Meet the Real Estate Tech Exec: Scott Lockhart from Showcase IDX

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Scott Lockhart from Showcase IDX. We’re thrilled to have him as a member of Geek Estate Mastermind.

Without further ado…

What do you do?

I’m the CEO of Showcase IDX… which means I wear a lot of hats, probably too many right now. We have a small team and that means I have to fill in gaps when and where they are needed as we continue to grow fast. In addition to doing typical CEO’y things running a company, I’m also the main product/UX designer and evangelist for Showcase IDX. Which means I’m constantly talking to agents, team leaders, brokers, owners and other tech companies about what they need for their business to succeed and in particular what they struggle with… then I try and distill that into a product that our customers and consumers get real value out of. So far, so good.

What problem does your product/service solve?

Showcase IDX solves the widespread problem of having mediocre search experiences on agent and team websites. It’s our belief that by giving consumers a better search experience, that is more like the experience they get on large portals, we can be more successful in adding value (and business) to agents through their own website.

“Meh” search and consumer experiences are such a widespread problem for agent and team sites that some folks in the industry have, for a while now, gone on about how agent and broker websites are a waste of time and money… but I couldn’t disagree more. I mean, bad websites ARE a waste of time and money, but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Not all agent and team websites or search experiences have to be bad.

In fact, with the rise of diversified online and offline marketing, and social advertising, the need for a home on the internet (website) that the agent owns and has full control over, that they can point all their marketing to, where they can reinforce their brand and value proposition, has never been more essential and will only continue to be for professional agents well into the future.

What are you most excited about right now?

The future of the industry… and how technology will impact helping people finding and selling homes. Not that you asked, but the thing I’m least excited about is the upcoming Atlanta Hawks season. It’s going to be utterly miserable. But I digress…

What’s next for you?

Right now we’re growing fast organically, mainly by word or mouth… So I’m very excited to be adding a sales team and really getting after it on the sales side of things, now that our product is in a really good place. There’s some other exciting stuff on the horizon that I can’t really talk about just yet, but are the realization of us trying to solve big glaring problems/opportunities in the industry. We’re probably going to surprise a few people.

What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?
I’m really passionate about equal rights and opportunities for all… I think a lot of what’s wrong with this world comes from inequality and lack of understanding in terms of so many things, whether it’s prejudice based on gender, race, sexuality, religion, education, or age.

Equal rights for all doesn’t mean rights for some at the expense of others, or that everyone needs handouts to gain equality… It means that we all should have the opportunity to choose how we want to live our lives without things about us that are out of our control (like where we grew up, who our parents are, or what we believe) impeding our opportunities. The struggle is real out there for people who want to make more out of their lives to “succeed” enough without stuff that you can’t do anything about getting in the way.

Thanks to Scott for sharing her story. If you’d like to connect, find him on LinkedIn here.

We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).

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The true warrior

Of course things don’t always happen they way we wish they would. There are moments in which we feel we are seeking something that is not meant for us, knocking on doors that don’t open, waiting for miracles that don’t manifest themselves. Fortunately that is the way things are – if everything went the way […]

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Spotted Lanternfly in Lancaster County

We have been seeing higher numbers of Spotted Lanternfly in Lancaster county recently.  Here are some common questions people have about Spotted Lanternfly or SLF.  We’ll also do our best to answer those questions based on available research.

A couple of notes on this particular pest before we get started.  Please keep in mind:

1. This information changes constantly as we learn more about this pest.  Please continue to refer to materials from both Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for more, updated information periodically.
2. There is no “silver bullet” or “one-size-fits-all” program for this pest.  Each situation is truly unique when it comes to management for this pest.  A variety of factors come into play with each property.  So, while a professional may be able to help you with certain parts of managing this pest, no chemical control program is “the fix” for keeping the Spotted Lanternfly population under control.

Background

Spotted Lanternfly is a type of pest called a “planthopper,” meaning it moves from plant to plant in order to feed.  It is native to China, where predators provide a measure of control.

Part of the reason for the spread of Spotted Lanternfly in Lancaster County is that there are not biological control methods.  In other words, it has no disease or predators we know of that feed on it.

Life Cycle

Spotted Lanternfly adults are most active laying eggs right now.  They will continue to lay eggs from now until we have a hard frost, which should kill the adult population.

Egg masses will overwinter wherever they are laid.  Nymphs will emerge in late Spring or early Summer, and begin to feed.  These nymphs go through four instars (developmental stages) before becoming adults.  The first three instars have a black body with white spots.  The fourth instar has a black and red body, also with white spots.

Adult Spotted Lanternfly will have two sets of wings.  The outer wings gray, semi-translucent wings.  These wings will have black spots on them with gray veins.  The hidden set of wings are a bright red, giving the semi-translucent outer wings a pinkish hue underneath the gray.

The adult stage of Spotted Lanternfly is the most mobile.  Spotted Lanternfly will lay eggs on almost any surface, not just trees.  Old wood or logs laying around, cars, grills, RV’s and trailers, and mailboxes are all places SLF has been known to lay eggs.

The one thing all experts seem to agree on is that Spotted Lanternfly seems to require ailanthus altissima trees (Chinese sumac or “Tree of Heaven”) to reproduce.  Identifying the location of these trees an eliminating them is crucial.

Note: Life Cycle illustration used courtesy of Penn State University, with permission.

Damage to Property

Spotted Lanternfly can certainly damage your landscape plants.  It is safe to say that as of this posting, the chances of SLF damaging your property in 2018 are slim to none.

Spotted Lanternfly damages plants by the way it feeds on them.  It has what entomologists call “piercing/sucking mouthparts” which it inserts into the tree.  Think of a mosquito that feeds on the fluid inside of plants instead of blood, and you’ve got the right idea.

The damage occurs when SLF nymphs and adults are in high numbers – they typically feed en masse, which is where the damage occurs.  They can quite literally suck a tree dry.  Often, they secrete a sticky substance called “honeydew” when they feed.  Other insects can do this as well, like aphid and scale pests on a tree or shrub.  This honeydew encourages the growth of a black mold on bark and leaves called “black sooty mold,” which can be an indicator of Spotted Lanternfly feeding.

Spotted Lanternfly prefers to feed on plants that have a higher sugar content in their sap.  For Pennsylvania agriculture and businesses, the economic impact cannot be overstated.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture “This pest poses a significant threat to the state’s more than $28 million grape, $87 million apple, and more than $19 million peach industries, as well as the hardwood industry in Pennsylvania which accounts for nearly $17 billion in sales.”

For your landscape, there are certain plants that you should be concerned about.  Spotted Lanternfly seems to prefer trees with a high sugar content in their sap.  Vulnerable trees include ornamental fruit trees like cherry, plum, pear, and crabapple trees, as well as maples and possibly poplar trees.

Control for Spotted Lanternfly

There are several ways you can help control the spread of this invasive pest.

Removing Ailanthus trees

It is widely recognized that Spotted Lanternfly requires the ailanthus altissima to reproduce. This tree is the spotted lanternfly’s primary target.  Because of this fact, one of the primary steps you can take to slow the spread of this pest is to remove these trees from your property.  This is a must for managing this pest!

Control for ailanthus trees is never simple – they’re very hardy plants!  What is generally recognized as the most effective control method is called “hack and squirt,” and involved cutting notches in the bark around the circumference of the tree.  Once these notches have been cut into the tree, herbicide should be applied directly into the wound.

A selective herbicide containing the chemical triclopyr may be used without damage to plants around the ailanthus tree.  However, if you are not a registered pesticide applicator in Pennsylvania and want to DIY this, a product with glyphosate (like Roundup) will work.  Use caution, however – not only are you applying an herbicide, but glyphosate is non-selective, meaning it kills any plant it touches.  If you don’t want to damage other plants around the tree, you may want to contract a professional to help.

Removing egg masses

During Fall and Winter months, and after a hard freeze, it’s a great idea to inspect your property.  Look closely at the siding on your home, your cars, your grill, the trailer or RV, mailbox, trees and shrubs on the property, old piles of debris – give it a thorough inspection!

You should also inspect your cars any time you’re leaving the quarantine zone for egg masses.  If you’re going to be travelling to York, Dauphin, Cumberland, or Perry Counties, you should be inspecting your vehicle before you travel to ensure you’re not transporting SLF outside the quarantine zone.

If you see the eggs masses from Spotted Lanternfly, scrape them into a bottle or sandwich bag containing rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.  This will kill the eggs so they do not hatch.  If using the sandwich bag, it is recommended that you double bag, just to be safe.  Any scraped egg masses should be thrown in the garbage and disposed of immediately.

Sticky bands

When nymphs first hatch in late Spring or early Summer, they tend to migrate to the fresher, greener parts of the tree where the new growth is to begin feeding.  And this makes sense; it could their piercing/sucking mouthparts may not be as developed yet, and unable to penetrate more mature bark.  Whatever the reason, it gives people trying to control their spread another tool in the arsenal – “sticky bands.”

The basic idea is simple: wrap the trunk of the tree in a sticky material that the nymphs will get stuck on.  If they can’t get free and feed, they’ll certainly never reach adulthood!  The Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners published by Penn State even recommends simply using duct tape, and wrapping in backwards, tightly around the tree as an effective method for controlling nymphs.

Homeowners who are concerned about slowing the spread of this pest should target the trees we’ve mentioned first.  Then, move on to other trees on their property with this same method.  Sticky bands should be re-applied weekly during nymph stages (late May to September) for best results.

Chemical control

This should be considered a final “backstop” to the other control methods we’ve outlined so far in this post.  There isn’t a ton of information about what’s really effective on this pest right now.  While experts agree that their nervous system is disrupted by available pesticides, none are presently labelled for use on the Spotted Lanternfly.

What seems to be working for now is a combination of two different pesticide approaches.  These are commonly referred to as systemic and contact pesticides.  Systemic pesticides are products that the plant material absorbs, and it stays inside the plant itself.  This is how products like grub control work for your lawn – the product is absorbed into the plant, and when an insect feeds, it ingests this product.

By contrast, contact pesticides are just what they sound like – they work on contact with the bug.  Examples of contact products most homeowners are familiar with are Raid and Black Flag for things like spiders and ants.  And, like those over-the-counter products, many contact pesticides also include a residual effect.  This means that they’ll continue to kill bugs for a period of time (depending on the product used, rate of application, rainfall, etc.) after the application is completed.

Systemic products seem to be having a really good results with the nymph stage of the Spotted Lanternfly right now.  The adult stage, being far more mobile, is much better controlled by contact products with regular follow up applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this kill my tree?

In short, the answer from most experts at this point is that we don’t know for certain.  Again, we do know that trees with a high sugar content in the sap are most vulnerable.  Pears, cherries, plums, apples, crabapples, maples, and possibly poplars are at risk.  You would do well to apply non-chemical control methods (scraping egg masses, sticky bands) to these trees. Also contracting a professional for the control if they feel equipped to handle the issue could help.

Can it bite me or my kids/pets?

No, we have no reason to believe that SLF is biting or causing any harm to people or pets.

My tree is dying – has the Spotted Lanternfly already killed it?

No, it is extremely unlikely that any tree in Lancaster County is suffering the effects of SLF damage right now.  We’ve had an abnormal amount of rainfall, which has caused widespread disease issues across the are with all kinds of plants.  It is more likely to be a disease, or stress from another landscape pest, than damage from Spotted Lanternfly.

 

If you have additional concerns about Spotted Lanternfly, we’d be happy to talk to you.  Please Contact Us for more information.

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Whale Watch From 1 of This Home's 3 Rooftop Decks

The Olympic Mountains. The Strait of Georgia. The shoreline of Victoria, Canada. And maybe a pod of orcas, if you're lucky. You can see all of that (and much more) from one of this home's three rooftop decks.

Located on the rocky shores of San Juan Island, Washington, this coastal retreat has a unique connection to the land it occupies - the home is built directly into the hillside, so it gracefully descends the ground's natural slope.

A team of architects from Seattle-based firm Prentiss Balance Wickline worked on the design. Dan Wickline, one of the architects on the project, drew inspiration from the island's stark natural beauty.  

"Rooted into a linear ravine on the site, the spaces of the house are composed in a series of stacked volumes climbing the terrain and aimed toward specific views," Wickline says.

These specific views can be admired from one of the grassy rooftop decks, from the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the water-facing walls or from one of the rectangular window clusters.

The strategically placed clusters create the sensation of total immersion in the rugged landscape - no matter which way you turn, a view awaits.   

Inside, the design features a muted color palette inspired by the lush greens, earthy browns and serene grays of the Pacific Northwest. These subtle and somewhat restrained hues allow the home's simple, elevated aesthetic to really shine.

From every angle, the home resembles a work of art - fitting, considering it was actually designed for a painter.

The top-floor art studio overlooks the water, as does its clean, light-filled library. And if those views aren't enough to inspire creativity, there's always a rooftop deck or two nearby.

"The grass roofs establish a new landscape, which at the same time nest and blend the house into the existing terrain," Wickline says.

This delicate tug of war is a testament to the home's thoughtful design and a conflicting (yet romantic) notion: that a place perched so high above the horizon can still feel so deeply rooted in the earth.  

Photos by Eirik Johnson.

Related:

• Living in Beauty Without Excess: A Small Coastal Home With Views to Spare
• Modern Design Goes Green in This Park City Mountain Escape 
• From Scraps to Sanctuary: A $700 A-Frame Cabin

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The 7P’s of Community

Like it or not, realize it or not, real estate agents and brokers are in the business of building community. As such, I thought I’d share CMX’s 7P’s of Community:

It’s a simple framework for building belonging. If you want to understand this topic more thoroughly, I highly highly recommend reading the entire article.

The post The 7P’s of Community appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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The Truth About Toxic Mold (and How to Get Rid of It)

Mold is everywhere. It grows on the sides of houses, it blackens surfaces like brick and concrete, and it thrives in the soil of your yard and garden.

Indoors, mold lives in sink drains, shower grout, houseplant potting mix, kitchen sponges and anywhere else that moisture has a chance to settle. Are you hyperventilating yet?

A little bit of mold is nothing to worry about, as long as you can identify the cause and promptly clean it up with a solution of bleach and water.

But before we go any further, let's get this out of the way: Any mold, regardless of color, can make you feel sick, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma. To be on the safe side, always wear a mask and rubber gloves when dealing with mold, and make sure that the space is well-ventilated.

Let’s get the facts straight

Also known as black mold, the infamous Stachybotrys chartarum is not toxic, but toxigenic, because it is capable of producing mycotoxins. Technicalities aside, this uncommon mold species is especially feared for its supposedly dangerous effects.

You may have read an article about how toxic mold is "secretly making your family sick" or watched local news reporters announce that black mold was found in a restaurant inspection, making it feel as if the plague arrived overnight and could be headed to your place next.

Some alternative health websites even call it "toxic mold syndrome" and warn of terrifying symptoms like memory loss or idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, say that "These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven. … All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal."

Stachybotrys chartarum is unusual among household molds, because it requires constant moisture to survive. So if your house is oozing moisture from a roof leak, broken pipe or outright poltergeist, black mold is the least of your worries. Time to call a professional and put an end to the drip before termites or wood rot threaten to put an end to your home's structure.

Mold is often a symptom of a bigger problem, be it as minor as a dripping faucet or as major as, well, a missing roof.

If you suspect that the slowly spreading black stain on your wall is the infamous black mold, don't bother wasting your time identifying the stuff. Scam artists abound, and the Environmental Protection Agency even says that "In most cases, if visible mold is present, sampling is unnecessary."

There are no established standards for judging what is an acceptable amount of mold, and even the non-toxigenic types can cause allergic reactions and make your life miserable. Remove it.

How to prevent and remove mold

Mold needs three things to survive: Moisture, a growing surface and food (dirty stuff).

The easiest way to prevent mold is to make sure that it never gets any moisture to begin with. Keep your house clean, dry and well-ventilated, especially in the bathroom wherever water collects, such as on tile grout or shower curtains. If your bathroom has gnats or a damp odor, look no further than your clogged sink drains - and be sure to wear some rubber gloves.

To clean and remove mold on hard surfaces, the CDC recommends using a solution of no more than one cup of bleach to one gallon of water.

To remove mold on exterior surfaces, use a pressure washer, and make sure that everything is properly sealed.

If mold is found on soft and porous surfaces, such as drywall, carpeting or furniture, it's best to dispose of the affected material before the mold spreads further or exacerbates your allergies.

Flood-damaged homes with heavy mold infestations should be handled by professionals whenever possible. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns that "Infants, children, immune-compromised patients, pregnant women, individuals with existing respiratory conditions (allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity and asthma) and the elderly appear to be at higher risks for adverse health effects from mold."

In addition, flood-damaged houses are often contaminated with chemicals and human waste, which are far more dangerous than the mold itself.

Related:

• Is Your Home Trying to Kill You?
• How to Fix Ceiling Water Stains
• What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?

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3 Types of Siding for Homes

Protect your home in style by choosing a siding material that suits your taste. Here are some of the most elegant-yet-functional sidings that will surely increase your home’s curb appeal: 

Photo by Kyle Nieber on Unsplash

Brick
Made from fired clay, genuine brick comes in different sizes and textures. Brick is commonly found on Colonial, Tudor and English cottage exteriors, providing a beautiful look that has been used for hundreds of years and has stood the test of time. These days brick siding is usually a veneer constructed outside of a home’s wood frame structure, with mortar used to hold the bricks together.

Since water can penetrate brick veneers, a membrane installed between the brick veneer and house can protect the structure. Under normal conditions and when installed correctly brick siding can last the life of your house. Installing brick is labor-intensive, so the cost is on the higher end compared to other siding options. Source: HGTV

Vinyl
Vinyl siding is tough and comes in a boatload of colors and textures. Because the color is throughout the material, nicks and scratches don’t show up. Sophisticated manufacturing techniques create products that do a surprisingly fine job of mimicking wood-grain lap siding, wood shingles and even stone.

Vinyl siding is lightweight and, in many instances, can be installed directly over existing materials, so it’s a good retrofit option. Because it’s easy to handle, vinyl installation can be installed quickly, saving labor costs. Source: DIYNetwork

Stucco
With the reasonable cost of stucco, its variety of applications, and the untold numbers of recipes for making it, stucco as a siding option has been in use for hundreds of years. Traditional stucco siding is a cement type of mixture added to sand or lime. Because it can be shaped and textured, stucco is used to achieve an array of architectural styles. Generally for application, a wooden wall is covered with galvanized metal screening and tar paper, then covered with stucco. Stucco is often applied to brick or stone surfaces, as well. Source: BHG

Entrust your home repairs only to the experts. We can even advise you on which siding will go best according to your budget and location. Call us today for a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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ARIIA by Azora in the Norquay Village

ARIIA by Azora Group is a new townhouse development located in the Norquay Village, East Vancouver. This project will offer a collection of 10 two and three bedroom beautiful townhomes for the modern family, situated in a serene tree-lined setting. ARIIA offers a stellar location with easy access to other cities from the nearby skytrain station, or arrive at Downtown Vancouver in just 15 minutes by car. Recently there have been community enhancements, including bike routes and public spaces such as Slocan and Norquay Park, as well as the community fruit orchard.

The post ARIIA by Azora in the Norquay Village appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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10 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails

Despite their destructive habits and overall “ick” factor, snails and slugs are anything but formidable. In fact, there are so many creative ways to repel or kill them that you might have a hard time choosing just one.

Commercial snail and slug killers work, but they're dangerous and can harm the “good” creatures in your garden. Save money with one of these easy home remedies instead.

1. Give them a bath

Every time you go out in the garden, bring a little bucket with a few drops of dish soap mixed in. Pick off any soft-bodied pests you see, throw them into the bath and dump out their remains the next day. The small amount of dish soap prevents snails, slugs and even caterpillars from escaping.

2. Get them drunk

If you're going to kill the slimy little guys, you might as well let them die drunk and happy.

Set out saucers of stale beer, making sure that the pests can find their way over the ledge and into the dive bar. They'll be naturally drawn to the yeasty smell of the beer, then fall in and drown. Don't use this method if pets or young children are present.

3. Put out a tiny barbed wire fence

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around vulnerable plants and walk away. It's like putting out a bed of microscopic razor blades and shards of glass, so snails and slugs will do their best to steer clear of the stuff.

Use this trick sparingly, though, since it can slice away at “good” bugs and critters too.

4. Just add salt

It might not be the kindest or cleanest method, but salt really does kill slugs and snails by drying out the mucus coating their permeable bodies.

Sprinkle a very small amount, since it doesn't take much to harm nearby plants. But if a slug is close enough to kill with salt, you'd be better off picking the thing off by hand.

5. Put out a banana trap

Choose this method if you'd rather not touch the snails and slugs at all. Leave a banana skin, grapefruit peel or melon rind out near affected plants at night, and dispose of the peel - critters and all- in the morning. Use a shovel to avoid getting slimed!

6. Tangle them up

If your furry friend is shedding a lot, put that hair to good use and spread it around the base of affected plants. The fur will stick to slugs’ and snails’ mucus coating and keep them from getting much farther.

7. Don't bring home hitchhikers

Slugs often enter the garden by hiding out on nursery plants. When purchasing, thoroughly inspect each plant, also checking the debris or dead leaves on the soil surface. Remove any snails, slugs and other stowaways.

8. Clean up dead leaves

Dead leaves in the garden are usually a good thing, because they provide a natural habitat for lots of little critters that benefit your soil and plants.

But if you have a slug infestation, dead leaves have to go. Whether you throw them on the compost pile or bag them up just to play it safe, a tidy garden will at least help you get a handle on the snails and slugs.

9. Attract natural predators

Just as there are lots of ways to kill slugs and snails, there are lots of animals who will happily take them off your hands.

Attract snail-eating frogs, toads, lizards and even snakes (most are harmless) by providing hiding places, like stones or logs in or near your garden. You might even choose to keep those dead leaves, if you're going this route.

Include native plants, bird feeders and birdhouses to attract snail- and slug-eating birds. It takes a while to build up a diverse garden, but you'll have fewer pest problems in the long run.

10. Grow something else

It isn't what you want to hear, but if your garden is brimming with slugs and it seems like nothing can eliminate the slimy plague, consider growing plants they won't eat.

Besides, a garden with big pest problems is a garden that is out of balance. Diversify!

Related:

• How to Rid Your Yard of the Most Aggressive Weeds
• What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?
• How to Grow a Spectacular Container Garden

Originally published July 28, 2016.

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Slicing Pie in the Quest for New Real Estate Category Kings / A Few Questions about Buyer Data in NYC — Geek Estate Mastermind 47

Last week, I investigated category kings further. On the residential side of real estate, the unwavering category king is Zillow Group. In addition to their flagship brand, they own Trulia, StreetEasy, and even power Yahoo! Real Estate. Realtor.com is a distant second, with no legitimate player anywhere in sight beyond that. The portal landscape seemingly has played itself out — no one has made a real play in the last 5+ years. Blame Zillow’s ginormous traffic advantage, data moat (Zestimates, AI, buyer demand, listings, mortgage, etc), brand power, and capital advantage.

Everyone is trying to do real estate slightly better, slightly more efficient, slightly cheaper. It’s not enough. Category kings don’t sell better. They sell different. Kings capture 70-80% of value/revenue in a given category, 2nd place grabs enough to scrape by and remain viable — and everyone else fights for the scraps (and generally ceases to exist).

Competing head-on at the portal game is suicide. Thus, for those aiming to develop a meaningful presence in real estate, the question becomes what new potential categories exist that can turn into massive markets on their own? How do you slice the pie in a new, creative way?

I went into the two (sub) markets of the real estate on the consumer side that I believe to be large enough to support a future king.

In our second article, I posed a few questions about the NYC Buyer Graph initiative announced by RealScout last week:

• How can/do/will NYC agents make their buyers use their brokerage’s branded home search, rather than StreetEasy or some other service?
• Is there a legal battle on the horizon for participating brokerages & RealScout, as Rob Hahn alludes to?
• What are the deal terms for founding brokerages? Do they get the technology free for X years/months?
• Is RealScout’s primary goal to prove the concept in NYC, and then monetize similar initiatives in other local markets? ie is the NYC initiative a loss leader, or will they make money from participants?
• For brokers/agents in other markets, would you welcome an initiative like this in your local market? Would you pay to participate?

Weekly Radar Sample

THE BEST CUSTOMER ACQUISITION STRATEGY IS A PRODUCT
A billion-dollar financial firm that launched a 20,000 single family rental portfolio in 2012 just launched its newest venture with $225 Million in funding. BungaloHomes is set to join the iBuyer ranks in Texas and Florida with plans to expand to other markets targeting homes above the median price ranges most of its competition is targeting. Amherst Holdings, the Austin based firm behind the company, is ready to invest another $1Billion into the project next year. Forget about Opendoor and Zillow for a moment and ponder what happens when other large portfolios fast follow Amherst or when the top mortgage servicers get out of an IDEO or McKinsey pitch inspired to roll out innovative new housing fintech solutions to retain customers who already own homes. -GF

COMPASS, PAC UNION, AND COMING SOON
The pocket listings landscape saw a significant development: Compass Coming Soon. Before their huge merger, Pacific Union had recently launched “Private View” with $400 Million worth of exclusives. There’s currently 23 coming soon listings in San Francisco if you’d like to peek at their modern interface. On the heels of the acquisition, will their combined strength shift the balance of power? If they build critical mass among luxury inventory, the answer may be yes. -DM

Mastermind Member News

• Congrats to perch’n® for securing a partnership with Kutztown Community Partnership (KCP).
• Reali launched an AI-powered tool that predicts the probability of placing a winning offer on a home.
• Smart Alto helps nurture leads, clients and referrals with text message for up to 52 weeks. They are opening a free Public Beta in 2 weeks and would love the Geek Estate community to try the product first.

As a reminder, the purpose of the Geek Estate Mastermind is two fold:

1. Curate the world’s most innovative and diverse community of real estate creatives, doers, and pioneers.
2. Make our members wildly successful in their careers building real estate companies.

If you want to read the entire Weekly Transmission, and future weekly editions, please apply for a Mastermind membership below.

Apply for Membership

The post Slicing Pie in the Quest for New Real Estate Category Kings / A Few Questions about Buyer Data in NYC — Geek Estate Mastermind 47 appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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Dodgers Lose Heartbreaker In Arizona; All Bets Are Off

[DBacks 4, Dodgers 3]

The Dodger are going to take this down to the wire. It feels like they can only lose it, and the Colorado Rockies are never going to lose again. They wasted a golden opportunity to really bury the Rockies hopes on this September 25th day of 2018.

Cody Bellinger has gone full Griffey Jr. on the stance, and hit his 24th home run of the season to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead that just wouldn’t hold.

Walker Buehler gave up a two-run double to David Peralta. The Dodgers again battled back to tie the game at 2-2, but the Dbacks took back the lead 3-2. In a spirited rally in the top of the ninth; Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor led off the inning with hits to tie the game 3-3.

But in the bottom of the ninth, Eduardo Escobar homered off Kenta Maeda, and the Diamondbacks won 4-3. The division lead is down to a half game. They are staring down the barrel of Zack Greinke on Wednesday with Ross Stripling taking the ball for Los Angeles.

Mood. #Dodgers #ITFDB pic.twitter.com/eEcZm2DUnm

— DodgerHogs (@DodgerHogs) September 26, 2018

 

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Betting on Baseball: (Walker) Buehler’s Day On

Check out 10bet. This following post is about betting on Major League Baseball, and includes a pick for tonight’s action. If you are afraid to wager and win, read no further!

The Los Angeles Dodgers earn my respect tonight, and I’m feeling a victory behind new young ace Walker Buehler. The Dodgers are hovering around -230 or -240 favorites tonight in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.

Obviously, we like the Dodgers to not only win but to win big. We are making the pick tonight of Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 tonight against Dbacks starter Matt Koch which is a -155 at most books.

In his last 14 innings pitched, Buehler has been in command allowing no earned runs, with 21 strikeouts and only five hits allowed. Matt Koch pitched against the Dodgers on May 1st, a game that Arizona won 4-3 in Arizona; however this is a much different Dodgers team right now with a killer instinct.

Buehler is being given the respect of ace pricing, and he deserves it. You’re about to see a guy take the national stage in the postseason who has the ability to propel the Dodgers to being World Series favorites.

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NUDE by Battistella in Calgary

NUDE by Battistella is a new 18-storey highrise condo development located in Calgary’s most dynamic neighbourhood, the West Beltline. This project will offer 177 homes, sizes range from 400 sqft to 800 sqft. Inspired by timeless architecture, NUDE reflects a considered aesthetic where symmetry and articulation combine to create a simple and calm elegance.

The post NUDE by Battistella in Calgary appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?

Pests are everywhere, and having a few in your home is pretty much inevitable. But knowledge is power when it comes to critters, says Dr. Nancy Troyano, director of technical education and training at Rentokil Pest Control.

When you know how to recognize and prevent an infestation, you can keep unwanted visitors at bay. The first step is learning which pests might become an issue for you. Here are the top pests to watch out for, according to Troyano.

Wood-destroying bugs

Termites and carpenter ants eat away at the foundation, and you have to call a professional to remove them. They’re usually hard to see, but you can still find clues that you might have a problem.

In the Northeast, subterranean termites build mud tubes to travel along, and you can usually spot them. Look for brown staining around the house, both inside and out, paying special attention to baseboards in the basement. Other hints are blistering paint, loose siding, and piles of droppings or what looks like sawdust.

Homeowners in the Southwest and California should look out for drywood termites. They create colonies in the wood instead of the ground, and they need very little moisture. Watch for piles of droppings or swarms of termites flying out of the wood.

If you have a wooden house, especially a log cabin, get the house thoroughly inspected before moving in. "It's silly not to," Troyano says.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a big problem in crowded cities and apartment buildings. While they don't actually cause damage to a home, they're Troyano's pick for the second-worst pest type because they require professional extermination - and they're just gross.

Cockroaches are attracted to food and garbage, and they’re usually brought in from the outside. Secondhand or rented furniture is a big culprit of cockroach infestations.

The one “upside” to roaches is that they're big, so you will definitely know when you have a problem.

Nuisance pests

Most unwanted critters are pretty harmless - just annoying. Luckily, pests that are actually dangerous to your health are not too common - although they are still a concern.

After the Zika outbreaks, mosquitoes are generating more concern than in the past. Standing water creates a breeding ground for these pests, so try to minimize the water that collects around your home.

Bed bugs are a big issue in cities, where it's easy for them to be brought in by furniture, clothes or people - and they’re notoriously hard to get rid of. Homeowners with pets should also be wary of ticks and fleas.

Rodents

Bugs aren't the only unwelcome guests you may encounter - rodents are out there too.

Bird feeders are a "mouse buffet," says Troyano, so keep an eye on those. Mice are also drawn inside to escape the cold, so homeowners in colder climates should make sure their homes are sealed tightly.

Then there are our flying friends: bats. Bats are usually found in homes with attics or chimneys, because they like to hang out in dark, cavernous areas.

You can easily lure out one or two bats, but if you have a big problem, you’ll want to call a professional. A word of warning about these winged creatures: They can carry rabies, so be careful with any DIY measures you undertake.

What to look for where you live

The types of pests you will have to deal with largely depends on where you live.

• Tropical, humid places like Florida are breeding grounds for water-loving pests like mosquitoes.
• In wooded areas, you will find spiders, ants and beetles.
• In the desert, you have to worry about snakes and scorpions.

Be diligent about keeping screens on your windows to prevent the majority of these pests from getting inside.

Your house itself will also determine the kinds of pests you get. Log cabins are the most pest-prone homes, attracting beetles, termites and bees, reports Troyano. And houses with vinyl siding or brick tend to be safer bets.

Older homes are also a concern, because they are full of cracks and crevices where pests can enter or take up residence. Spiders and silverfish love these nooks.

Beetles and bees can get in through small cracks in windowsills or screen doors, so make sure you have sealant around entryways and windows.

New construction homes come with their own issues. The fungus beetle has been nicknamed the "new-house pest," says Troyano.

When wooden beams are exposed to the elements during construction, they gather moisture, which attracts fungus beetles. These tiny beetles are very common and will go away on their own once the material dries - but that could take up to a year.

The other issue with new construction homes is that clearing a plot of land displaces a ton of bugs that are going to be looking for a new home.

How to prevent pests

The good news is that most pests are easily lured out of the home.

Troyano trains people on the biology and behavior of pests. So rather than going in blindly and putting down a pesticide, she says that you can “outsmart” the bugs.

"If I have an ant problem, and I know what they like to eat, I will take away their food source," she explains.

But also think about how the critters are getting inside. Plants and trees can act as a super highway for pests. "I've watched ants walk along tree limbs into a home," Troyano says.

Here are Troyano’s top tips for keeping your home free of unwelcome intruders:

• Don't let them inside. Keep your house sealed up nice and tight. Use window screens, seal window and door frames, and plug up other exterior entry points.
• Keep your home’s exterior tidy. Mow grass regularly, trim shrubbery and trees to prevent branches from touching your home, and keep mulched beds away from the house.
• Watch for water pools and drainage issues. You don’t want water pooling up by your home’s foundation. Make sure your gutters direct water away from the house. Similarly, you don't want hills sloping toward your house. You'll also want to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard by keeping an eye on stagnant pools of water, like birdbaths.
• Inspect your house inside and out. Regularly check for signs of pests.

Related:

• Mold, Termites and Your Home Insurance
• 10 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails
• Think Outside the Box: Exterior Considerations When House Hunting

Originally published August 11, 2016.

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Duchess & Horley Townhomes

Duchess & Horley by Baron Projects and Priivan Development Group is a new townhouse development located in Vancouver. This location is fantastic with Vancouver’s ONLY mandarin elementary school directly across the street and the 29th Ave. Sky Train station only a few blocks away. This project will offer 6 units, sizes ranging from 995 – 1196 sq ft. with 3 bedrooms + flex.

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How to Remove Stains From an Area Rug

How to Fix Ceiling Water Stains

10 Best Coding Apps for Children to Learn Programming

As we live in the digital age, programming skills become increasingly important on the job market. Although not everyone will be a programmer in the future, basic coding skills...

The post 10 Best Coding Apps for Children to Learn Programming appeared first on Onextrapixel.

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Request: Prove that AI in Real Estate Isn’t a Bunch of Bullsh*t

My strong suspicion is the majority of “real estate AI” is…. well, a bunch of PR and marketing muscle, with little to no data/machine learning/tech substance backing it up.

In other words, it’s bullsh*t.

Chat bots with basic algorithms are not AI. “Mechanical Turking”, which involves humans doing all of the work, is not AI.

I know there are a several companies doing real innovative AI — like Citybldr (who I am bullish on and wrote about recently) — but I’m fairly convinced most of the AI industry talk is vapor.

I’m willing to change my tune. Thus, my request for someone to prove me wrong. The blog post I’d love to read is “Here’s Proof AI in Real Estate Isn’t a Bunch of Bullsh*t.”

Obviously, that requires someone actually doing real AI work, not faking it, to write it and show real data/facts/algorithms/etc. If you or someone you know wants to write that blog post, I’m more than willing to publish it here on the Geek Estate Blog.

Any takers?

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Why I’m Bearish on Redfin (Part I)

Disclaimer: I have worked with many Redfin agents, many of whom are great at what they do, and who are a joy to work with. This is not a commentary on Redfin’s agents’ performance. This is an observation of the overall consumer experience that Redfin provides, which typically involves multiple agents and showing assistants.

I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’m old. While some are excited about Redfin & their technology, I don’t get excited about technology that doesn’t immediately show me value, and I’m pretty convinced that things like QR codes & AI chatbots won’t replace me any time soon. I feel the same way about Redfin and the plethora of “real estate industry disruptors” popping up every day. They’re tired, they’re introducing nothing new, and they will go out of business as soon as we see another downturn. Just like Zip Realty.

Why do I know this? Because consumers really care about service. Redfin is simply a discount brokerage and discount brokerages can’t provide excellent service at scale. How do I know that Redfin can’t provide excellent service as a discount brokerage? Their largest market is Seattle, they’ve been there for 14 years, and they are sucking wind in the service department. Don’t believe me? Check out their Yelp profile. Here’s a quick rundown:

That’s 67 positive reviews, 6 neutral (I could argue that a 3 star review is actually a negative review), and 38 negative reviews. So, at the time of this article, 35-40% of Redfin’s customers had a negative experience. At best, they’re offering a C- customer service experience and at worst, they’re offering a D- experience. In the real estate industry, that’s terrible. It’s abysmal.

Redfin has a customer experience problem in a big way. Unless they can solve that, they will follow in Zip Realty’s footsteps. There’s no reason to believe that they will solve this problem with their current business model. They’ve been trying in Seattle for 14 years.

Just for fun, here are some of my favorite reviews:

If you are an good or and expert in house hunting, Redfin maybe for you. If you a novice like me, it would have been much better to hiring a full service agent… – Steve C.

Horrible service always dealing with multiple people who didn’t have any information the person would always claim the were new. House did not close on time, and pay attention to the fine print of that 1 percent listing fee not as it seems… – Phillipmuk Z.

Pro: I love the RedFin mobile app. Absolutely love – love – love RedFin’s mobile app!
Con:
On the RedFin website, after you have chosen a RedFin agent you would like to work with, it’s only natural to assume you would be working the most with that person right? Nope… – Jared P.

I bought a home using a Redfin agent last fall. I wish I had spent the extra money to use a real Agent…The selling Agent never even saw the house with me… – Kathi M.

Stick with your well-known and respected Seattle-area realtors – Coldwell Banker, Windermere, any local agency.  Redfin is a cut-rate company and it’s reflected in the service, stemming from how they treat their employees… – E P. (Sidenote, the review problem extends to Glassdoor. Will address in Part II.)

They are clearly just an online marketing group pretending to be in the real estate business…They offer the “lower commission” but I also think that the agent put less work into the deal… – J M.

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Meet the Real Estate Tech Founder: Marty Collins from Dezignable

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Marty Collins from Dezignable. Several months ago, I first met her at a real estate tech meetup where Bryan Copley was presenting. We’re thrilled to have her as a member of Geek Estate Mastermind.

Without further ado…

What do you do?

I started Dezignable, Inc. with my business partner, Alison Andrews Reyes, out of our mutual love for home design. So aside from typical CEO responsibilities of promoting our business and keeping it running, I am still involved in creating interior designs for multi-family properties. Being involved in this key aspect of Dezignable brings me a lot of joy and keeps me connected to the founding spirit of our company.

What problem does your product/service solve?

When Dezignable first started, we focused on consumer designs, but made the pivot to B2B sales a couple years ago when we realized there was a multi-family property market that was in need of design services.

My company is unique because our service provides an all-inclusive interior design solution for multi-family properties by offering free professional design. The current model seen outside of Dezignable is to be charged an hourly rate for design work, and we are disrupting that idea to create a streamlined process focused on the end result, namely a beautiful interior space.

What are you most excited about right now?

I am very excited about the rollout a one-of-a-kind machine learning platform that allows anyone to create their own custom design proposal while accounting for their unique preferences, budget and specifications. More on this coming soon!

What’s next for you?

Dezignable is currently transitioning the scale of our business to expand nationally; I hope to be in every major metropolitan area by the end of 2019. This is a big jump from where we started, and thinking about how I am scaling our resources to support an expanded pipeline is such an interesting challenge. One key aspect of this growth is developing a partnership with leading property management brands to create a process that is fast, easy, and transportable. I am always focused on the relationship aspect of our work, and supporting our customer partners is the key our growth.

What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?

As a female leader, myself, I am very passionate about female entrepreneurs. I mentor aspiring entrepreneurs through the University of Washington and hope to see more women starting their own businesses. Within our economy, we need to focus on helping women gain access to funding and resources to start and maintain their own business, because women-owned businesses are a key aspect of the US economy; they supported over 9 million American jobs last year. Another way I advocate for women is by ensuring, within my own business, that I partner with other female entrepreneurs.

Thanks to Marty for sharing her story. If you’d like to connect, find her on LinkedIn here.

We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).

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The importance of the eyes

Paulo Coelho   “I sell churches.” I stood astonished as he continued: “I am employed by the Vatican to select buyers, since there are more churches than churchgoers in Holland. And since we have had awful experiences in the past, seeing sacred places turned into nightclubs, condominiums, boutiques and even sex shops, we changed our […]

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The Next Revolution in Real Estate, with Spencer Rascoff

Zillow’s CEO, Spencer Rascoff, recently did an interview at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit in New York. The video is below, for those curious folk.

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Tenant Troubles: Who Is Responsible for Problems in Your Rental?

One of renting's major benefits is that you don’t have to worry about upkeep, maintenance and expensive repairs. So when things go bad - your dishwasher stops working, the roof is leaking or the bugs just won’t go away - your first call is usually your landlord.

But how do you know what’s really their responsibility and what falls to you? And what do you do if they refuse to handle the repairs?

Read on for the most common rental issues and how to get them fixed quickly.

Water damage & mold

Easily one of the nastiest discoveries you can find in your home, mold is a common problem - especially in humid or rainy climates. And while most mold doesn’t cause health problems, some types can cause respiratory issues, headaches and allergy symptoms.

Since there’s no easy way for the average tenant to know if the mold in their home is dangerous or not, it’s always best to ask your landlord to get rid of it.

While there’s no federal law that dictates mold exposure limits in rental housing, some states and cities have put guidelines in place. But, even if your state doesn’t have specific mold regulations, your landlord is still responsible for providing safe, livable housing.

In addition to requesting that your landlord remove the mold, make sure they find the source of the mold, whether it’s a leak in the roof or around the windows, failing plumbing, or a basement that’s not watertight. If the underlying water damage isn’t addressed, the mold will likely return.

The one time a landlord may be able to reject your request for mold remediation is if they believe it’s a result of your behavior - if you don’t keep your home well-ventilated, don’t clean regularly or run a humidifier too much.

Broken appliances

Your landlord is responsible for keeping any appliances that came with the unit in good working order. They’re also required to do the preventive maintenance that keeps your appliances up and running, like replacing worn hoses or servicing the air conditioner.

If you brought some of your own appliances, like a microwave or a washer and dryer, you’re typically responsible for repairing and replacing them.

Perhaps the most important appliance your landlord is responsible for is your furnace. Local and state laws require landlords to provide adequate heating, so if you’re having trouble keeping your home warm, reach out to your landlord immediately.

In some warm-weather states, landlords are also required to provide air conditioning. It may not be required in other states, but if your unit has air conditioning, your landlord is required to maintain it.

Pests

Remember when we said that landlords are required to provide tenants with a safe, livable space? That includes pest-free living, but there are a few more gray areas with pests than with other maintenance issues.

Whether your landlord is responsible or not depends on a few factors, including the state you live in, the type of rental unit and the type of pest. For example, in some states (but not others), landlords are legally required to manage bedbug infestations, which are an increasingly common issue.

In some states, landlords are responsible for all pest control, unless you're renting a single-family home and they can prove that the pests are a result of you not keeping your home clean.

No matter where you live and what local and state regulations are, let your landlord know about any kind of pest as soon as possible. A good landlord should want to address these issues quickly to avoid having them spread to different units.

What if my landlord isn’t cooperating?

In a perfect world, your landlord would fix every problem, without issue, in a timely manner. But in the real world, that doesn’t always happen.

Consider these tips for getting landlord repair issues handled quickly and completely:

• Report even small issues. That tiny leak under your bathroom sink may not seem like a big deal now, but it could cause a serious mold problem down the road. Always let your landlord know about issues as soon as you notice them, before they can get worse.
• Make repair requests in writing. Don’t make repair requests verbally. Instead, send them via email so you have a paper trail and documentation with a date and time stamp.
• Always have renters insurance. It's an affordable way to protect your belongings in case of damage caused by landlord negligence, plus a variety of other issues. It’s typically very affordable and can be purchased online in a matter of minutes.
• Reread your lease. You (hopefully!) read your lease when you first signed it, but if you’re having issues with your landlord refusing to do repairs, take another look at your lease paperwork and see what they - and you - have already agreed to.
• Get help from a local tenants' rights organization. If your landlord isn’t addressing major repair issues, find a local tenants' rights organization on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website. They can help you identify local and state laws that apply to your situation and provide resources for additional assistance.

Related:

• ‘You’re Throwing Money Away’ and Other Myths About Renting
• The Top 5 Renting Nightmares and How to Face Them
• How to Perform a Landlord Background Check

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2030 Barclay in downtown Vancouver’s West End

2030 Barclay by Marcon Developments is a new 10-storey concrete building development located in downtown Vancouver’s West End. This project will offer 14 2-bedroom, five 3-bedroom homes, ranging in size from 1,661 sqft – 2,341 sqft. Conveniently situated just a half block from the outstanding Stanley Park, and within walking distance to numerous restaurants and shops along Denman and Robson streets, 2030 Barclay is an exceptional example of Vancouverism.

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644 Como Lake in Coquitlam

644 Como Lake by Woodbridge Properties is a new condo development located in Coquitlam. This project will offer 116 market condominiums, sizes range from 539 sqft – 1,156 sq ft. By choosing to live at 644 Como Lake, you’ll appreciate the growing value of this burgeoning community and the convenient mobility offered by Skytrain’s Evergreen Line.

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How The West Was Won

The Los Angeles Dodgers just swept the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Within a season of huge moments – and most of them coming of late – this is just the latest.

Yasiel Puig is a mythological figure and I love the crazy SOB. Long live the Wild Horse!

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Debunking Myths about Roof Ventilation

A roofing vent is necessary to keep the air flowing in or out of your home. If you don’t have one, this can result in the growth of molds and other damage. Understand the truth behind the common myths surrounding this important roofing element by taking a look below:

Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash

Myth #1: Results of intensive lab research
You cannot believe what researchers say about the results they find when they conduct tests on attic ventilations. No lab setting can be compared to how vents work in real attics in real homes. The optimization and effectiveness of attic ventilation and types of air vents cannot really be studied with accurate results as location and climate conditions vary from area to area, making it difficult to determine just how air ventilation works. Source: Medium

Myth #2: More ventilation is better
Just like properly sizing your furnace and air conditioning unit, you want precisely the right amount of attic ventilation for your home. Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad, if not worse. Roof vents create an additional roof penetration, essentially another place of vulnerability where leaks can occur. Some vents are necessary, but you don’t want to needlessly increase the number of roof penetrations. More than leaks, these seams can cause blowouts during a hurricane or allow sparks from a wildfire to enter your home and set it ablaze.

So, how much ventilation should you have? Without exception, you should talk to a professional to determine what your home requires. Generally speaking, you need a ratio of 1:300, where for every 300 square feet of ceiling space, you need 1 square foot of attic ventilation. That said, air resistance and interference (such as vent grates) reduces the area of true ventilation. In other words, the entire vent opening doesn’t count as vented space. Source: HomeAdvisor

Myth #3: You don’t need vents if you live in a cold area
If you live in a region that’s cool for most of the year, you may be thinking that vents are an unnecessary expense, or even undesirable. Another myth is they remove all of the warm air from a home, causing the furnace to work harder.

However, insulation is more responsible for heat retention than roof vents, and the sun can do more to warm up that space than a furnace. Vents are often used in colder climates as a way to combat moisture retention. Source: AngiesList

Looking for experts to install or repair a roofing vent? We’re more than happy to help! You can even get a free estimate when you call us today!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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Vista Green at The Falls in Chilliwack

Vista Green at The Falls by Kerkhoff Construction is a new collection of 66 duplex-style townhouses development located in Chilliwack. You’ll enjoy stunning views of the golf course, Fraser Valley and mountains, as well as the convenience of having shops and services a short drive away. Surrounding you is the beauty of nature and an abundance of recreational opportunities. It’s like being on vacation every day. And for those who like to travel, you can lock up and leave with complete peace of mind.

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3535 Princeton in Coquitlam

3535 Princeton by Nordel is a new townhouse development located in Coquitlam. This project will offer 27 executive townhomes with rooftop patios that provide a rare opportunity to enjoy outdoor entertaining from the privacy of your own home. Bordering Burke Mountain Creek and a protected green space, family living is made easy with 3, 4 & 5 bedroom townhomes boasting between 1,370 to 2,523 square feet of open living space. Within close proximity to the convenience of city life, this is a home for those who value living in a natural setting.

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Hudson & Singer in Langley

Hudson & Singer by Tridecca Developments is a new 6 storey condo development located in Langley. This project will offer 152 units, sizes range from 495 sqft to 1262 sqft. Residents will have exclusive access to the Avondale Room – a fully equipped theatre and lounge, perfect for watching the game or entertaining with friends, featuring luxurious furnishings, a full kitchen, coffee bar and patio area. 

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Akimbo in Burnaby

Akimbo by IMANI Development is a new 40 storey mixed-use highrise development located in Burnaby. This project will offer 350 units, sizes range from 460 sqft to 1405 sqft. Akimbo stands for self-expression – a bold assertion of modern design the likes of which Brentwood has never seen. A strong, uniformly-designed single tower, while coming alive with an organic sense of movement. Akimbo means you’re not settling for anything less than exceptional.

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Sleep Under the Stars in This Tiny Cabin Near a National Park

Union Living in Coquitlam

Union Living by Square Nine Developments is a new 19 storey condo and townhouse development located in Coquitlam. This project will offer 102 market condominiums & townhomes. Union is a walk to the main SkyTrain interchange station, connecting Coquitlam to all major areas of Metro Vancouver via the Evergreen and Millennium Lines. You will always be connected.

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Buying Leads on Layaway / How Long Will Real Estate Companies Keep Going? — Geek Estate Mastermind Newsletter #45

Last week, Greg dove into the topic of Zillow and referrals with his piece called Buying Leads on Layover. Just a week after Move announced the acquisition of Opcity, Zillow announced a new additional Premier Broker pricing product based on a “performance advertising expense” or, more plainly, a referral fee due when the transaction closes instead of a general advertising expense paid up front. He goes into how we got here, and what it means.

With my essay, I pondered the question of “How long will real estate companies keep going?” I started thinking about it following listening to a recode podcast with Elad Gil. Here’s the quote that caught my attention:

I think the thing that’s happened is a lot of founders end up selling when they could’ve kept going because these companies have such large market caps. So the big question on my mind is less about whether there’s going to be innovative big companies outside of those big five, but more how long will they keep going? Because Uber could have sold earlier or other companies could have sold earlier and they kept going. So the real question is who will keep going and who won’t. And then who, similarly, will be aggressive and ambitious.

At Google, the primary way that Larry Page would get upset if you were going into a product review is if you weren’t thinking big enough. He’d always say, “Why can’t this be a billion dollar thing instead of the hundred million thing you’re talking about?” A lot of founders don’t do that and so they never do that next wave of a product or the next cycle and so they just lose out. I think there are some companies who are doing that now, like Uber with Uber Eats and other services. But I think many founders stay in their lane a little bit more and I think that’s actually a detriment to innovation.

Winners and losers, in every industry, are more often than not decided by answering “How long will companies keep going?”

Real estate is no different. I went into who has kept building leading through thick and thin, which I dubbed the “real estate perseverance landscape”.

Weekly Radar Sample

RETREAT TO MORDOR
Millionaires buying bunkers in New Zealand in anticipation of the apocalypse isn’t a new concept, but since I’m traveling there in February I thought it was a good time to revisit some of the particulars around plans that include shipping “two 150-ton survival bunkers journeyed by land and sea from a Texas warehouse to the shores of New Zealand, where they’re buried 11 feet underground.” I’m not confident that 11 feet is going to accomplish much and wonder whether announcing the plan in public is of sound operational security for a group of the wealthiest capitalists in the world, but I’m also more interested in the plan to save the billions of humans without the capital and resources of Silicon Valley’s elite. -GF

ROBOTS AND WAREHOUSES
We all know robots are coming, in a big way, to virtually every industry. GreyOrange raised $140M to continue developing fully-automated robotics for warehouses. Butlers help warehouses utilize space more optimally, with error free and real-time picking and on-demand stock audit. After watching the video, I started to wonder if this technology could empower any building with extra space to play a part in the warehousing and shipping ecosystem? Not unlike how BluePrint Power enables buildings to play a role in the energy marketplace as power nodes.

Mastermind Member News

• Module pre-sold its first adaptable, energy efficient home to a customer in Pittsburgh. More details on the house can be found here.

As a reminder, the purpose of the Geek Estate Mastermind is two fold:

1. Curate the world’s most innovative and diverse community of real estate creatives, doers, and pioneers.
2. Make our members wildly successful in their careers building real estate companies.

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The post Buying Leads on Layaway / How Long Will Real Estate Companies Keep Going? — Geek Estate Mastermind Newsletter #45 appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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