SALT LAKE CITY -- You've probably seen them at the store or in a magazine -- the printed black boxes you can scan with your smartphone to get more information on a product or to find out more about a certain story. Now realtors are trying to cash in on the boxes' quick response codes.
Salt Lake Board of Realtors President Deanna Dipo is starting to use them on signs and fliers. She said one click can provide a lot of information to smartphone users.
"It will automatically populate the information of that home: pictures, detailed information about the home, the price. It's just a wonderful tool," she said.
Dipo says so far she has had a great response and she believes she knows why.
"People can get the information and no one is hounding them or calling them," she said.
But not everyone has a smartphone and not everyone knows about the codes. Also, it could cost agents more on the front end since someone has to set up the code. Dipo has hired an independent company that takes pictures of listed homes and creates the QR code.
Dipo said it seems like more people are moving to buy smart phones or tablet computers, so she expects agents to catch on, too.
"We're always trying to stay on the cutting edge and trying to give consumers the best service possible. And that's what it is. It's just another service or feature that we can offer." she said.
What is ... QR Code?•"Quick response" code
•Two-dimensional barcode
•Often used for adding web links or additional information to a printed page
•Meant to be scanned by mobile phone camera
•Information encoded may be text, URL, or other data
