Show Houses Test Drive RFID Chips

RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips transfer data via wireless electromagnetic fields and are useful in identifying and tracking objects such as public transit fare cards, airport baggage, verified sports memorabilia, and tollway car tags. It’s even possible that RFID chips will replace bar codes, making concepts such as checkout-less supermarkets a reality.

Beacon Park, a new-home com­munity in Irvine, Calif., opened to the pub­lic in August. The neighborhood, part of Five Point Communities’ Great Park Neigh­borhoods in Orange County, offers 15 new-home collec­tions ranging from $600,000 to $1.4 million.

More than 25,000 potential buyers came to view the 47 model homes and, in an effort to better inform potential buyers, the development’s “Find Your Happy Home” program gave each guest an orange keychain, inside which was an RFID chip synced to both their email address and a secure, unique Web portal. Scanners were set up throughout Beacon Park’s model homes, and guests could tap the keychains against them to receive digital pamphlets, which they could then view on their personal Web portal.

When guests sign into the dashboard on their computer, tablet, or mobile device, they see the information they collected at the model homes, including the number of bedrooms and baths in the home, along with floor plans, prices, and photos. Prospects can then review the information at their convenience. Great Park Neigh­borhoods frequently refreshes the Web portal to ensure that all of its information is up to date. PB