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Ownly is e-commerce software program for dwelling development corporations and new dwelling patrons.
Platforms: Browser-based; cell
Excellent for: Brokers who work in new development
High promoting factors:
- Client retail expertise
- Constructed-in mortgage qualification
- Sofa-to-contract
- Builder web site embeds
- Use of web-user metrics, purchasing tendencies
High concern:
After the purchasing and contract expertise is full, patrons might want to depend on the builder’s current challenge communication ways, which may derail what was initially a really proactive, consumer-first course of.
What you need to know
Ownly is a SaaS (software program as a service) firm that gives dwelling builders with a consumer-driven retail storefront from which aspiring patrons can store for properties with a Netflix-inspired shopping expertise, get pre-qualified for a mortgage, and signal an offer-to-purchase contract. Brokers on the mercy of antiquated on-site builder gross sales ways may gain advantage drastically from the on-ramp Ownly presents, as will the brokers representing the patrons.
As is widespread when an entrepreneur tries to purchase a house, they’ll’t cease recognizing alternatives for enchancment within the course of.
I can see how this situation would come up extra usually when searching for new development, given its host of timeline vagaries, thick catalogs, bodily workplace visits and compendium of phrases and development steps overseas to anybody not really within the development enterprise.
Happily for customers of Ownly, its founder, Jason Hardy, comes from actual property growth, and amongst different management roles, at present sits as government director of the Actual Property Improvement Institute (REDI) an academic non-profit based in 1972.
Earlier than creating Ownly, Hardy wished to know why shopping for a home couldn’t be like ordering a automotive on-line. Customers can select a base mannequin, add choices, see imagery, think about financing and even now take supply — all from their sofa. Whereas most new properties aren’t delivered on a flatbed, the business had no actual argument towards Hardy’s place.
So, why not give dwelling builders the instruments they should get individuals from couch-to-contract, as Hardy places it?
Onwly provides builders a backend suite of instruments to populate property info and publish it within the type of a web based gallery of new properties. Controlling what the patron sees is as straightforward as toggling off just a few choices and importing photos and content material.
The patron sees a clear, enticing web page of property playing cards displaying the fundamentals, reminiscent of value, measurement, beds and baths. They’ll browse builders’ group areas by zip or identify, transfer sliders to regulate value and measurement specs and if accessible, search by no matter inside dwelling packages are supplied.
Customers can save properties of their My Houses folder, choose just a few to check and start the buying course of by clicking a not-hard-to-miss “purchase this dwelling,” button.
The concept of decreasing a house buy to the phrases “purchase this dwelling” could appear overly simplistic, given the dimensions of the transaction, however bear in mind, that is software program designed to do precisely that — scale back the complexity of shopping for a house. We’re all skilled by web site calls to motion, we love “purchase now” buttons. Residence buyers are not any totally different, and Ownly clearly acknowledges that.
Consumers browse and choose exterior finishes and inside layouts from interactive floorplans, which frequently embrace kitchen options, storage stall choices, bedrooms, toilet alternate options and the like. Ownly additionally permits for lot choice when accessible, too.
In brief, if an choice exists, Ownly’s flexibility ensures a builder could make it a part of their retailer.
As soon as pushed into the shopping for steps, shoppers can add a prequalification letter or work with Ownly’s mortgage associate (undisclosed right now) to get it underway. The software program can deal with every part wanted, even face scans to verify identification towards an uploaded photograph ID.
Upon prequalification and value acceptance, patrons and their brokers can peruse pertinent documentation, signal what’s wanted by way of DocuSign and even use a Stripe connection for deposits.
I used to be informed by Hardy {that a} new partnership will quickly be in place to make the precise buy and shutting expertise totally digital, quick and compliant. It can leverage shared-video doc signing, digital switch of funds and easy municipal recording.
Once more, this whole expertise can be utilized from into the developer’s web site, lastly giving builders’ brokers a wonderful instrument for amassing the numerous variety of leads that come to a builder’s website, get pissed off, and go away.
Ownly’s in-house examine discovered that builders utilizing its platform noticed preliminary web site guests spend greater than twelve minutes on their website, in comparison with properly beneath two minutes with no storefront expertise.
The software program renders itself on cell properly as properly, giving buyers one thing else to browse as a substitute of Zillow. different peoples’ properties may be enjoyable, however how about asking your mates to assist select your bed room format?
Ownly is open and versatile, working with Hubspot and Salesforce as CRMs for now, however I used to be informed extra are on the best way.
Hardy mentioned they’ve three builders quickly to launch in Florida and Texas. Ownly costs $499 per result in the builder, however solely when that lead is totally certified. It additionally costs .5 p.c of the transaction worth.
With extra individuals shopping for sight unseen and combating to get presents accepted, shopping for new development turns into a worthwhile consideration. Now think about how far more enticing shopping for new turns into when builders really meet the customer midway.
In 2021, I reviewed Welcome Houses, a house developer that provides its prospects a pointy digital shopping for platform. I appreciated what I noticed then, and it appears to be like as in the event that they’re solely getting higher at it. Now with Ownly within the combine, this area of interest of proptech has some stable shoulders on which to perch itself.
Have a expertise product you wish to talk about? E-mail Craig Rowe
Craig C. Rowe began in industrial actual property on the daybreak of the dot-com growth, serving to an array of business actual property corporations fortify their on-line presence and analyze inside software program choices. He now helps brokers with expertise choices and advertising by way of reviewing software program and tech for Inman.
