Web-Based System and Method for Collection and Management of Real Estate Open House Data

Abstract

A system and method for management of real estate open house data includes a database and a website configured to provide access to information from the database. The website is configured to communicate with a user identification device, in the form of a user's cell phone or other mobile device, upon a user's entry into the open house, to transfer user identification data to the database.

1 . A real estate open house agency relationship data management system, comprising:
 a database configured to store and dynamically update open house data, and user data;   said database further configured to store open house data associated with a plurality of open houses including a unique identifier for each of the open houses;   said database further configured to store agent data for a plurality of agents;   said database further configured to store user data for a plurality of users, wherein the user data comprises a unique user identifier, contact information, and identifying information of a real estate agent associated with said user;   an agency module communicably coupled to the database, the agency module configured to identify an agency relationship between any of the users and the real estate agent with which they are associated;   a website configured to provide selective access to the database;   a data collector associated with the unique identifier of the open house, and being configured to collect said user data from a user identification device associated with a user attending the open house; and   a processing device communicably coupled to the website, the processing device configured to transfer said collected user identifier and agent identifier to said database.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said user data comprises website activity data relating to the individual user's interaction with said website. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to process open house data that includes open house attendance data. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the user identification device comprises a mobile device selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, PDA, pocket computer, laptop computer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the identifier is selected from the group consisting of the user's cellular telephone number, email address, static IP address, MAC address, surrogates therefor, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the website, using cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Internet-based protocols, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the website is configured to generate an open house ID corresponding to the open house. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the open house attendance information is generated in connection with receipt of the open house ID. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, the website is configured to record a credit for attendees of the open house who are registered users of the website, and to send a registration invitation to attendees who are unregistered users of the website. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the credit is applied towards rewards for registered users. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the website is configured to include with the invitation, a request for additional user data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the website is configured to request additional user data relating to an agency relationship between a real estate agent and the user, and user profile data. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a user account accessible through said website, said user account providing access to user data and open house data associated with a particular user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a communication module associated with the website;   the communication module configured to provide anonymized data regarding the users attending the open house, to a host agent hosting the open house;   the communication module configured to enable direct communication between the host agent and any users attending the open house who do not have an agency agreement, while substantially preventing direct communication between the host agent and any users attending the open house who have an agency agreement; and   the communication module configured to enable direct communication between the host agent and the real estate agents of users attending the open house who have an agency agreement, while maintaining the anonymity of those users having an agency agreement.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication module is configured to send one or more automated messages including alerts to real estate agents that the user has attended the open house, and summary open house activity data to a host agent of the open house and to represented sellers. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the communication module is configured to send summary information that includes anonymous profile information of attendees of the open house. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a real property account module configured to provide access to data relating to an individual real property for sale stored on said database, through said website. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the real property account module is configured to provide access to the open house data associated with the individual real property. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the real property account module is configured to provide access to open house data including open house profile data identifying the location, time and date of the individual open house. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the real property account module is configured to provide access to open house data including the anonymous profile information. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the real property account module is configured to provide access to open house data including data on follow up communications with the attendees of the open house. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user is selected from the group consisting of: a client of a real estate agent, a real estate agent, a host agent hosting the open house, a seller of the open house property, a potential buyer without agency representation, a subscriber to information and services available through the website on a subscription basis, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said website is configured to provide access to information from said database on a subscription basis. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said website is configured to provide access to limited information from said database to the public. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising information retrieval tools configured for retrieval of information from said database, said information retrieval tools being accessible through said website. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising communication tools configured for facilitation of on-line communication among users, said communication tools being accessible through said website. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising customer relationship management tools, said customer relationship management tools being accessible through said website. 
     
     
         28 . A method of managing real estate open house agency relationship data, comprising:
 (a) Opening an account for each of a plurality of open houses at a website;   (b) Generating an open house identifier for each of the open houses;   (c) Enabling communication between the website and user identification devices, each user identification device being a mobile device containing user identification data in the form of a unique user identifier for a user associated with the device, and which is configured for being correlated with identifying information of a real estate agent associated with said user;   (d) Enabling users to sign in at any of the plurality of open houses with the user's user identification device;   (e) Receiving the user identification data from each user identification device at each open house;   (f) Storing the received user identification data and the open house identifier associated with each open house in a database accessible through the website;   (g) Identifying agency relationships for the open house between the users and associated real estate agents;   (h) Creating and maintaining a record of the identified agency relationships; and   (i) Configuring the account for role-based selective access of the database through the website.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said enabling (d) comprises generating an open house ID, and inviting users to sign into the open house account with the open house ID. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said receiving (e) comprises collecting from the user identification device, a substantially unique identifier for the user. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said receiving (e) comprises transmitting an invitation to the user to register on the website. 
     
     
         32 . A method of managing real estate open house data, comprising:
 (a) Configuring a database to store and dynamically update open house data including unique account information and open house registration data for each of a plurality of real estate open houses, and user data for users, wherein the user data includes user identification data in the form of an identifier that is substantially unique to the user and linked to user contact information;   (b) Configuring an agency module communicably coupled to the database, to identify an agency relationship between any of the users and a real estate agent;   (c) Configuring a website for access to information from said database; and   (d) Configuring a data collector for collection of the user data and the open house registration data, upon receipt of the identifier from user identification devices associated with users attending the real estate open house premises.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data collector is configured to collect real estate listing and open house data from third party sources.