411 Bliss

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.

It’s not just overseas investors of course who need to be in two or more places at once - there are those simply looking at taking a holiday in a country they’ve never been to before, for example. With the massive decrease in the cost of travelling, with cheap flights and discounted cruises, the world has shrunk it would seem over the last few years, in all but geographical terms. We’re able to afford to fly half way round the world, stay in exotic locations, or even purchase property thousands of miles from where we live. The capability has shrunk the world, but there is still the physical distance at the end of the day.

It is the technology of web cams which offers an incredible solution here, for both overseas property investors and those looking to take a holiday somewhere new. Although the glossy magazines and professional websites may make the location look very appealing, being able to see, at any time, live video of that location lets you make the judgement for yourself before you commit your time and money.

Of course, for those who look out of their window, either in the cold, grey climate of home, or from an office window out across the miles of freedom, being able to click quickly through a live web cam provides an opportunity to enjoy the glorious summer sun and happy climate of either an exotic locations somewhere in the world, or the very same view that they saw when on holiday - or even the view from their own property abroad!

Of course, there’s another advantage to having these web cams, whether they’re your own, or set up by businesses or private individuals in the area, and that is that they are fantastic for publicity and advertising. If you have purchased property abroad, and you intend to let this out, one of the biggest problems you face is trying to persuade people to come, that the location is fantastic, and that they’ll love it. This is especially true if you’ve chosen somewhere less well known. Having access to a web cam allows you to direct potential customers to it to allow them to see for themselves.

Yet another advantage, if you have a property abroad, is of course the aspect of security. Having a web cam that actually overlooks your property allows you to keep an eye on it at any time, and most cameras come with the option to take video only when movement is detected. Having internal web cams allows you to shows potential customers what the property is like, and allows you to keep an eye on the place when you’re away. Obviously you would have an issue with privacy, since residents would not like the idea of you spying on them - so these would have to be removed during occupation.

It still seems incredible to me now that, as I sit here with the wind buffeting my window, the rain half heartedly smearing my view of the grey skies, my monitor is happily displaying live video from Javea, with white topped waves chasing one another gaily across the golden sands that stretch for miles, watched over by the distant mountains and an endless sky which seems to challenge my idea of blue. With live video fed to me from anywhere in the world, and virtual tours of properties across the globe, what does the future of technology hold for us, to make the next continent just that little bit closer?