Knovolo launches text link product for real estate market

By Gabrielle Kalika

June 18, 2008

Code language

Knovolo, a mobile Web service provider, launched a text link product for real estate agents and home sellers.

Realtors using the Knovolo service can help homebuyers now receive immediate access to information about a property for sale, including a mobile Web version of the property listing via text message.

“Our strategy is to deliver targeted sales messages to prospective customers through a combination of text messaging and Mobile Web content,” said Greg Bouwens, founder and owner of Knovolo, Seattle.

“We are currently focused on three pieces of the real estate market: residential real estate, commercial real estate and new home builders,” he said.

The seller pays to create a custom keyword on the Knovolo text messaging platform with his or her sales message, usually a brief description of the property along with price and contact details. The seller may post the short code on the For Sale sign, in print ads, online and other media.

House hunters can send a text message of DEMO1 to the 732589 short code. The shopper then receives the sales message via SMS. At the end of the text message is a short hyperlink that connects to a Mobile Web version of the property for sale or lease.

Any mobile device with Web access such as the iPhone, Blackberry, Treo or devices with Windows Mobile can display the content inside the Web browser.

The potential buyer sees a mobile version of the property listing, including clickable links that can initiate a phone call to the sales agent directly from the Mobile Web page.

The seller receives reports showing the date and time when a prospective buyer inquired about the property.

Knovolo’s service charges real estate agents a one-time fee for each listing, inclusive of text message creation, keyword registration, mobile Web design and publishing.

Homebuyers who send a text to the short code are charged standard messaging fees.

“One of the bigger challenges facing sales professionals in the markets we are addressing is “How can I use technology to help me serve my customers?” Mr. Bouwens said.

“Most people in the real estate industry have at least heard of Zillow, Redfin, Trulia and other online real estate resources,” he said. “In some ways, yes, these businesses are encroaching on the traditional place of the sales professional as an information resource.

“More and more of today’s buyers demand immediate gratification, self-service information and more control over the buying process. Real estate professionals who understand these needs and are prepared to deal with these types of buyers find our service indispensable.”

Comments on "Knovolo launches text link product for real estate market"

1. Brett Shaw says:

   June 18, 2008 at 3:20pm

   Brett Shaw from Cyberhomes:
   
   I've been waiting to see who would start the text messaging trend in real estate. I see more and more people who prefer texting as their primary means of communication. As an agent, I'm excited to see how this venture will turn out.