I am continually amazed at how technological advances change the way people shop for houses and condominiums. Certainly, the Internet enabled potential purchasers to browse websites at any hour of the day or night to comparison shop. Now, we have a new tool that opens more doors when it comes to zeroing in on the perfect choice of a new home. En masse, people are taking advantage of the many benefits AI, or Artificial Intelligence, offers. Never have we been able to access so much detailed information in one place with only a few keystrokes. You can ask absolutely anything, from how much you can afford to spend on a new home, to how to read a floorplan, to what market trends indicate that an up-and-coming neighbourhood is likely to skyrocket in value in the future.

Several AI platforms

There are several platforms you can use to access AI, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok. These LLMs, or Large Language Models, produce human-style text based on massive collections of data. Whether you are just getting into AI or are an avid user already, here are some important things to remember.

• Understand that AI is a tool rather than a replacement for due diligence in the way of research. It is another way to help you gather information so you can make the best decision on what will likely be one of the biggest financial purchases of your life.
• Realize that ChatGPT and other platforms are only as good as the prompts or questions you offer them. Use this formula: action, details, format and tone.
  – First, provide a good prompt that specifies up front what you would like to pursue, such as “I am looking to buy a new house or condo,” or perhaps “what professionals should I consult before I sign an Agreement of Purchase and Sale?”
  – Then drill down with details to be specific. For example, are you looking for three-bedroom condos in a particular area or maybe current incentives being offered?
  – After that, consider how you would like the information presented to you (paragraph form, bulleted list, email message, checklist).
  – Finally, include the tone you seek (for example, if you’re a lawyer, you want advanced information, but if you’re a first-time buyer, you want more basic direction).
• When it comes to adding details or parameters for your personal new home search, keep in mind matters such as location, price, builder reputation, amenities, incentives and square footages. If the response you get is not detailed enough, ask again and drill down to a deeper level. That’s one of the beauties of AI – the ability to customize your search by providing as many prompts as you want.

Critical thinking and primary research

AI is certainly a hot topic today. Know how to use it effectively, and remember that like most of the Internet, it is not perfect. Your critically thinking brain and primary research are key when it comes to making your best decision. Do your fact-checking homework before you sign on the dotted line.