As far as the listings go we update our system every 30 mins in Portland and every hour in the other markets through the MLS to make sure the clients have up-to-date information on properties. If you drive by a place and its not on HomeQuest there is a chance that no one submitted it to the MLS. If no one submits the property to the MLS then it will never show up anywhere on any real estate software program and most likely end up on the newspaper or maybe craigslist. If its in RMLS then HomeQuest will have it as well.

To follow up on Rons post, our system is truly one of a kind. We hire geo-coders that sit behind a computers all day, everyday of the week and place properties by using the address and then longitude and latitude. Its a very complex position and occasionally they make mistakes but we try fix those issues ASAP.

If anyone has any feedback or any issues please feel free to contact me at anytime. The only way HomeQuest has gotten to where it is now is by listening to agents and making those changes they require. Have a great day and keep the good posts coming.

Chris Brake

What I usually find with missing HomeQuest listings is that they aren’t geocoding (mapping) correctly, and therefore aren’t showing in the correct neighborhoods. If I find some mis-mapped listings, I let them know and they place it manually. New construction falls into this category frequently.

Other than that, the feed HomeQuest receives is a full MLS data set as far as I know.

A question for you on HomeQuest. I have used that service just to keep an eye on the neighborhood and it seems that not every listing is picked up. Sometimes I’ll see a house with a sign in front (and with a major realtor brand on it) but not in HomeQuest. Do you know why that is?

In contrast, most of the recent search innovations are written outside of the industry, by companies seeking revenue through subscriptions, ad placements, pay-per-click, or referral fees.

Larger agencies, like JLScott, Windermere, and Prudential, have been developing their own search sites (with maps, polygon search, etc.) to upgrade the home search experience for their users, thereby funneling opportunities back to their franchisees as part of their desk fee. So, whether new search methods are broker-based or VC-infused start-ups, everyone’s got their hand out.

That said, as a techie, I enjoy seeing new innovations in search design, user interface, and mashups of various data. Working as an independent in a much smaller agency, I have to invest in other solutions that bring value to my clients during their home search (or sale) process.

The third-party concepts like automated valuations (Zillow) or enhanced MLS search (Roost & Estately & my favorite, HomeQuest), bring self-service options and fresh ideas to the table, but perhaps threaten traditional brokers who have been guardians of real estate knowledge until recently.

Yet, I view that for uninitiated or infrequent real estate participants, these services often leave gaps (advice, experience, and fiduciary duty) that only a local broker can efficiently fill.

As for May numbers, I’m waiting until the 5th, when most of the closed sales should be entered. (Over 200 sales have been added since I looked on Friday.) One hint, though…closed sales will probably follow the trends of the past few months — down ~35-40%.

Any news on the May numbers – I know Jeff said he saw increased traffic – wondering if it translated into a bump in closed sales ?

Not having talked specifically with Galen about this, my guess is that Portland is a complementary market to Seattle, and a scalable MLS to add to their platform…in other words, a good test before taking on a behemoth market.

I wish there was more innovation emanating from Portland. Other than the crew at HomeQuest, I’m hard-pressed to think of any serious RE technology development.