The invention is a
system for an automated house tour guide that improves the
exchange of information between a seller and a prospective buyer, where that information is normally only available through a combination of pictures and datasheets of a house, a number of public databases, an informed real estate agency, and a seller of the house. The invention merges these sources and puts them at the fingertips of the prospective buyer so that the buyer can take a self-directed tour of the house, or in the company of an agent of the buyer, or in the company of the seller. The
system is composed of a portable computerized
communication device having a graphic
user interface with a touch-screen, a speaker, and a means for loading data to the device; a
database software application that contains a script that provides information about the corresponding house; and a proximity / motion sensor. The motion sensor can be disabled, as appropriate. The portable computerized
communication device can furthermore operate wirelessly, thereby opening up access to
the Internet,
cell phones, the PSTN, contact with a real estate home office
computer network. The
system can be configured for use by the seller or an agent of the seller to provide information during an open house, or configured for use by the prospective buyer, or an agent of a buyer to conduct a tour of houses. The script, in addition to describing the house on a room-by-room basis, also typically has information on amenities, the
community, financial data, age and
environmental data, the
start time for an open house, the end time for the open house, and other information that may be of interest to the prospective buyer.