“I don’t ever wish to consider this as a recognition contest,” Palmquist stated. “I would like it to be a approach that brokers can expertise and be launched to new expertise, whether or not that’s in further forms of writing or different ways in which we showcase one thing. I feel that by having interviews as a perform of the web site, showcasing their tech stack, that offers actual property brokers within the business a roadmap to say, ‘I’m going to comply with this, or I’m going to emulate this.’”
By combining peer evaluations with hands-on demonstrations, HomeCode Opinions presents a degree of perception that Palmquist says goes far past what marketing supplies alone can present.
HomeCode Opinions is about to go reside subsequent week, Palmquist stated.
Studying by means of expertise
A signature characteristic of the positioning is the “Decoded” badge — awarded solely to merchandise personally examined by the HomeCode group.
For the positioning’s first Decoded demonstration, Palmquist tried a pepper spray various referred to as Repulse Spray to underscore the rigor of the platform’s testing course of.
“Getting sprayed within the face with a pepper spray various was not enjoyable, however no less than I can attest that, sure, it really works and it damage like hell,” he stated. “It was vital to actually show the purpose that something that we put a Decoded badge on is a product of us truly making an attempt it out and going to the furthest excessive attainable.”
This hands-on method extends to all product classes on the platform, making certain customers can distinguish between advertising and marketing claims and precise efficiency, Palmquist added.
Advertising vs. adoption
Palmquist famous how agents uncover expertise usually differs from how firms promote it.
“I feel a variety of it’s individuals get launched by someone telling them about it,” he stated. “That might be their supervisor or another person within the business. Typically it’s by means of social media, adverts they discover or they’re at an occasion and so they see one thing. However there’s not one thing on the market that basically showcases these merchandise or helps individuals discover new options.”
HomeCode Opinions goals to bridge that hole, Palmquist stated, offering a useful resource for brokers and groups to judge instruments with out relying solely on gross sales pitches.
Tailoring tech for groups, brokers
The platform acknowledges that various kinds of actual property professionals discover expertise in numerous methods.
Giant groups and brokerages might depend on enterprise licenses and established workflows, whereas solo brokers or smaller groups usually experiment with new instruments on their very own.
The platform supplies brokers a option to analysis merchandise, learn peer evaluations and examine demos earlier than committing to a purchase order — serving to stop expensive tech errors.
Palmquist detailed among the widespread pitfalls HomeCode Opinions is aiming to assist actual property professionals keep away from, whether or not they’re on their very own or a part of a group or brokerage.
“On the brokerage degree, the toughest half is getting that adoption of a product that you just’re paying for the whole firm to make use of,” he stated. “However even with actual property brokers — on a single-agent or group degree — you join one thing and typically neglect [you] signed up for one thing. Or, you join the free trial then it begins hitting the bank card. We lose our username, and we lose our passwords.
“Hopefully, we will no less than allow you to make an informed resolution earlier than you join one thing by seeing what else is on the market within the aggressive panorama for that product class.”
Tech stack traits, pitch battle
HomeCode Opinions is launching with an evaluation of greater than 150 merchandise — with classes together with buyer relationship administration (CRMs), advertising and marketing, information and analytics, transaction administration, synthetic intelligence and operational help.
One rising pattern Palmquist has noticed is the adoption of workflow platforms like Monday.com.
“Lots of groups and even brokerages use Monday.com for almost every thing in retaining monitor of their complete operation, on a floor degree,” he stated. “It’s like sticky notes up on a whiteboard with the way it works.”
The launch of HomeCode Opinions follows the corporate’s New York HomeCode Pitch Battle, the place 15 expertise firms delivered 72-second pitches over three aggressive rounds and attendees voted for his or her favourite. RealScout got here in as the highest winner.
“Profitable the HomeCode Pitch Battle was thrilling, however what mattered most was the response within the room once we revealed AI search,” stated Andrew Flachner, CEO of RealScout, which helps convert leads by means of automated engagement instruments. “Seeing actual property professionals instantly grasp what’s attainable with a pro-grade dwelling search strengthened the hole between shopper instruments and what brokers really need. We’re grateful to the HomeCode group and honored to take dwelling the grand prize.”
Palmquist expects HomeCode Opinions to change into more and more intuitive for brokers navigating a crowded tech panorama.
“I hope to have a variety of evaluations per product from practitioners which can be using it to assist them make the fitting resolution,” he stated. “Earlier than you join one thing, you may see what’s on the market, have a look at evaluations, watch a demo after which actually do your analysis.”
