In an industry where search tools typically require typing filters into a form, Builders Update, a national database for new construction, is piloting a conversational alternative. The company's new tool, Home Scout, allows agents and buyers to describe their desired home in plain language, eliminating the need for manual input. According to Bill Gaul, CEO of Builders Update and chair of the RESO Data Dictionary New Construction Subcommittee, the tool was designed for users who prefer speaking over typing. For instance, a user could say, 'I need a three-bedroom, two-bath home in a specific zip code,' even while driving, and receive a conversational response.
What distinguishes Home Scout is its bilingual capability, functioning seamlessly in both English and Spanish. The system automatically detects the language spoken and responds accordingly, without prompting the user to select a preference. Gaul emphasizes that the translation is intended to sound natural, not mechanical. This feature has garnered significant interest in markets with large Spanish-speaking populations, such as Miami, San Diego, and border regions.
The tool is accessible on the company's website. After conducting a search, users receive results, floor plans, property details, and photos directly in their inbox. 'By the time that person parks the car, the floor plans and the pictures are in their inbox,' Gaul notes. Agents can forward these results to clients in two formats: a detailed agent view containing the address and builder name, or a buyer-facing view that omits the address and builder, focusing instead on photos, floor plans, and pricing.
This dual-view design underscores the platform's agent-centric approach. Detailed listing information is reserved for licensed agents, and buyers must register through their agent rather than independently. The platform also includes an electronic buyer registration feature: when an agent submits a buyer's name, the builder can verify that the buyer is not already in their system, thereby protecting the agent's claim to the commission if the buyer later makes a purchase. Gaul describes this registration process, which is part of the company's patent, as a means to keep the agent's role transparent and protected. 'We're trying to inject the agent into the process,' he says.
Adoption of the tool is still in its early stages. Gaul acknowledges that even where Home Scout has been available for some time, many agents have not yet tried it. Encouraging agents to engage with the tool is a current focus. The platform serves over 860,000 agents nationwide.
