Real estate search is messed up, just look. . .

by Daniel Rothamel on January 31, 2009 · Comments

in Industry Issues, Video Posts, technology

So the folks at OnBoard Informatics are having a little contest surrounding their newly-released Lifestyle Search engine. They wanted folks to submit their visions for the future of real estate search. I made a video to illustrate what I think is wrong with the way an average real estate search is conducted, and how it might be improved going forward.

I have always said that in order to know where your headed, it helps to know where you’ve been. Clearly, where real estate search has been is in a fragmented mess. There has to be a better way. . .

  • Brillant! Our future searches of real estate may include standard virtual videos of communities, with highlights and mini-commercials as to what people do, how they do it, what the area looks like in every season, some interesting tid bits and what amenities are nearby.

    I'm ready for more, hopefully these changes come sooner than later.
  • You are so right on. I never thought of it this way. I just accepted the way it is. We do need to devise a better way. I am with you 100 percent.
  • Megan Murphy
    Great Video Daniel! Thanks for your submission to our Essay Contest. I will post all the contest entries tomorrow so be sure to tell people they can vote for you on our blog, Onblog, http://blog.onboardinformatics.com/

    Oh, and good luck! :)
  • Great video, just wish that Apple would roll out flash for my iphone... But yes, the real estate industry has so far to go before we have an effective, integrated search that gives the end user exactly what they need to make an informed home buying (or selling) decision.
  • Thanks for the mention...and perspective on how you would perform a search today. It was certainly informative and entertaining.

    Everything on your wish list is possible using our Lifestyle Listings Engine. You can search, rank, and compare communities based on schools, local amenities, crime/safety, cost of living, and demographics. You can also find specific properties within those communities using other human-centric search parameter such as commute time, standardized property features, etc...

    And this is just scratching the surface of what we're providing.

    Another big thanks for pointing out our lack of Mac compatibility. I will to work on posting an .app version.

    Cheers,

    -Ira
  • Search by address in Charlottesville... is only days away!

    Search by community... again shortly. Add your Blog to each community using Tag A Hood.

    Search by School... yep.

    You want crime data, just let me know.


    Frank Borges LL0SA
    FranklyMLS.com

    ps. Why don't you put this on youtube?
  • Daniel

    Excellent post - well articulated to demonstrate the frustrations of wonderfully rich information disparately scattered around the web - the nirvana is the aggregator that can provide the total integrated picture as you propose. These issues are common around the world.
  • Great post, Daniel
  • Really love your video posts. this is definately a project for us too this year :)
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