Hey all, Simple question - what would you say are some of the most annoying issues in the real estate search today that could be solved with a little bit of technology? I ask because I'm looking to spend the next few summer months working on some kind of technical project that would benefit real estate searchers. I just graduated undergrad having studied computer science (and recently went through... [more]
Hey all,
Simple question - what would you say are some of the most annoying issues in the real estate search today that could be solved with a little bit of technology?
I ask because I'm looking to spend the next few summer months working on some kind of technical project that would benefit real estate searchers. I just graduated undergrad having studied computer science (and recently went through the NYC apartment hunt process myself), and I want some inspiration for a side project, hopefully something like a webapp or service. I'm asking specifically for PROBLEM definitions, not product requests, since I find that knowing the context underlying a problem makes it easier for me to come up with a reasonable solution.
Good way to pitch: "I had trouble finding apartment buildings that fit my needs"
Bad way to pitch: "You should build a database with the contact info of all apartment buildings in Manhattan"
Happy to hear any thoughts from those that work in the real estate field as well!
Feel free to repeat suggestions -- if I see there's interest by more than one person, I'll be more likely to take it on
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Response by Verados
over 9 years ago
Posts: 18
Member since: Nov 2015
My biggest problem is finding real square footage. Most studios and many 1 bedroom co-ops flat out refuse to give the info out. It's so hard to compare units without accurate info.
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Response by CCL3
over 9 years ago
Posts: 430
Member since: Jul 2014
I'll give you a suggestion but I don't know that you could fix it without google's help. When I zoom into google street view from the SE links most of the views are from 2-3 years ago and it's frustrating when you are looking in a rapidly developing area of Brooklyn or Queens not to be able to see what the street looks like at the present time without having to take a subway ride out there. Another helpful feature would be perhaps, distance to nearest full service grocery store (not bodega), distance to nearest dry cleaner, etc. like they provide you for the distance to subway lines. Again, this would mostly help with up and coming areas of queens and brooklyn where there are a lot of new developments but not many conveniences in the neighborhood yet.
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Response by pier45
over 9 years ago
Posts: 379
Member since: May 2009
To build on CCL3's comment, wouldn't it be great if you can build an overlay that you put in any address and it highlights the major restaurants, bars, wine, grocery (selectable) around it with distances? Would be very helpful not only for that purpose, but when you are checking out mountain real estate or even a VRBO upstate and want to quickly see if it is in the middle of nowhere.
Cool, I didn't know about walkscore. Still have the non-updated google street view problem though.
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Response by front_porch
over 9 years ago
Posts: 5321
Member since: Mar 2008
In New York City, the underlying issue is that inventory is low, and that's been a problem for years, so there's no real reason to make search better, because there's nothing to find.
That said, maybe something about dogs and dog parks? Buildings themselves constantly change their own rules about dogs (so you can walk through the lobby of a building and see breeds that the building "states" can't come in) but I'm sure renters would want to know some general policies too -- you might be able to list generally whether a building was a dog-friendly building, especially if you crowdsource the info.
Probably worth going to Inman Connect too -- the big conference is in SF over the summer, but there's a smaller one here in New York every January, and a lot of interesting tech people and some finance people show up.
ali r.
{downtown broker}
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Response by 300_mercer
over 9 years ago
Posts: 10605
Member since: Feb 2007
Take a floor plan and measure the sq footage including some allowance for exterior walls.
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Response by multicityresident
over 9 years ago
Posts: 2441
Member since: Jan 2009
litigation history of sponsor, builder and condo board
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Response by CCL3
over 9 years ago
Posts: 430
Member since: Jul 2014
^^good one
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Response by fieldschester
over 9 years ago
Posts: 3525
Member since: Jul 2013
If neighbors are annoying.
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Response by walpurgis
over 9 years ago
Posts: 593
Member since: Feb 2009
Showing the NTGR* would be an invaluable addition.
My biggest problem is finding real square footage. Most studios and many 1 bedroom co-ops flat out refuse to give the info out. It's so hard to compare units without accurate info.
I'll give you a suggestion but I don't know that you could fix it without google's help. When I zoom into google street view from the SE links most of the views are from 2-3 years ago and it's frustrating when you are looking in a rapidly developing area of Brooklyn or Queens not to be able to see what the street looks like at the present time without having to take a subway ride out there. Another helpful feature would be perhaps, distance to nearest full service grocery store (not bodega), distance to nearest dry cleaner, etc. like they provide you for the distance to subway lines. Again, this would mostly help with up and coming areas of queens and brooklyn where there are a lot of new developments but not many conveniences in the neighborhood yet.
To build on CCL3's comment, wouldn't it be great if you can build an overlay that you put in any address and it highlights the major restaurants, bars, wine, grocery (selectable) around it with distances? Would be very helpful not only for that purpose, but when you are checking out mountain real estate or even a VRBO upstate and want to quickly see if it is in the middle of nowhere.
That should have read a "google maps overlay"
Isn't that WalkScore?
https://www.walkscore.com/
Cool, I didn't know about walkscore. Still have the non-updated google street view problem though.
In New York City, the underlying issue is that inventory is low, and that's been a problem for years, so there's no real reason to make search better, because there's nothing to find.
That said, maybe something about dogs and dog parks? Buildings themselves constantly change their own rules about dogs (so you can walk through the lobby of a building and see breeds that the building "states" can't come in) but I'm sure renters would want to know some general policies too -- you might be able to list generally whether a building was a dog-friendly building, especially if you crowdsource the info.
Probably worth going to Inman Connect too -- the big conference is in SF over the summer, but there's a smaller one here in New York every January, and a lot of interesting tech people and some finance people show up.
ali r.
{downtown broker}
Take a floor plan and measure the sq footage including some allowance for exterior walls.
litigation history of sponsor, builder and condo board
^^good one
If neighbors are annoying.
Showing the NTGR* would be an invaluable addition.
* Native to Gentrpr*ck Ratio