Realtor.com launched their new iPhone application and gave a few of us the chance to play with it and tear it to pieces before the launch (maybe they didn’t quite put it that way, but it’s the way I’m approaching it).
When I first open these new apps, I always think of the intent and this one is pretty obvious. The Realtor.com iphone app iss totally and completely designed with the end consumer in mind (sorry Realtors if you thought it could be about you). It’s about providing the latest property information in the quickest, easiest and most user friendly fashion possible.
When you open the app, a home screen gives you several options, including searching for nearby homes for sale, nearby open houses or perform a new search by location or MLS ID. You can allow for the app to use your current location and it actually gives you nearby listings currently for sale (also giving you the option to narrow down your criteria). This can be really cool if you are driving in a neighborhood and just want to get property information without having to even get out of the car or make a phone call. (Bad for agents that rely on the client to actually make that call to capture their business).

You can view a map option or a list option of properties and are able to actually click on any given one and get detailed information, not only on the property, but also the listing agent and the brokerage (very similar to what you see on Realtor.com). You can scroll through photos of the listing and turn the phone to get bigger photos and you can save the property and include notes to go with it.

What’s even more fascinating is the option to contact the listing agent on the spot. You can call them by clicking on their telephone number, you can email them, visit their site and add them to your contacts. (I know I’m an over achiever, but wouldn’t it be cool if you could tweet or facebook them as well?).

My favorite feature is the “drive around and use your location” to find listings – but you can also enter an address for a particular listing and/or its surrounding competitors and even enter the MLS number.
Great move on Realtor.com to empower the consumer. Personally, an educated consumer is the best one in my book, but here’s the beef many will have…You can now say “Buh Bye” to Buyers’ Agents, with this app, listing agents will have the upper hand – this will give quick and easy information to the local consumer (not the end for those buyers agents that work with absentee and relocating clients).
Problem?
I can now see me getting bombarded by calls from people who “forget” to tell me they are working with another agent and just wanted quick info. I can also see my clients calling other agents just because their information was handy. We’ll just have to see how this extra communication tool will evolve….it could be detrimental for many.
The question of who does Realtor.com work for will inevitably come up. Many will criticize this as a tool of disintermediation, but if we are smart, we will not only know how to use this information in our favor, but we will welcome it with open arms. I do wonder if it could be possible to personalize this particular iphone app for a fee so that Realtors can offer it to their clients (of course I would try to come up with a win-win for everyone).
For now it’s time for everyone to make sure their contact information is correct on their listings, and especially Realtor.com. Listing agents will have the ability to answer inquiries on the spot, staying above the competition with customer service always at the top of the priority list.
And for the record, I’m not associated with Realtor.com, so feel free to kill it if you have the itch.
Jay Thompson
April 30, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I recently began using dsSearchAgent in Phoenix. I love it, and more importantly, so do the clients I’ve heard from. The “modules” they provide allow a lot of flexibility — embedding interactive search in blog posts/web pages, “featured listing modules”, etc.
Very responsive to customer requests. Easy to work with.
I’m working on a “blog site” right now to utilize some of the tools DS offers. It’s here (much work still to be done.)
Two thumbs up!
Daniel Rothamel, The Real Estate Zebra
April 30, 2008 at 1:27 pm
This is great stuff, Benn. I am most certainly going to check out ds Search Agent. It looks very promising. . .
Aria Schoenfelt, Austin Real Estate
April 30, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Thanks for the post, Benn!
I have also been eying RealBird’s map-based IDX because at $19/mo it sounds like a great deal, but there is still no coverage for Austin. I was disappointed when I asked for an ETA and received a quick, canned answer telling me what I already knew… that there was currently no Austin coverage and that I should request it on their site.
Set-up fees are what deter me from IDX offerings so I just may have to take Diverse Solutions up on their offer. Thanks a ton for working that out!
Kris Berg
April 30, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I’ve been using the platform for a couple of months now, and it utterly rocks. My only issue is with the chat feature, which still doesn’t quite work. Through sms, the delay is too long, rendering it virtually useless. If they can implement a desktop chat which works with your IM of choice ala plugoo.com, then I am a happy, happy girl.
Jonathan Dalton
April 30, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I received my first client feedback yesterday from someone who was using the old list of homes that I had through Killer IDX. He and his wife loved the interactive platform.
It’s a tremendous step up in technology from what was available here. I’ve made a couple of small suggestions to Robert, and I’m still hoping for more control of the modules akin to what’s available for the search pages but I’m confident that will come in time.
Benn Rosales
April 30, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Thanks everyone, and Aria, go dsSearchAgent, you’ll really love the functionality and so will our Austin home finders!
@Kris, from the CEO Diverse Solutions on the issue of chat:
So let’s cross our fingers!
Mariana
May 4, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Can I get txt when a new visitor signs up?
How would this compare to 1ParkPlace?
Jay Thompson
May 4, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Mariana – I get emails when new visitors sign in, but no text… comes to the Crackberry though, same difference..
Benn Rosales
May 5, 2008 at 7:17 am
Mariana, I tried to review 1parkplace but their site was down, I’ll have a peek later and let you know. I get mail notifications, setup correctly phone notifications are a snap.
Mariana
May 5, 2008 at 11:31 am
Thanks Guys!
Benn – Visit my site and select “Search For Homes” and play around that end a bit … If you register I promise we wont call you. 😉
Another question: Am I able to set people up on “listing drips” or do they have to do it on their own?
Doug Francis
May 3, 2009 at 11:16 am
When I started researching IDX sites a few months ago, it made me realize that my MLS (known as MRIS in Virginia) was selling me a 1999 product. Needless to say that I was a p.o.’ed!
Then they reintroduced homesdatabase.com free to consumers which made the site they sold me look even worse.
Agents need to know their options but most, especially top-producers with myself included, are asleep at the wheel paying for old technology that home buyers aren’t even using. My wake up call came when my clients kept meeting me talking about their web search using another agent’s IDX site.
As I have said before, use the technology is a compliment to your sales skills.
Atlanta Real Estate
September 3, 2009 at 11:43 pm
This is a very cool post. Sorry about being so late to the party.
Can anyone still using it comment on how it’s been since April/May.
I’m going to cehck it out. Here in Atlana, pne of the defacto IDX providers is ListingWare.
I’m not gonna trash em but the UI leaves a lot to be desired.
Thanks, RM