[malandrew]

Most real estate startups are complete and utter crap. I've used dozens of pieces of software targeted at real estate agents and I can't think of a more broken software market. It's truly shameful.

Usability is among the worst you will find. This is particularly egregious since RE is filled with some of the most technically incompetent people you've ever met. Some real estate agents are fantastic and have found their calling in that job, but the overwhelming majority of the ones I met ended up in that industry by accident. I tend to joke that if you're too incompetent for all other careers, go ahead and get a real estate license.

One of the biggest problems is that not one solution I've ever used considered flow. They solve small pain points, but none are workable into the more complex workflows that need to be accomplished.

[gawker]

Do you think it's actually crucial to go out and obtain a broker license myself to understand the pain points? I'd love to avoid the pitfalls that most startups have already made.

[malandrew]

You won't see 90% of the pain points above without one. However, with the list above and access to real agents, you can probably work your way through being aware of and understanding many of the pain point.

If you really want to understand how an agent works, focus on their calendar. 90% of their work involves coordinating many activities for a listing. You can also try to get ahold of sample files for east listing that brokers will keep (they are legally required to keep them for 7 years in NC. I expect a similar requirement elsewhere).

In short, no you don't need to get a license, but you need to be a Sherlock and know what questions to ask to gather all the evidence you need.

[Evbn]

Maybe not license, but a 60 "hour" standard broker training course (book and web videos to fast forward through) is worthwhile to learn the basics.

[gawker]

Thanks.

[seregine]

Redfin has excellent UX, both on iOS and the web. We've been using their tools for the last three years, with consistent delight.

[malandrew]

Redfin and Trulia are both the exception. There are dozens of businesses that target real estate that you've never heard of, mostly because they aren't B2C like Redfin and Trulia.