The Future of IDX – SpatialMatch.com Review
I had the privilege of interviewing Grant Gould who is the co founder and VP of SpatialMatch.com recently and he sure is onto something here when it comes to redefining how we think about IDX.
SpatialMatch is built differently from any other IDX solution on the market because it takes a consumer centric approach around lifestyle not a house first mentality. For years and even still now the primary search functions of the various website portals out there have focused on the home specifically. If you need to find a 2 bed 2 bath in a certain city or zip code and in a certain price range you are not short on options. However, what if schools, dining, amenities and proximity to public transit are the most important factors on your wish list as a buyer? Where would you look?
There was not a solution out there, until SpatialMatch, that lets you start with lifestyle and end up on homes! In our above interview Grant explains why he designed SpatialMatch.com that way and why it just makes sense.
I recently went through a move as did Steve and we both were more concerned initially with safety, schools and amenities than we were with what homes were on the market. Bottom line is that SpatialMatch allows you to find the right homes for your lifestyle and by offering this to consumers browsing your site you will reach a more emotional connection with the buyer. SpatialMatch also provides you all of the analytical data showing what parameters, or Decks as they call it, mattered most to that buyer allowing you to really have their emotional needs front and center when contacting leads.
Spatial Match and Grant were recently featured at Inman News Connect in San Francisco in Start Up Alley and have their software plugged into Inman’s Most Innovative Brokerage The Good Life Team’s website now! Take a spin and see what you think. You can also attend a live demo here or watch a recent demo.
I am SOLD that this is going to be the way consumers will find properties in the future having just gone through the process and adding SpatialMatch, or a comparable solution, to your website will not be optional! If you have any questions for Grant feel free to leave those in the comments below.
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You should look at the New Coldwellbanker.com site. They are using a new concept like this when you use their “Bluescape” search option.
I think this new product is spot on with the way consumers are searching for real estate. Great interview!
Thanks for the great interview. You are awesome. Your blog is awesome. It is one of the best resource on the net. cya soon.
Great interview, great energy! Count me in with your 218.
I agree that home buyers select communities, then neighborhoods before a house and lifestyle factors are very important. I confirmed this yesterday talking with a homebuyer client. I am looking forward to installing Spatial Match on my blog.
I’m not seeing how to sign up for this stuff on spatialmatch.com — I want to implement this on my site; is this just not available yet? or is there a secret “in” to get access now?
Great idea too bad it isn’t available in Canada. Any ideas on if it will be made available up here? Great blog Chris!
I’m blind as a bat. Just found where to call =) Ignore my last comment lol.
It still needs some refining however it looks like a good tool as long as the rate stays low enough to afford using it compared to other IDX’s in use.
Page load was slow and I know it is Beta but should be faster.
I know in larger cities this would be a good tool however in rural areas you may want to look for outdoor sports to do. (ie: Hunting, Fishing, baseball, football)
I tell all my clients about Spatial Match! When there is no data available from the MLS for agents to use for “solds” you can easily set up maps for each of the areas that you work in. You can set price ranges, really anything you can think of. It’s super easy to work with as well.
Grant Gould is very nice to work with. He answered all my questions in the beginning and made it easy to understand.
Here is a new site that includes Spatial Match. You will find the product under the “property search” tab as recent sales:
http://argeresgroup.com/property-search/carmel-valley/carmel-valley-recent-sales/
Also listed in “areas” and “lifestyles”.
http://argeresgroup.com/areas/cardiff-by-the-sea/cardiff-lifestyle-search/
This product is a winner in my book!
Pretty Cool concept. Learning more now.
I love the concept of putting the buyers in the drivers seat. I’ve already forwarded this to my web provider to get started. Anything to separate me from other agents is beneficial!
Any idea on pricing for this??
Unfortunately in Canada our idx systems require a company to go to each and every board to negotiate a contract for the idx feed. This is time consuming and not profitable. So until CREA decides to package these feeds into one feed Canadian real estate agents will likely have very few idx options to choose from.