@seangotcher ♬ San Tropez – Illect Recordings
Caught this video on TikTok the other day. Worth the watch. And he’s kidding….right?
Pro Tip: For those of you getting these posts via email, you may have to click through to the site to view the video.
I have a few stickers left….
This meme has been going around. The comments on this Instagram thread are hilarious.
By 2009, mobile users could do a lot with smartphone apps—get directions, listen to music, take pictures, play games, even film a video. Aaron Kardell thought that you ought to be able to add ‘look for a house’ to the growing list of applications, and he founded HomeSpotter with the intention of doing just that.
Aaron grew up in rural Nebraska in a family of entrepreneurs. He started writing software programs in high school, and went on to earn a BS in computer science at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He originated several businesses, including Altona Ed, an ed tech student information system that was acquired by Pearson School Systems in 2004.
Aaron’s first experience with location-based iPhone applications came along in 2009 when he created iGarageSale. Very shortly thereafter, a broker contacted Aaron about building an app to complement the firm’s successful lead generating website. Aaron retained intellectual property rights, and Mobile Realty Apps was born. The company rebranded as HomeSpotter in 2015, and today they have offerings for MLSs, brokers and agents. On this episode, Aaron joins Greg live from CMLS in Austin to discuss HomeSpotter’s business model, the latest capabilities around mobile listing input, and HomeSpotter’s recent launch of Boost, an automated digital marketing system with trackable ROI.
What’s Discussed:
Aaron’s entrepreneurial family
How Aaron developed an interest in writing software programs
The genesis of HomeSpotter
– Created iGarageSale app
– Realtor asked to build app as consultant
– Retained intellectual property rights
The tactical mistakes HomeSpotter made early on
Why Aaron chose to take the native mobile route
How Aaron built a business in the 99¢ app store world
– Relied on SaaS model
– White label broker offering
HomeSpotter’s service offerings
– White label platform for brokers
– MLS member access on-the-go
– Boost (automated digital marketing with trackable ROI)
How high agent adoption in MLS markets led to the introduction of additional products
The new capabilities around mobile listing input
– Ability to edit listings (corrections, status changes)
– Update photo support capabilities
How Aaron funded HomeSpotter
– Personal capital sustained first three years
– Angel investors in Minneapolis/St. Paul
The particulars of HomeSpotter’s newest offering, Boost
– Automated system
– For agents, teams, brokers
– Creates Facebook/Instagram ads for each new listing
– Targets prospective buyers and seller
– Helps average agent be more effective with marketing
Greg’s hesitance to get into the ‘advertising business’
Why agents are willing to spend more for advertising than tools
The scalability of an app like Boost
How HomeSpotter is upselling current subscribers to try Boost
– Partnering with brokers, franchises, MLSs
– Email agent when listing added
– Brokers pay for initial week in some cases
How Aaron’s team generates ideas for new products
Cloud CMA’s deal with Tom Ferry
The pros and cons of a pay-per-listing pricing model
The difference between HomeSpotter’s free and premium versions for MLS
Resources:
Cloud CMA’s Listing Presentation Kit by Tom Ferry
Zillow’s Report on Trends in Residential Relocation
Connect with Aaron Kardell:
This is the ad on the back of the latest edition of REALTOR Magazine.
Priceless
Kudos to N.A.R. for this great product placement in Modern Family. So good!
More on this at ADWEEK
The National Association of Realtors Finds Its Perfect Pitchman in Modern Family Dad The integration explains the need for a real estate agent.
“We have done only a handful of integrations because they tend to be intrusive and frankly make the show look like it’s selling out,” Christopher Lloyd, co-executive producer of Modern Family, told Adweek. “This was actually one of the easier ones we’ve done, since it lent itself to a joke. Phil is bemoaning his career choice as a Realtor, and it’s his Realtor skills that ultimately save the day.”
Lloyd said he wouldn’t have approved the concept, “if it seemed like we were just wedging in a pro-Realtor’s Association testimonial. We only agreed to do it when we thought of a way to actually use the distinction between what a (NAR-certified) Realtor is and what a real-estate agent is in a funny way.”
This is getting crazy even by South Florida MLS politics standards. The first thing you want to do is read Andrea Brambila’s article on Inman News:
“RAPB has decided to no longer share listing data with MIAMI, cutting off their collective 51,000 members from each other’s listing information. Both Hall and Kinney declined to comment on that decision at this time, saying they would be distributing press releases about it in the near future.
MIAMI and JTHS have been sharing data for years and will continue to do so, Kinney said. JTHS will keep its own MLS system after the merger “for as long as they want,” she said.
“One of the things you don’t want to do with members is mess with their MLS,” she added.”
I’ll say.
Now it appears Beaches MLS asked for and got a temporary restraining order. I’m not clear on how far the order goes but this doesn’t look to be resolved any time soon.
Seems they have proof that and seeking to find more that Miami AOR have gained “unauthorized access” to Beaches MLS listing data.
You can’t make this shit up.
And if you haven’t had your fill of crazy South Florida MLS stories, here’s another whopper.
It’s got MLS manipulation, extortion, police arresting (and that person resisting) at a penthouse and two real estate agents named Jill. Enjoy.
Still one of my favorites.
via Tessa Hultz (who else?)
An open letter to anyone wanting to get their real estate license
The trials and tribulations of starting a career as an agent
Greg Nino, REALTOR Houston Texas
“Several times a year I am approached by people who want to become a Realtor. Many of them think it’s a great way to supplement their income while they keep their day job. A lot of others are interested in a career change. I decided to type this blog post to save myself time. Each time I’m asked I’ll simply send the inquiring person a link back to this post”
My favorite is #3.
