The software specification shown hear harkens back to this weblog post in reaction to The Future of Real Estate Marketing‘s remarks on ShackYack.com, a particulary robust real estate seach tool using a Google Maps mash-up for its interface. Cathy and I designed this as a futher elaboration on the ShackYack.com model. Given that maps are now free (shudder!), there’s is no reason to hoard this design, and every good reason to throw it out to the world in the hopes that someone will implement these ideas.
PROBLEM: MLS search systems (at least ours) are inadequate. The programmers aim for easy-to-use interfaces with no SQL-like access to the data.
PROBLEM: End-user search systems (like IDX) are inadequate, too dumbed down and unsatisfying.
PROBLEM: Neither sort of search is comprehensive; only MLS listings are shown.
PROBLEM: Either sort of search leaves too many unanswered questions.
OPPORTUNITY: A search system like ShackYack.com is very satisfying, even if it is still inadequate and limited.
SOLUTION: Mash it all even more: A ShackYack-like interface to a high-octane search engine (extensible on the fly so as not to be too daunting) of both MLS and XML-fed or user-entered FSBO listings, with on-line shopping-like features, side-by-side comparison features, user selection and exclusion, and, finally Zillowish comping of the short list against active and sold listings — all of this still and always reflected on the ShackYack-like interface.
I. Search. Full SQL/RDBMS, reflected in the user-interface.
II. Database. Full local MLS plus any acquirable XML feeds of FSBOs, with a form for do-it-yourself one-off FSBOs. ShackYack is using shades of gray to reflect relative price, but it would make more sense to me to use separate colors and shades of those colors to reflect types and relationships of listings.
III. Search interface. Basic search always visible, with pop-outs to add or remove more robust types of search categories. If some MLS data is limited to members, as it is now, certain search categories would be available only to logged-in MLS members. The trouble with a ShackYack-like search is that too many pertinent criteria are missing. It’s fun to play with, but for a true home search, you’d be better off with an uglier but more feature-rich IDX system. The goal of this search interface should be to be better than ShackYack, better than current IDX systems for non-Realtors, and better than current MLS systems for Realtors. This is all doable, not even difficult. All users should be offered two types of searches: Exact match, like current MLS and IDX systems, and weighted search, like Realtor.com. If the user selects a weighted search, he should be able to prioritize the search criteria he is using to establish the weighting. All searches should be savable, and the system should tickle the user by email when new matches come on-line.
IV. Map interface. Like ShackYack but even richer in one-glance information, as above. For MLS listings, I like showing Active, Under Contract, Pending and Temporarily Off Market listings — in other words, everything currently being marketed. For those categories, we could use shades of green, yellow, red and brown. Users would be advised in most cases to search active/green listings only, but the others would be there for more comprehensive searches and for comping. For FSBO listings, houses could be shown in blue if there is buyer broker participation, orange if there is none. In all cases, in all colors, if weighted searching is used, show the weighting in shades of the appropriate color, dark is a closer match, light is less so. This is a one-glance information system. Rollover on a particular house for a summary of details. Click on the house for more details. This should be explodable to as much information as can be made available to that user. We have the whole database; other than licensing restrictions, there is no reason to ration it.
V. User selectability. We are now at the point of an on-line shopping system. Users should be able to select homes they like, then remove everything unselected. We’re down to a short list of candidates.
VI. Side-by-side comparison. If the homes were selected by a weighted search, the user can see the trade-offs. Every list category should be clickable as the sort key, so homes can be resequenced on the fly.
VII. Comping. Here we mash in the Zillow.com idea, but better: Comp from recent sales but also from active, under contract and pending listings, plus sold and active FSBOs. This can all be shown on a map as well — location, location, location. Arguably this function should be Realtor-only, since end-users don’t understand comping versus pricing versus appraising and since, at this point, the only useful comparisons will be made on the ground: With respect to the comps, is this home upgraded, over-improved, dys-improved or trashed? In any case, the Realtor will arrive at the house with the best possible preparation, all generated by the search tool.
This system requires a full MLS data feed wherever it runs (which implies local broker participation). In the long run, the system can become a national aggregator of home listings, and that can be marketed as an advertising-supported product.
This could really rock. This is much better than a clone of ShackYack.com.
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