PropTech, turf-war for Realtors, or welcomed change?

Randy Gilbert, J.D.

Chief Happiness Officer

Florida’s Title Insurance Company

(954) 500-Title (8485)

PropTech, refers to technology in real estate. It focuses on ways to optimize the way people research, rent, buy, sell, and manage property. PropTech already sought to disrupt the real estate industry but COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders just catapulted it into the fast tracked. Here are some PropTechs worthy of your attention that are going to be market disrupters, useful tools, or game changers that will help real estate professionals adapt, evolve, fail, be inspired, or make strategic partnerships in a virtual cyber gang-war over real estate turfs:

Cupix, EasyPano, EyeSpy360, Matterport, RicohTours, Zillow3DHomeTour, 360 degree cameras for virtual tours. Some turn a space into accurate and immersive digital doll houses giving the real feel of being right inside the property. Matterport allows you to click and drag to accurately take measurements for furniture placement.

Aiva, MarketLeader, ReferralExchange, BoomTown, Verse/Agentology, Real estate lead generation. Verse even calls, makes the appointment, and calendars like a personal secretary.

ApartmentList, Bungalow, NestPick. Residential rental listings, find a roommate.

Co-Buy. Buy a home with one or more friends, family, or lovers. Handles joint financing, if co-owner wants to leave but the other doesn’t, or if one goes bankrupt.

CompStak. Provides nationwide lease and sales comps.

Cozy. Tenant screening.

CrowdStreet, RealCrowd. Investment opportunities for various real estate projects.

Divvy. Locates rent-to-purchase homes. Good for those worried about being corporately relocated.

DoorStead, OneRent. Property management, and pays guaranteed amount if property remains vacant.

EasyKnock, LeaseBack. Sell house, get needed money, and lease it right back.

FastCustomer. Free App. Instead of waiting on hold, App has company call you back.

Flip, finds replacement tenant, proposes qualified subtenant to landlord, and provides paperwork.

Flyhomes. Makes every buyer offer more attractive as a cash-offer.

FTIC that’s us, national award winning title insurance company authorized to conduct Florida closings 100% virtually and has trademarked the “No Junk Fee Guarantee.” ®

Happy. Logs and records punch list for needed repairs during property inspections. Good for multi-units.

HelloRented. Mynd, Obligo,. Insures landlords against lost rent in case of residential tenant default, helps ease burden of large advanced rent and security deposit requirements, or acts as double insurance for nonpayment.

HouseCanary. Quickly appraise property on your desktop with certified inspector and appraiser using AI.

Keepe. Take picture of handyman needs and receive bids.

Knock. Start living in new home while Knock sells old home, no waiting for old house to sell.

Krisp. Mute background noise in videoconferences and any communication app.

Niido, Development company that design-built an apartment complex in Miami with home-sharing in mind to avoid roadblocks of short term rentals that Airbnb faced.

OpenDoor, Knock, Offerpad, Buys and/or sells houses via iBuying, which stands for instant buying, using prompt, algorithm-driven cash offers and then sell the homes themselves.

RealtyHive. Markets buyers based on geofence created around property.

Rentberry, bid on home rentals anywhere in the world like an ebay auction.

Reonomy. CRE.

Seniorly. Senior living listings and the peculiar care options.

Squarefoot. Rental listings for commercial real estate and shared office space.

Trulia, Zillow. Real estate and rental listings.

Unison. Instead of a loan they provide cash in exchange for co-ownership.

UrbanDoor, ZeusLiving. Furnished apartments for professionals who travel. Owned by Airbnb.

Vacasa. Airbnb alternative. Rent vacations homes with 3D virtual tours and maid service.

We, Shared office spaces, good for freelancers and remote workers needing occasional away from home office, high-speed internet, bright modern spaces, large common areas, business-class printing and scanning, conference rooms and private phone booths.