lot of no-finds.

I've had one street that my Street Pilot couldn't find - the house was built 2 or 3 months ago, and the mapping software on my unit is from August 2006. The flip side is that I've found the Street Pilot to be more accurate than Google or Mapquest. I had an assignment two months ago, got directions from Google Maps, and ended up totally lost. When I got my Street Pilot, I tried the same address and the routing was dead on.

And the biggest benefit - no more wandering around on night assignments, squinting at street signs and trying to see house numbers in the dark. The nice lady in the little box tells me when I have arrived at the house, and even tells me which side of the street it's on.

Reply by SharonMN on 1/5/07 5:55pm
Msg #169481

I once delivered a desk to a lady who lived in a city neighborhood and couldn't tell me how to get to her house from ANY of the major roads nearby. Had no idea. Weird. Maybe she takes the bus a lot, but you'd think she'd have an idea....

Reply by Michelle/AL on 1/5/07 5:57pm
Msg #169483

My sentiments EXACTLY! Thank you, Sharon. n/m

Reply by Stamper_WI on 1/5/07 7:12pm
Msg #169490

Today mapquest sent me the "quickest" route. Looked good on paper! The last mile or so was muddy gravel road to the paved road he lived on. His way back was much faster and cleaner!

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 1/5/07 10:09pm
Msg #169525

About GPS and a suggestion

The area I work in is growing so fast, mapquest, yahoo and the GPS map software from the various manufacturers websites are 18 - 24 months behind. However, frequently, I can go to my county website, enter the address and download a PLAT map that will give me a good idea of where it is at. Frequently the persons who live in these new areas are transplants from elsewhere and they don't have a clue where they are.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 1/5/07 11:17pm
Msg #169549

And whatever you do

Don't ask an amish for directions unless you already know where everyone, by name, that lives in that area.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 1/6/07 9:13am
Msg #169590

An eternal blessing of gas stations and coffee shops ...

... that have LOCAL people working there that are willing to give sensible directions!

Last week in the late evening I was treating myself to a donut and coffee after a nightmare signing. A truck driver came in with an address for a construction site in a residential neighborhood. He didn't want to wander around with his 18-wheeler carrying structural steel. It was a simple matter for me to say "Follow me" and lead him through an easy path.

I've been very grateful to dozens of strangers who've done that for me.