System and method for marketing and managing real property

• US 20060190279A1
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brent Heflin Realty, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brent Heflin Realty, Inc.
• Inventors: Heflin, Brent
• Application Number:
  US11/065,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/307
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management

Abstract

A system and method for marketing and managing real property including a transaction server managed by a system administrator and a data manager that may be placed in communication with a remote terminal or client computer via a network communication line such as the Internet. The transaction server preferably provides an interface system in the form of a web site and maintains a network accessible database for a variety of end users to provide a central location for marketing residential and commercial properties based on collected property details for such properties as well as performing related transactions and property management functions.

Claims

1. A method for marketing and managing real property for a property owner comprising:

entering into an agreement with a property owner to advertise a property for rent;

receiving a set of property related information from said property owner, said property related information including a location parameter, a price parameter, and an amenities listing;

entering said parameters and said amenities listing in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

upon request from a prospective renter, displaying said property related information in a viewable format on a remote display device;

obtaining a set of personal information about said prospective renter;

based on said set of personal information, prescreening said prospective renter prior to showing said property;

upon approval of said prospective renter, showing said property located at said location parameter;

upon a rental agreement being established between said prospective renter and said property owner, establishing a fee arrangement with said owner; and

collecting said fee.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said fee arrangement includes receiving a portion of a first month'"'"'s rent.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said fee arrangement includes receiving a portion of a monthly rental income on a periodic basis.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

collecting a periodic rent payment from said prospective renter;

and deducting a portion of said rent payment as payment for advertising said property related information on said remote display device.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said agreement with said property owner is exclusive.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said property is selected from a group consisting of a home, a condominium, a townhouse, an apartment, a vacation rental, a luxury rental, a lot, a building, a commercial property and a region of land.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

viewing said property in person to determine whether any pre-existing conditions exist that would prevent a rental agreement from being reached.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said prescreening step involves checking employment records, employment references, bank credit, past leasing experience, personal references, sex offender databases, and criminal history of said prospective renter.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

displaying a search page in response to an inquiry from said prospective renter;

receiving a set of search parameters from said prospective renter; and

displaying said search results on said remote display device.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

upon request from said prospective renter, displaying at least one display page including historical content about an area in which said property is located.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

upon request from said prospective renter, displaying at least one display page including lifestyle content about the area in which said property is located.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

upon request from said prospective renter, displaying at least one display page including local interest links relating to the area in which said property is located.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said property related information includes a square footage parameter, a number of beds parameter, a number of floors parameter, a property age parameter, a number of baths parameter, a parking situation parameter, rental type parameter, lot features listing, and a community features listing.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said parking situation parameter is selected from a group consisting of detached one vehicle, detached two vehicle, attached one vehicle, attached two vehicle, one vehicle garage, two vehicle garage, three vehicle garage, RV parking, carport, secured one vehicle, secured two vehicle, and street.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said rental type parameter is selected from a group consisting of single family home, apartment, loft, duplex, condominium, and townhouse.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said amenities listing is selected from a group consisting of basement, central air, den/office, swimming pool, fireplace, forced air, hardwood floors, disability features, tile floors, berber carpet, dining area, new carpet, family room, ocean view, gourmet kitchen, formal dining room, master bedroom, laundry hookups, oven, hot tub, double oven, laundry room, balcony, refrigerator, plantation shutters, community laundry, washer/dryer, convention oven, laundry chute, laundry area, breakfast nook, kitchen nook, granite counters, ceiling fans, dishwasher, microwave, range top, marble flooring, and mock fireplace.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said lot features listing is selected from a group consisting of lot size, gated, river view, ocean view, water view, corner lot, cul-de-sac, golf course lot, peek a boo ocean view, waterfront, city lights view, mountain view, and boat dock.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said community features listing is selected from a group consisting of clubhouse/rec. room, exercise area, golf, recreation facilities, security features, senior community, spa/hot tub, swimming pool, and tennis.

19. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said rental type parameter is selected from a group consisting of rental, vacation rental, commercial, real estate, and luxury rental.

20. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

obtaining a digital image of said property at said location parameter;

storing said digital image in said database; and

displaying said digital image along with said property related information on said remote display device.

21. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including:

collecting a fee from said prospective renter prior to conducting said prescreening step.

22. A method for marketing and managing real property for a property owner comprising:

storing a set of property details associated with a property in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

upon request from a prospective renter to said processing unit, transmitting said property details in a viewable format for viewing on a remote display device;

prescreening said prospective renter prior to showing said property based on a set of personal information supplied by said prospective renter;

establishing a fee arrangement with said owner of said property upon a rental agreement being established between said prospective renter and said property owner; and

collecting said fee.

23. In a web site on a global communication network, a series of web pages upon which rental agency transactions may be conducted, said web site comprising:

a first page having a rental section, said rental section including a search page link, said first page further including a local culture link;

a search page selectively operable to display on a display device upon selection of said search page link, said search page providing a search entry form operable to receive a set of search parameters from a user, said search parameters including a type of rental parameter and a price parameter;

a local culture page selectively operable to display on a display device upon selection of said local culture link, said local culture page including a description of a local lifestyle and a local history for a predetermined geographic area;

a search results page operable to display a listing of at least one property matching said search parameters, said listing including at least one photograph of a corresponding property, an address of said property, an offer price, and an amenities listing; and

said search results listing including a contact link operable to display an email form having a send button, an address input box, a subject line, and a comments input box for inputting a message to a rental agent, said address input box having a pre-filled address of said rental agent, said subject line including a predetermined property ID corresponding with said property selected from said results listing whereby a user may input a comment in said comments input box and select said send button to transmit said email form to said rental agent at said pre-filled address.

24. A method for marketing and managing a piece of real property for a property owner comprising:

entering into an agreement with a property owner to advertise a property for rent;

receiving a set of property related information from said property owner, said property related information including a location parameter and a price parameter;

entering said set of property related information in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

upon request from a prospective renter, displaying said property related information in a viewable format on a remote display device;

obtaining a set of personal information about said prospective renter;

comparing said set of personal information with selected prescreening information;

based on said comparing and upon approval of said prospective renter, showing said property located at said location parameter;

upon a rental agreement being established between said prospective renter and said property owner, establishing a fee arrangement with said owner; and

collecting said fee.

25. The method of claim 24 further including:

compiling a set of local information about the local community and surrounding geographic area in which said property is located;

providing said prospective renter with selectable access to said local information;

in response to an exercise of said selectable access by said prospective renter, transmitting said local information in a viewable format to said remote display device.

26. The method of claim 25 further including:

providing said prospective renter with selectable access to said local information while displaying said property related information.

28. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 25, wherein:

said local information includes historical information about said community and surrounding geographic area.

29. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 25, wherein:

said local information includes information about local neighborhoods in said community and surrounding geographic area.

30. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 25, wherein:

said local information includes information about local culture, entertainment and activities pertinent to said community and surrounding geographic area.

31. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 25, wherein:

said local information includes information about business and government entities and services pertinent to said community and surrounding geographic area.

33. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 30, further comprising:

requiring said one of said members to correctly input specifically identified access information before displaying said property related information for said properties that satisfy said common rental criteria.

34. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 30, wherein:

said entity is selected from a group consisting of governmental agencies, health care providers, medical groups, organizations, associations, partnerships, firms, leagues and corporations.

27. A method for marketing and managing real property comprising:

entering into an agreement with multiple property owners to advertise properties for rent;

receiving sets of property related information from said property owners, said property related information including a location parameter, a price parameter, and an amenities listing;

entering said parameters and said amenities listing in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

compiling a set of local information about the community and surrounding geographic area in which said properties are located;

upon request from a prospective renter, displaying said local information in a viewable format on a remote display device;

providing said prospective renter with selectable access to said property related information while said renter is viewing said local information;

in response to an exercise of said selectable access by said prospective renter, transmitting said property related information in a viewable format to said remote display device;

obtaining a set of personal information about said prospective renter;

based on said set of personal information, prescreening said prospective renter prior to showing a selected property selected from said properties;

upon approval of said prospective renter, showing said selected property located at said location parameter;

upon a rental agreement being established between said prospective renter and the owner of said selected property, establishing a fee arrangement with said owner; and

collecting said fee.

32. A method for marketing and managing real property for property owners comprising:

entering into an agreement with said property owners to advertise properties available for rental in a specific community and surrounding geographic region;

receiving a set of property related information from said property owners for each of said properties, said property related information including a location parameter, a price parameter, and an amenities listing;

entering said properties and said property related information in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

establishing a relationship with a selected entity for providing relocation services to members of said entity;

compiling a set of common rental criteria for said members;

upon request from one of said members, displaying in a viewable format on a remote display device said property related information for said properties that satisfy said common rental criteria;

obtaining a set of personal information about one of said members and a listing of selected properties satisfying said common rental criteria;

based on said set of personal information, prescreening said one of said members prior to showing any of said selected properties;

upon approval of said one of said members, showing at least one of said selected properties to said one of said members;

upon a rental agreement being established between said one of said members and one of said property owners for renting one of said selected properties, establishing a fee arrangement with said one of said property owners; and

collecting said fee.

35. A method for marketing and managing a piece of real property, comprising:

entering into an agreement with a property owner to advertise an interest in a property;

receiving a set of property related information from said property owner, said property related information including a location parameter and a price parameter;

entering said set of property related information in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

upon request from a prospective resident of said property, displaying said property related information in a viewable format on a remote display device;

obtaining a set of prospective resident information about said prospective resident;

screening said set of prospective resident information to ensure compliance with selected prescreening criteria;

based on said screening and upon approval of said prospective resident, showing said property;

upon an agreement being established between said prospective resident and said property owner for said sale of an interest in said property, establishing a fee arrangement with one of said property owner or said prospective resident; and

collecting said fee.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

said sale of an interest in said property is for the rental of said property.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein

said sale of an interest in said property is for the purchase of said property.

38. A method for marketing and managing a piece of real property for a property owner comprising:

entering into an agreement with said property owner to advertise the sale of an interest in a property;

receiving a set of property related information from said property owner, said property related information including a location parameter and a price parameter;

entering said set of property related information in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

upon request from a prospective purchaser, displaying said property related information in a viewable format on a remote display device;

obtaining a set of purchaser information about said prospective purchaser;

comparing said set of purchaser information with selected prescreening criteria;

based on said comparing and upon approval of said prospective purchaser, showing said property located at said location parameter;

upon an agreement being established between said prospective purchaser and said property owner for said sale of an interest in said property, establishing a fee arrangement with one of said owner or said purchaser; and

collecting said fee.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

compiling a set of local information about the local community and surrounding geographic area in which said property is located;

providing said prospective purchaser with selectable access to said local information; and

in response to an exercise of said selectable access by said prospective purchaser, transmitting said local information in a viewable format to said remote display device.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

providing said prospective purchaser with selectable access to said local information while displaying said property related information.

41. A method for marketing and managing real property comprising:

entering into an agreement with multiple property owners to advertise the sale of an interest in respective properties;

receiving sets of property related information from said property owners, said property related information including a location parameter, a price parameter, and an amenities listing;

entering said property related information in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

compiling a set of local information about the community and surrounding geographic area in which said properties are located;

upon request from a prospective purchaser, displaying said local information in a viewable format on a remote display device;

providing said prospective purchaser with selectable access to said property related information while said prospective purchaser is viewing said local information;

in response to an exercise of said selectable access by said prospective purchaser, transmitting said property related information in a viewable format to said remote display device;

obtaining a set of purchaser information about said prospective purchaser;

based on said set of purchaser information, prescreening said prospective purchaser;

upon request from said prospective purchaser to see a selected property selected from said properties and approval of the respective said owner of said selected property based on said prescreening, showing said selected property to said prospective purchaser;

upon a purchase agreement being established between said prospective purchaser and said owner, establishing a fee arrangement with one of said purchaser or said owner; and

collecting said fee.

42. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 41, wherein:

said local information includes historical information about said community and surrounding geographic area.

43. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 41, wherein:

said local information includes information about local neighborhoods in said community and surrounding geographic area.

44. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 41, wherein:

said local information includes information about local culture, entertainment and activities pertinent to said community and surrounding geographic area.

45. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 41, wherein:

said local information includes information about business and government entities and services pertinent to said community and surrounding geographic area.

46. A method for marketing and managing real property for property owners comprising:

entering into an agreement with said property owners to advertise an interest in properties available for sale or rent in a specific geographic region;

receiving a set of property related information from said property owners for each of said properties, said property related information including a location parameter, a price parameter, and an amenities listing;

entering said properties and said property related information in a database;

providing a processing unit with access to said database;

providing a display interface in communication with said processing unit;

establishing a relationship with a selected entity for providing relocation services to members of said entity;

compiling a set of common criteria for said members;

upon request from one of said members, displaying in a viewable format on a remote display device said property related information for said properties that satisfy said common criteria;

obtaining a set of member information about one of said members and a listing of selected properties satisfying said common criteria;

based on said set of member information, prescreening said one of said members prior to showing any of said selected properties;

upon approval of said one of said members, showing at least one of said selected properties to said one of said members;

upon an agreement being established between said one of said members and one of said property owners for purchasing or renting one of said selected properties, establishing a fee arrangement with one of said one of said members or said one of said property owners; and

collecting said fee.

47. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 46, further comprising:

requiring said one of said members to correctly input specifically identified access information before displaying said property related information for said properties that satisfy said common criteria.

48. The method of marketing and managing real property of claim 46, wherein:

said entity is selected from a group consisting of governmental agencies, health care providers, medical groups, organizations, associations, partnerships, firms, leagues and corporations.