TECHNOLOGY
Property Technology has evolved significantly since we launched HouseME in 2016 . It was then a new niche , a place to disrupt and to dream of making a difference . Agencies were open to technological progress , tenants were transitioning into digital natives and landlords were keen to try anything that could save them money .
Actually – perhaps it hasn ’ t evolved much at all . These same characteristics are true of several communities across our land today . And to my mind at least , property is ( still !) the right industry to target , as new technologies offer all kinds of innovative solutions to the same old problems we seem to face year after year .
A few years on from building HouseME , I have had the opportunity to reflect on the various lessons learnt and mistakes we made along the way . In fact , Lorne Hallendorff ( COO ) and I wrote a whole lot of them down in ‘ The First Kudu ’ last year .
And amongst the many cautionary lessons from our start-up adventure , perhaps one stands out as being even more relevant today as it was to us back then : the need for absolute , bloody-minded focus .
We realised too late that ambitious entrepreneurs aim to accomplish too much , too quickly . As many of you who run your own property businesses already know - this brings nothing but a tumult of trouble your way .
In building HouseME , we were faced with a business that had no shortage of exciting problems to solve , and we merrily set about pursuing them all . Focus was difficult and product builds became extensive – and illdisciplined . There were too many – and therefore no – priorities . This mindset extended into our products and service we offered .
HouseME aimed to provide a produc that was ten times better than existin by being more efficient , more afforda convenient and more innovative .
Most start-ups have such intentions . a reason it ’ s known to be damn hard Being clear on your tracks certainly m easier . So does sticking to them .
83 MARCH 2024 Real Estate Investor Magazine